Wildlife / Birds
Birds have their own strong protection, and it surprises people: nearly all native birds are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. That means you may not kill or keep them - and you may not keep their feathers, nests, or eggs, even ones you find on the ground.
You can't remove or destroy a nest with eggs or young in it without a federal permit. If a nest is in an inconvenient spot, wait until it's empty and the birds have moved on, then take it down. (Eagle nests are always protected, active or not.)
For protected native birds, you can't keep a found feather - or a nest or eggs - even if you found it on the ground. Feathers of legally hunted game birds and the non-native species below are fine.
The exceptions: A few non-native birds are not protected and may be controlled at any time: European starlings, house (English) sparrows, feral pigeons (rock doves), and Eurasian collared-doves.
Official sources
Bird protection comes from the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), with TPWD enforcing protections in Texas. A few non-native species are not covered.
Caution: Federal bird law is strict, and there are narrow permit rules for nests and salvage. The official USFWS pages are the final word.
