Posted on 04/04/2023 7:57:16 AM PDT by Red Badger
A migratory killdeer bird built its nest in the middle of a utility company's parking lot in South Carolina, and officials are barred from relocating the nest by a federal law. Photo courtesy of the Berkeley Electric Cooperative/Facebook
March 31 (UPI) -- A utility company in South Carolina found a migratory bird nesting in a parking lot -- and the bird can't be moved due to federal law from 1918.
The Berkeley Electric Cooperative said an employee found a killdeer nest being tended by a mother bird in the company's parking lot, and officials soon found the nest could not be relocated due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
The act bans U.S. property owners from relocating "protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."
The company decided to surround the killdeer nest with traffic cones to protect the mother and her eggs while waiting for the babies to hatch.
"It's just another way we're helping to keep the Lowcountry beautiful," the company said in a Facebook post.
It probably won’t be there long. There’s very high predation on exposed killdeer nests: cat, dog, snake, raccoon, hawk, crow, etc.
Does that law include the Robin nest that I remove from my outdoor light fixture 3 times a year in the spring?
Another article with slightly better photos.
As a teenager I would mow around the occasional killdeer nest that would appear in the back yard.
They don’t stay long and it was a small inconvenience.
I think you’re ok with Robins. Don’t see them on the list.
The migratory bird conventions with Canada and Mexico define “game birds” as those species belonging to the following families:
Anatidae (swans, geese, and ducks)
Rallidae (rails, gallinules, and coots)
Gruidae (cranes)
Charadriidae (plovers and lapwings)
Haematopodidae (oystercatchers)
Recurvirostridae (stilts and avocets)
Scolopacidae (sandpipers, phalaropes, and allies)
Columbidae (pigeons and doves)
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Turdidae
“...the bird can’t be moved due to federal law from 1918”
Perhaps not, but I bet if a predatory snake were introduced into the parking lot, the bird might move itself.
That robin thinks your light fixture makes a perfect incubator :)
It is only for a short while.............
I’m surprised pigeons are on that list.
Same here only they would nest in our front yard. It was always cool to see the hatchlings with their little round bodies running around on their long skinny legs.
As far as I'm concerned, the Migratory Birds Act needs to be modified since there are several birds protected that should not be. Specifically, cowbirds, grackles, blue jays and cormorants. With the exception of the cormorants, I shoot the others any chance I get along with the starlings and house sparrows......
the robin used to be hunted- but are now protected- i believe-
I didn’t know they are protected.
Love the way they fake an injured wing and pretend to ne unable to fly so you chase them as they lead you away from their nest.
You may be right, but I didn’t see them on the list that I looked at.
This is the list that’s been updated.
https://www.fws.gov/media/list-birds-protected-migratory-bird-treaty-act-2020
i looked it up a long time ago as i had read early settlers hunted them for food- i ‘think’ i remember they were protected now- I’ll check again and see if they are- i know mourning doves are protected- those are pretty good eating and a real challenge to shoot on the wing
Why do you shoot blue jays?
How odd that the mother would build a nest right out in the open like that!!
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