Bird commandeers car
A man has been left unable to move his car after a bird belonging to a protected species of dove landed on the windshield and made a nest. He decided to drive slowly forward in an attempt to persuade the bird to move, which it did.
But when
he looked inside the nest he found that the bird had already laid an egg. This particular type of dove is protected by bird law; more specifically, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He called the local wildlife and rescue, who informed him that "once it lays an egg, the bird is federally protected and cannot be moved".
According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which says: "Most bird nests are protected under the [MBTA]. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) it is illegal to destroy a nest that has eggs or chicks in it or if there are young birds that are still dependent on the nest for survival."
The list of migratory birds protected by the act includes Zenaida macroura, the mourning dove. You can get what is called a nest removal permit but they are usually only issued when the particular nest is causing a human health or safety concern or the birds are in immediate danger.
