This permit is required to possess and transport migratory birds for conservation education purposes. You may request live migratory birds and/or “dead” migratory birds (e.g. specimens, parts, feathers, nests, and eggs). You may request salvage authorization to be added to your permit; you do not need to submit a separate Salvage Permit application.
You may not take possession of a bird prior to approval by your Migratory Bird Permit Office. A minimum of 12 educational programs per year is required. If birds are on display in an exhibit for educational purposes, you must be open to the public for a minimum of 400 hours per year. Possession of live or dead migratory birds and their parts for personal use is prohibited.
Who Needs It
The intent of this permit is wildlife conservation education. Conservation, biology, and/or ecology must be a primary component of all educational programs conducted using migratory birds. Other topics such as history of falconry and cultural significance of birds may also be included in the program.
Caretaker Requirements
You must be at least 18 years of age and have a minimum of 240 hours of experience working with migratory bird education and husbandry, gained over the course of at least 1 year. Your experience must include:
- Handling
- Caring for (including medical management)
- Training
- Exhibiting the species, or similar species, you intend to acquire and use in educational programs.
In addition, if you intend to glove-train migratory birds for educational programs, your experience should include at least 20 programs using glove-trained migratory birds over the course of at least 1 year. Up to 40 hours of your experience may be fulfilled by participation in migratory bird/raptor handling seminars and courses.
Caging Requirements
All migratory birds authorized by a Federal Special Purpose Possession – Education (Live) permit must be maintained under humane and healthful conditions as required in 50 CFR 13.41. Facilities must be adequate for each species you plan to possess. In evaluating whether caging dimensions are adequate for raptors, the Service will use as a guideline the standards established by the Raptor Center, University of Minnesota’s “Raptors in Captivity: Guidelines for Care and Management”. In evaluating whether caging dimensions are adequate for other migratory bird species, the Service will use as a guideline the standards established by the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association’s “Wildlife in Education: A Guide for the Care and Use of Program Animals”. These publications are available from the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association at https://www.nwrawildlife.org/.
Educational Program Requirements
A minimum of 12 gloved programs that are open to the public must be presented each year. If birds are only on static display for educational purposes, birds must be on public exhibit for a minimum of 400 hours per year. The authority to possess migratory birds will be subject to re-evaluation if this requirement is not met.
What is not covered by this permit?
Migratory birds possessed or transported for educational purposes may not be displayed in any manner that implies personal use. You may not use migratory birds to promote or endorse any product, merchandise, goods, services, business or organization except your own educational activities. Educational programs are not considered commercial activities.
Process
Submit an Application
To submit an application online or through the mail, follow the instructions on our ePermits site.
Need to submit your annual report?
Download form 3-202-5 to mail in.
Application Fee
- $75
- Application fee is on-refundable.
- Federal, Tribal, State, and local government agencies, and those acting on the behalf of such agencies, are exempt from the processing fee (documentation may be required).