Starlings and English Sparrows are not 'native' for the last few hundred years. They were deliberately introduced.

They have displaced many other unique and highly specialized native species of birds.

But nature adapts and is unkind. Mao once destroyed all the sparrows and the resulting crop-eating insects were worse.

"Michigan has an open hunting season for crow from August 1st to Sept. 30th and from Feb. 1st to March 31st in zones 2 & 3."

Good luck if trying to shoot one. They are one of the smartest birds around. You might get close enough for a shot without carrying a gun. But carry one...no dice.

Crows are known to do a post mortem
That is.. if one of them get's killed.. the others investigate what happened.. to make sure they don't run into the same problem.

They actively communicate to one another on tactics to survive.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Od-8kUiYAK0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And they know how a stoplight works.
To put nuts in front of cars when it's red
wait for green to see cars crack nuts
then wait for red to pick up the cracked nuts



<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BGPGknpq3e0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

crows know before ever seeing one being used... because other crows told em.
not kidding.

Yes, crows are "protected" to some degree by the Migratory Bird Act, but that "protection" does not extend to barring us from shooting them. State law applies, as I stated earlier.

That State Law also serves as the "permit" required under the Migratory Bird Act. No individual is required to apply for that permit. And again, this is here in Washington - it's important to check your own state's laws.

So, no, shooting them is absolutely not "illegal under federal law". Federal law allows the states to set their own rules with regards to hunting crows. As long as one is following their state law, it is all perfectly legal under federal law.

I just don't know where you get your misinformation

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b85587342ebe4f607983dfb6d1e07461&mc=true&n ode=se50.1.10_113&rgn=div8

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/16/2020-06779/general-provisions-revised-list-of-migratory-birds

^^^ "Michigan has an open hunting season for crow from August 1st to Sept. 30th and from Feb. 1st to March 31st in zones 2 & 3."

That's my area.

You're not paying attention. As I've already stated, our permission comes through our respective states. This sentence is key: without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Again (pay attention this time), that "prior authorization", or "permit", is provided through our states' game laws. It's really pretty simple, Randy. It's perfectly legal for us, under federal law, to shoot crows if our states have laws under which we can do so.

Dude I've "eaten crow" for a few lifetimes already. ;)
(foot-in-mouth disease here)

Black Crows Matter :D

Speaking of crows .... where's crowbob?

^^^
Prob chasing crows out of his cherry trees. :)

Jeff is correct. A lot of birds covered under the migratory bird act are hunted. There is a waterfowl season and many migratory birds land on the dinner table! Even in CA there is a crow season. Dec 5 - April 7 - daily bag limit 24 crows.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nongame-Furbearers

The main issue I see is that people confuse crows with ravens and then get in trouble. I have never tried to hunt crow, like others mentioned, they seem strangely absent when there is any hunting going on.

Personally I don't care for the crows at all, mainly because they come through my area a couple times a year in big groups of 100+ and systematically clean out all the song bird nests. Air battles ensue with little birds trying to fend off the crows ...

G

I will run this down if you can tell me where you saw it.

Generally, a state cannot enable you to violate a federal law. States can enact more stringent laws protecting birds. 16 USC sec. 704.

Nor am I aware of anything in the MBTA that allows FWS to allow a state law to

FWS violates the law frequently, so it is possible they are doing so here (by enlargening on what Congress told them to do)

Or you may be thinking of Depredation Orders - these do include crows, but are VERY limited in what circumstances allow a private citizen to take migratory birds. Similar restrictions apply to state and tribal authorities.

the bolded stmt. is not correct AFAIK, and I know pretty far in this area

again, LMK if you have a link or anything else and I'll look into it

If Calif. is allowing crow hunting, then it can only be legal under a Depredation Order

What about pot sales in certain states?

How about an ultra sonic device that is motion activated? The quick and easy way is to use a motion detection light. Get a dual socket model and use a screw-in adapter for the plug. Don't bother with battery operated units and shoot for 100 dB sound with a variable frequency.

link

One of our family stories that gets told over and over is about shooting starlings.
When I was 15 my bedroom was directly above the kitchen and our garden was right outside my window. It was a favorite feeding ground for starlings, by the thousands.
One afternoon mom was cooking and, having nothing better to do, I decided to get rid of a few starlings. I lined up my .410 shotgun, my 16 gauge, my 20 gauge, Dad’s double barreled 20, my .22 rifle, and Dad’s .22 revolver on my window sill. I carefully watched the birds, looking for clusters that might be better targets. When the time was right I unloaded all the shotguns as fast as I could and started picking off the floppers with the .22s.

I should have mentioned my plan to my mom.

There she was, calming singing her hymns and making noodles when WW III broke loose just above her head. She ran from the house waving her arms, with flour and noodles flying everywhere. She hid in the barn until Dad came home from work. I think he was supposed to yell at me, but he couldn’t stop laughing.
For 30 years every time The Great Starling Massacree came up at family dinners she left the room and we rolled on the floor laughing.

Jays are in the same family as the Crows both being Corvids. They like shiny objects. Such as the keys to your Porsche, guitar picks and shower heads. This particular Jay would fly circles around me while I was in the shower.




http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592778322.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592778322.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592778322.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592778322.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592778322.jpg

that's a non-enforcement issue

FWS also has discretion to not enforce criminal penalties, sometimes... civil

My folks put out a dead crow in their yard. It is something you can buy (not an actual dead crow). They leave it out for a few days and the crows stop coming for months.

Federal regs


§ 20.133 Hunting regulations for crows.
(a) Crows may be taken, possessed, transported, exported, or imported, only in accordance with such laws or regulations as may be prescribed by a State pursuant to this section.

(b) Except in the State of Hawaii, where no crows shall be taken, States may by statute or regulation prescribe a hunting season for crows. Such State statutes or regulations may set forth the method of taking, the bag and possession limits, the dates and duration of the hunting season, and such other regulations as may be deemed appropriate, subject to the following limitations for each State:

(1) Crows shall not be hunted from aircraft;

(2) The hunting season or seasons on crows shall not exceed a total of 124 days during a calendar year;

(3) Hunting shall not be permitted during the peak crow nesting period within a State; and

(4) Crows may only be taken by firearms, bow and arrow, and falconry.