Feathers

["Robert Read" <>]

I think that there is similar legislation Australia-wide.  I suspect that in
part it goes back to the days when egrets were slaughtered for their plumes
and it was necessary to legislate to protect them.  Also possibly to prevent
anyone caught with illegally taken birds using the defence that "I found it
dead".
An unfortunate consequence is that it is illegal to pick up road-kills to
pass them on to museums, even though the museums are very happy to get
specimens in good condition.
Despite the law I regularly pick up road-kills for the local museum.
The benefits to the museum, which is currently trying to build up a
reference collection of  local skins, far outweigh the risk of my being
prosecuted.
The chances of getting caught by the police are very small.
Even if caught it is unlikely that the police would waste time laying
charges on what is obviously a technical offence.
If prosecuted, with my clean record and being able to demonstrate a history
of handing specimens to the museum I would probably at worst get a suspended
sentence.

Robert Read
Alice Springs