Question:   Is there a New York State Law prohibiting kids from shooting songbirds with BB guns?  This is happening along the Niagara escarpment where I ride my horse.

Carol A. Schmelz, North Tonawanda, New York

Answer:  Carol--there may be a NYS law prohibiting the killing of songbirds, but with even more teeth there's a federal law, the international Migratory Bird Treaty Act, signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on 3 July 1918 (w/Canada) which was later extended (w/Mexico, 1936) to include all of North America.   Those convicted of harming migratory birds (which presently includes almost all birds) are subject to heavy fines, a prison term, or both. It's a shame these children haven't been better educated about having the proper respect for the creatures of the natural world, either by their parents who must know their children have BB guns, or in the classroom. Perhaps a local birding group would volunteer to provide some information fliers to school districts, starting with the school where it's likely the children you observed might be attending.

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