Turkey Vultures are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It prohibits the taking, possession, transporation, sale, purchase, barter, importation, exportation, and banding or marking of migratory birds. There are circumstances under which one can obtain a permit to do these prohibited acts, including scientific research. One type of permit available, under proper circumstances, is a depredation permit. These permits have been issued for various species, including Double-crested Cormorants in the Southeast, and, as we all know from the unfortunate incident in Oklahoma this past year, for cattle egrets. The pertinent regulation appears below. I don't know if the Fish and Wildlife Service has ever issued permits for depredation of TVs. There was a similar situation in Leesburg, Virginia last year and the local authorities did harrass the birds, but it didn't help. Moving them isn't really an option - no one else wants them either - or at least that was the case with the Leesburg birds. Although I think that's what they ultimately did - I guess they either found someplace that likes TVs or found an uninhabited area to release them. Ellen Paul epaul@dclink.com [Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 50, Volume 1, Parts 1 to 199] [Revised as of October 1, 1997] [CITE: 50CFR21.41] [Page 503] TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PART 21--MIGRATORY BIRD PERMITS--Table of Contents Subpart D--Control of Depredating Birds Sec. 21.41 Depredation permits. (a) Permit requirement. Except as provided in Secs. 21.42 through 21.46, a depredation permit is required before any person may take, possess, or transport migratory birds for depredation control purposes. No permit is required merely to scare or herd depredating migratory birds other than endangered or threatened species or bald or golden eagles. (b) Applicant procedures. Applications for depredation permits shall be submitted to the appropriate Special Agent in Charge (see Sec. 13.11(b) of this subchapter). Each such application must contain the general information and certification required by Sec. 13.12(a) of this subchapter plus the following additional information: (1) A description of the area where depredations are occurring; (2) The nature of the crops or other interests being injured; (3) The extent of such injury; and (4) The particular species of migratory birds committing the injury. (c) Additional permit conditions. Inaddition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter B, depredation permits shall be subject to requires, in this section: (1) Permittees may not kill migratory birds unless specifically authorized on the permit. (2) Unless otherwise specifically authorized, when permittees are authorized to kill migratory birds they may do so only with a shotgun not larger than No. 10 gauge fired from the shoulder, and only on or over the threatened area or area described on the permit. (3) Permittees may not use blinds, pits, or other means of concealment, decoys, duck calls, or other devices to lure or entice birds within gun range. (4) All migratory birds killed shall be retrieved by the permittee and turned over to a Bureau representative or his designee for disposition to charitable or other worthy institutions for use as food, or otherwise disposed of as provided by law. (5) Only persons named on the permit are authorized to act as agents of the permittee under authority of the permit. (d) Tenure of permits. The tenure of depredation permits shall be limited to the dates which appear on its face, but in no case shall be longer than one year. [39 FR 1178, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 42 FR 17122, Mar. 31, 1977] mdosprey@ARI.Net wrote: > > In a message dated 98-09-24 22:11:56 EDT, you write: > > << Part of the quandary is that the damn things > are federally protected, >> > > Thankfully the birds are federally protected. I have a small vulture roost in > my yard, but it has no ill effects on my property or house. I just drive by > them in the morning, say hi, and off I go. The roost is not roosted upon > everyday. > > However, I have no idea what to suggest regarding the problem of these people > in New York. While I do not subscribe to the concept that god put anything > anywhere for a reason, I do believe that these vultures were poking around New > York a whole lot longer than we were. > > You mention a permit, but you don't mention what the permit would permit them > to do. If it is a permit to capture and transport them to another location, > sure, they should be granted one to give it a try. If the permit is to kill > them, I find this notion preposterous. > > Since I have no interest in buying a copy of People magazine, I can only > presume the problem they are having with the birds is the mess. I guess the > only thing I can do is feel sympathetic to the residents plight. Too bad the > birds picked their yard. > > Todd Day > Jeffersonton, VA -- Ellen Paul Chevy Chase,MD mailto:epaul@dclink.com