Instruction Sheet: Applying for an Aviculture Permit under the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022

General information

The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) serves to protect and conserve migratory birds, their nests and eggs in Canada, including in surrounding ocean waters. The Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (MBR) authorize permits for activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the MBCA or MBR.

An aviculture permit is issued under paragraph 12(1)(e) MBR, in accordance with section 76. Aviculture permits authorize permit holders to:

• buy, sell, exchange, give or possess live migratory birds or their eggs for avicultural purposes
• deposit bait to feed migratory birds that are bought, sold, exchanged, captured or possessed under the permit, subject to subsection 76(5); and
• kill migratory birds they possess, pursuant to the aviculture permit, in any manner except shooting, for consumption by the permit holder or other persons, but not for sale or any other purpose

Aviculture permit holders are prohibited from taking migratory birds and eggs from the wild, as well as releasing migratory birds into the wild held under an aviculture permit, unless authorized by the Minister of the Environment under the authority of the MBR. Live migratory birds and eggs held under an aviculture permit may only be bought, sold, exchanged, or given to other aviculture permit holders.

To request authorization to conduct these activities, you must complete the Application for a Migratory Bird Aviculture Permit form and send it to the regional Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) permitting office in your area by email (preferred), fax or regular mail. A list of regional permitting offices and contact information is at the end of this document. The $10 application fee must also be submitted with the application, preferably in the form of a cheque or money order made payable to the “Receiver General for Canada”. Cash is also accepted.

Applications are processed on a first-come first-served basis. Aviculture permit decisions are made within the specified number of calendar days upon receiving the application, the annual fee payment and any required supporting documents. Incomplete, unsigned or illegible application forms cannot be processed and will result in a delay or even refusal of your application. When incomplete applications are received, ECCC will notify the applicant and the application will be placed on hold until all the missing information is received.

To obtain information on the current service standard for aviculture permit applications, consult the Environment and Climate Change Canada website or contact your regional Canadian Wildlife Service permitting office.

Please note: In the instructions that follow, where the information requested under a section of the application form is self-explanatory, no description is provided in the instructions for that section. In these cases, the section number is listed as a placeholder in order to follow the sequence of the application form.

Section 1: Applicant information

1.1 Contact information

The applicant is the individual to whom the permit would be issued. If the permit is approved, the applicant becomes an aviculture permit holder. They are then responsible for ensuring that permit terms and conditions are met and for reporting on activities.

1.2 Previous Permits

Select “no” or “yes” to all questions. If “yes” is selected for any of the questions, the applicant must provide the requested information (i.e. permit number, or appropriate reason or explanation).

Section 2: Species and experience

2.1 Species

A list of all migratory game bird species that may qualify for an aviculture permit can be found at the end of this document.

2.2 Experience

The applicant should possess some knowledge and/or experience to ensure adequate care of the birds. This information or a description of where and how they have obtained such knowledge or experience should be included in the application. This can include experience with migratory birds, in animal husbandry (e.g. through farming), reading relevant publications, or working for/with an experienced aviculturist or current aviculture permit holder. Regardless of the level of experience that the applicant possesses, the permit application form requires all applicants to attest that they will follow generally accepted avicultural practices.

Section 3: Facility and location

3.1 Facility

The applicant must provide the dimensions (total area in m²) and a written description of the facility and holding pens, seasonal shelter, cages and fencing. The applicant must submit an appropriate account of the relative enclosure size, how birds will be prevented from escaping enclosures, evidence of water supply, feeding areas and wintering facilities.  The applicant must also indicate the specific dimensions for pens and enclosures (length (in meters) x width (in meters)). There should be a detailed description that illustrates the following:

1. the facility, to give a sense of where and how the birds will be kept
2. the seasonal shelter, including the cage size and type of material
3. all other pens and cages, indicating the structure’s size
4. the fence, indicating its structure and sturdiness; and
5. the pond or watering hole

Any pen or area intended to hold captive migratory birds must be enclosed by fencing. The fencing must prevent the birds from escaping. A complete enclosure (which has a top) must be used if you do not want to use measures such as wing clipping (trimming a bird’s primary wing feathers to prevent full flight) and pinioning (surgical removal of one pinion joint to prevent flight) to prevent a bird’s escape. All birds must have access to seasonal shelter with dry bedding for protection from the cold winter weather.

Animal holding facilities must be separate from human living and recreation areas. An inspection may be required before a permit can be approved.

Note: Permit Officers may request additional information, such as photographs, if the descriptions provided are inadequate or insufficient. When possible, it is recommended that photographs of the facility be included.

3.2 Location

When the address of the location(s) is not a street address or where the site is difficult to find (i.e., a P.O. Box is used as a mailing address), other location coordinate types, such as latitude and longitude coordinates, can be used. The applicant may also attach a map showing the site location, instead of a written description of how to locate it.

Note: If migratory birds or specimens are to be shipped or transported, other permits or permissions may be required. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Labelling requirements under the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 also apply (see Justice Laws Website).

Section 4: Measures for controlling the migratory birds

The applicant must have control of the migratory birds held under your permit so that they cannot escape and mix with wild species. Select the method(s) to be used from the checklist.

Section 5: Documents and application fee

All new applicants must submit the following with their completed permit application form:

• $10 application fee. A cheque or money order made payable to the “Receiver General for Canada”. The fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee the issuance of a permit. Cash is accepted, however, a cheque or money order is the preferred method of payment
• o If a cheque is returned for non-sufficient funds (NSF), a new cheque for the original amount plus the administration fees to cover the cost of the NSF cheque must be submitted in the amount of $35 ($10 for the permit plus $25 for NSF fees) before the application can be processed
• Photographs of the facility. Review Section 3.1 of this document for information on photographs to include with the application

Note: If a permit is issued, it is the permit holder’s responsibility to keep the log book and transaction record documents up-to-date during the currency of the permit. A report of activities conducted under the permit must also be prepared and submitted to the Canadian Wildlife Service permitting office that originally issued the permit on or before January 31^st of the year following each calendar year the aviculture permit was held.

Section 6: Statement of certification and applicant signature

The name in this section must match the name of the applicant in Section 1.1 of the application form.

The signature binds the applicant to the statement of certification. Please ensure that all the information is correct and that the statement is read and understood before signing and dating the application.

Note: If the applicant does not sign the application, the application cannot be processed.

Contact information for Canadian Wildlife Service offices (by region)

Atlantic Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick
17 Waterfowl Lane,
P.O. Box 6227
Sackville, NB E4L 1G6

Telephone: 506-364-5068 / Fax: 506-364-5062
Email: Permi.Atl@ec.gc.ca

Quebec
801-1550 Avenue d'Estimauville
Quebec, QC G1J 0C3

Telephone: 418-649-6129 / Fax: 418-648-4871
Email: PermisSCFQuebec-CWSQuebecPermit@ec.gc.ca

Ontario
335 River Road
Ottawa, ON K1V 1C7

Telephone: 613--990-8355 / Fax: 613-990-8400
Email: wildlifeontario@ec.gc.ca

Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
115 Perimeter Road
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4

Telephone: 306-975-4090 / Fax: 306-975-4089
Email: prpermisscf-cwspermitpr@ec.gc.ca

British Columbia
60 Front Street L3
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7

Telephone: 250-327-4101 / Fax: 604-946-7022
Email: scfpacpermitscwspacpermits@ec.gc.ca

Northern Region: Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon
P.O. Box 1870
Suite 301-933 Mivvik St.
Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0

Telephone: 867-975-4636 / Fax: 867-975-4645
Email : cwspermitnorth@ec.gc.ca

Please visit the Contact information for Canadian Wildlife Service office (by region) for the most up-to-date information.