So You Want an Eagle...

In the 1970’s the National Eagle Repository was located in Pocatello, Idaho and in the 80’s it was operated out of a forensic lab in Ashland, Oregon. The National Eagle Repository of today in Denver, Colorado came about President Clinton signed an executive memorandum in 1994 after meeting with 300 tribal leaders reforming the repository and moving it to Denver. The National Eagle Repository remains the only source for feathers and parts of eagles. In a pilot program starting in 2010, two non-eagle feather repositories were created: one in Scottsdale at Liberty Wildlife and one in Cyril, Oklahoma at the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological initiative (SIA). These provide feathers and parts of birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Act, but are not eagles, relieving pressure off of the Denver operation.

SO YOU WANT AN EAGLE...  

Step 1:

Submit a Permit Application and First Order request and a certificate of Enrollment in a Federally Recognized Tribe (Form 3-200-15A) to the Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office of the State you live in.

In order to fill those out, you will need a tribal enrollment number and an official of you tribe certifying that you are who you say you are.

Step 2:

The Permit office of your State will approve or deny your claim.

Step 3:

You will be issued a permit to “possess for religious purposes eagle carcasses or parts (including feathers) provided by the Repository.”

Step 4:

Your application will be sent to the National Feather Repository and you will be placed on a waiting list.

Step 5:

Now for the waiting game. Depending on what you order, you may have to wait years. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, below is the approximate waiting time.

Whole immature golden eagles--- Approximately 5 years

Whole adult golden eagles--- Approximately 4½ years

Whole adult and immature bald eagles--- Approximately 2½ years

Whole tail only – golden eagle--- Approximately 4 ½ - 5

Whole tail only – bald eagle--- Approximately 2 – 2 ½ years

Pair of eagle wings--- Approximately 1 year

10 loose quality feathers--- Approximately 6 months

20 miscellaneous feathers--- Approximately 3 months

Trunks only--- On receipt of request

Head only--- On receipt of request

Talons only--- On receipt of request

Link to Application: http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-15a.pdf

CG