birds

[fishinjosh98]

can i shoot blue jays, legally?

[LOTWSvirgin]

I would say nope!!!

[gspman]

no

[Ufatz]

No! And assuming you could, why would you? I'm baffled.

[not_nuf_time]

Your kidding, right? Grab the regulation book, read through it and understand the terminology.

[vitalshot5]

From the rules and regulations.

UNPROTECTED BIRDS:

House sparrows, starlings, common pigeons, chukar partridge, quail,

other than northern bobwhite, and monk parakeets are unprotected

and may be taken at any time.

Protected Birds

• All birds for which seasons are established in these regulations are

protected

birds but may be taken as authorized.

• There is no open season on bobwhite quail, swans, hawks, owls,

eagles, herons, bitterns,

cormorants,

loons, grebes, or any other species

of birds except unprotected birds.

[mixxedbagg]

I'd strongly advise against it! Not only does state law prohibit doing that, but you would also be in violation of federal law. Blue Jays are covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. (Technically, under this act, you cannot even possess a Blue Jay feather.) The most recent revision of this act raised potential penalties for violation of this law to not more than $15,000 or 6 months in prison. (Even worse if you plan on selling the bird.) That's a serious penalty if you happened to get the judge who was an avid birdwatcher.

I'd learn to appreciate even the raucous Blue Jay if I were you.

[brittman]

Bluejays ?? Why would you even ask?

Now I have often wanted to take the BB gun after those migrating downy woodpeckers that cut lines of holes into my house. Maybe the DNR will provide me with a varience?

[mixxedbagg]

Sure those are downies? Lines of holes sounds like Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

I'm not sure what the MBTA says about wildlife that is damaging property, but I do know there are a number of products out there for dealing with woodpeckers...though I don't know anything about their effectiveness.

[brittman]

Sure those are downies? Lines of holes sounds like Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

I'm not sure what the MBTA says about wildlife that is damaging property, but I do know there are a number of products out there for dealing with woodpeckers...though I don't know anything about their effectiveness.

I will have to take a closer look. Both species are similar in appearance.

Do not ever remembering seeing red on the throat. Looking at google images and it appears I need to look at the coloration of the chest feathers. They are in the neighborhood right now

[mixxedbagg]

If they're around right now, they're Downy Woodpeckers. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers leave Minnesota for winter.

[Musky Buck]

Speaking of birds why is there a dozen mourning doves still coming each morning to my bird feeders, in central MN ? It was 3 below zero this morning and there they were, I thought they bolted sooner than this , but I guess the food is available.

[mixxedbagg]

They sometimes stick it out if food and cover are available. I had one in January in Itasca County once and my dad in Grand Rapids has a few of them still working his feeders. I think they're frequently seen on Christmas Bird Counts throughout Minnesota.

Also, make sure they're not Eurasian Collared-Doves...a new species to Minnesota which stays all winter. They have a little black collar on the back of the neck, a squared tail, they're slightly larger, and they are paler without the subtle colors Mourning Doves show. In a few years, I wouldn't be surprised to see them reported all over central Minnesota. They've been seen all over southwest Minnesota, we have a few in Grand Rapids now, and there have been sightings in Duluth as well.

[Crm7290]

Is there a season on the collared doves?

[EJ_Mac]

Quote:

I'm not sure what the MBTA says about wildlife that is damaging property, but I do know there are a number of products out there for dealing with woodpeckers...though I don't know anything about their effectiveness.

The only provision under the MBTA for property damage is to get a depredation permit. But those are normally only issued to organizations like airports (who have to keep bird populations down so they don't get sucked into jet exhausts).

[koonie]

Is there a season on the collared doves?

They are lumped in with mourning doves. Fire away.