Migratory Birds

Act: Migratory Birds Convention Act, S.C. 1994, c. 22
Regulation: Migratory Birds Regulations, C.R.C., Vol. XI, c. 1035, p. 8143, as amended

To Whom Does This Apply?

Persons whose activities risk causing harm to birds need to be aware of required permits and regulations prohibiting certain activities. Affected persons and businesses include:

• hunters and users of migratory game birds
• taxidermists
• aviculturalists
• businesses training retriever dogs
• businesses using eiderdown
• researchers studying birds

Eligible Activities

Hunting, trafficking or commercialization of migratory birds.

Summary

The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and its Regulations protect migratory birds, their eggs and nests. The Act and Regulations regulate hunting, prevent trafficking and commercialization, harm to birds nests and eggs, harm to birds by pollution. They also control the uses of migratory birds through permits.

Harmful substances may not be deposited into areas frequented by Migratory birds.

Migratory birds may not be sold or used in commercial trade unless authorized by a permit.

Aviculturalists may buy and sell captive-bred birds to other aviculturalists, with the authorization of a permit.

Hunters can give away their birds for the purposes of mounting or human consumption, or for training dogs as retrievers. Hunters are not allowed to give away their birds for the collection of feathers, a commercial activity.

A person may sell the feathers of migratory game birds for the purpose of making fishing flies, bedding, clothing or other similar uses if the feather used is obtained under the authority of a valid migratory game bird hunting permit.

A person may collect, possess, sell or transport eiderdown with the authorization of a permit.

Permits

Scientific Permit	No charge
Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit/Conservation Stamp	$17
Avicultural Permit	$10
Taxidermist Permit	$10
Eiderdown Permit	$10

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permits can be purchased from Canada Post as well as from provincial vendors in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.

Any other permit can be obtained from a regional contact listed below.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
Ms. Lorraine Tomkewich
Wildlife Enforcement Division
Environment Canada
115 Perimeter Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S7N 0X4
Telephone: 306-975-5042
Fax: 306-975-6061
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html
 

 

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National Contact(s):
Ms. Hélène Lévesque
Migratory Birds Conservation
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-953-1419
Fax: 819-994-4445
E-mail: Hélène.Lévesque@ec.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html