Laws/Legislation

A fairly large number of international treaties and domestic laws have been enacted that provide protection for migratory birds. To help put the legal authorities into perspective, we have categorized them as primary and secondary authorities. Primary authorities are international conventions and major domestic laws that focus primarily on migratory birds and their habitats. Secondary authorities are broad-based domestic environmental laws that provide ancillary but significant benefits to migratory birds and their habitats.

Primary Federal Authorities for Migratory Birds

For purposes of discussion, it is helpful to group the primary authorities of the United States for migratory birds into those that protect bird and bird populations (primarily) and those that protect bird habitats.

Protecting Bird Populations: Federal Laws

• Migratory Bird Treaty Act
• Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
• Endangered Species Act
• Other International Treaties
• Other Domestic Laws

Protecting Bird Habitats: Federal Laws

• North American Wetlands Conservation Act
• Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
• Duck Stamp Act (Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act)
•  Wetlands Loan Act
•  Emergency Wetlands Resources Act
•  Migratory Bird Conservation Act