U.S. eases trade restriction on bald eagle feathers between tribes

U.S. eases trade restriction on bald eagle feathers between tribes    The U.S. government will ease trade restrictions on the bald eagle now that the species has recovered in North America.
   The United States announced the change at the recent Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) meeting in Bangkok. The convention supported the U.S. proposal.
   The decision changes the classification of the bald eagle from Appendix I of CITES, which any trade is considered detrimental to the species’ survival, to Appendix II of the convention, which some strictly controlled trade is acceptable.
   “The downlisting of the bald eagle represents a true success story under CITES,” said David P. Smith, deputy assistant secretary of the Interior Department, in a statement.
   The U.S. government will ease trade between Native American tribes in the United States and Canada to exchange eagle feathers and parts used for religious ceremonies.
   Bald eagles in the United States are protected by the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues permits only for bona fide scientific research, display of live animals in zoos, educational purposes with non-releasable birds, and religious purposes by Native Americans.