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Birding/Feeding of sea birds

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Expert: - 1/28/2010


Question
Is it illegal to feed sea birds in the United States?  Is so, in all or just some states?

Thank you for your time.

Answer
There is no  overarching law that makes it illegal to feed any birds, seabirds or land birds. But there are federal, state, city, and local regulations that restrict or ban the feeding of birds. For example, it is illegal to feed seabirds or any other animal in any national park. Most national, state, and local parks have such a rule. There is no state regulation in any state governing seabird feeding across the board as far as I know. That said, generally it is not a good idea as it's not good for the birds.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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