Hi Folks,
I know there are a lot of new birders who subscribe to and read this list so I thought I should clarify something in Jim's message.
I'm sure Jim, as a representative of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, did not mean to suggest that it was ok to possess gnatcatcher and hummingbird nests in private collections. Both species and their nests are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which you can read more about here: www.fws.gov/pacific/migratorybirds/mbta.htm
Nests can be obtained for different purposes with the proper state and federal permits, though the justification for the issuance of those permits is usually limited to teaching or research purposes. If you do wish to obtain the necessary permits you can find the state permit application at this link: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/pub326.pdf I'm sure you can contact the US Fish & Wildlife Service to obtain the necessary federal permit applications.
Additionally, as representative of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Jim would be ethically obligated to uphold the policies of the Division of Wildlife which would include enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and state wildlife protection laws. If you do possess nests you may want to consider donating them to a public collection with the proper permits, like a museum, university, or nature center which would bolster the nest collections of those institutions.
Thanks,
Casey Tucker
Columbus, OH
**********************************************************************************************
> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 19:50:47 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Ruby-throated Hummingbird/Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nests
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I am writing to see if anyone has or knows about nests of Ruby-throated
> Hummingbirds and/or Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that are in collections, private
> or otherwise. And if so, if it would be possible for me to borrow the
> nest(s).
>
>
>
> I am working with Ray Showman, who is an expert on lichens, to document the
> species composition of lichens that these two bird species use in the
> construction of their nests. Nests with some location data are best - even
> to the county level - but we would like to examine nests that lack any sort
> of collection information, too. We're most interested in Ohio nests, but
> would like to inspect any nests we can get our hands on. Nest collections,
> at least of these two species, seem to be fairly sparse in academic
> collections, thus our attempt to cast a broader net.
>
>
>
> As you may or may not know, hummingbirds and gnatcatchers shingle the
> exterior of their nests with lichens, and bind the affair together with
> spider silk. Amazing construction jobs, really; I couldn't build one of
> those things with training from Martha Stewart and a doubling of my hand-eye
> coordination.
>
>
>
> Lichens are organisms created by the symbiotic pairing of a fungus and an
> alga, and form those interesting scaly crusts that we see on tree bark and
> rocks. They are among the most sensitive easily observed organisms in
> regards to air quality; lichens disappear rapidly if pollution becomes too
> oppressive. These birds clearly use them in part for camouflage, as lichens
> make their tiny cup nests look much like a bump on a branch, but lichens
> have some interesting chemical properties that may come into play.
>
>
>
> Anyway, if you can put me onto some nests it would be highly appreciated. We
> don't have to significantly alter the nests to study them, so I can return
> them after the study. If you have any leads, please contact me privately at
> this e-mail address. Thanks!
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> Jim McCormac
>
> Columbus, Ohio
>
> Like nature? Visit my blog: http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/
>
> Like birds? Join the Ohio Ornithological Society: http://www.ohiobirds.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
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