BIRDSings

Legal Disclaimer

Read carefully before using BirdSings audio files for hunting. Rules differ in every country — and often by region and species within a country.

1. International framework

• EU Birds Directive 2009/147/EC, Art. 8 — generally prohibits the use of "tape recorders" for capturing or killing birds, with limited derogations granted by national authorities. Each Member State implements this differently; rules below summarize the implementation.
• Bern Convention (1979) — Appendix IV bans the use of "tape recorders" for the deliberate killing or capture of wild birds among Council of Europe states.
• AEWA (African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement) — additional restrictions on calling for migratory waterbirds across 119 contracting parties.

2. Europe

• Greece — Use of electronic decoys for hunting protected species is prohibited (PD 332/1983, JMD 414985/1985). Only specific traditional, non-electronic calls of unprotected species are allowed during the open season.
• Italy — L.157/1992 art. 21 prohibits "richiami acustici a funzionamento elettromagnetico" for hunting, with regional derogations for certain species (e.g. some corvids).
• Germany — Bundesjagdgesetz §19; electronic calls generally prohibited for hunting. Use for falconry training varies by Bundesland.
• France — Code de l'environnement Art. L424-4; recorded calls forbidden for hunting, with narrow exceptions for corvid (crow/magpie) damage control.
• Spain — Real Decreto 1095/1989 + autonomous-community rules; electronic calls prohibited for most species; localized exceptions for invasive species control.
• United Kingdom — Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 §5(1)(b); using "any sound recording" to lure wild birds for taking or killing is an offence except under a general/individual licence issued by Natural England, NatureScot, NRW, or DAERA (e.g. corvid control under General Licences).
• Austria, Switzerland — electronic calls generally banned by the cantonal/Bundesländer hunting acts.
• Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia — electronic decoys forbidden for hunting under national implementations of the Birds Directive / Bern Convention. Limited derogations exist for invasive species, ringing, or scientific research.
• Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) — electronic calls for hunting prohibited as a rule; specific exceptions for invasive species (e.g. Canada goose in some regions) or wildlife-management orders.
• Türkiye — Kara Avcılığı Kanunu (Law No. 4915); use of electronic decoys for hunting is prohibited.
• Russia — Federal Hunting Law 209-FZ and regional rules; use of audio decoys regulated, prohibited for certain species (e.g. capercaillie, black grouse); spring derogations vary by oblast.
• Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova — electronic decoys regulated; consult Derzhecoinspektsiya or your regional huntsmen's society.

3. Americas

• United States — The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. §§703–712) and 50 CFR §20.21(g) prohibit the use of electronic calls when hunting migratory birds, with narrow exceptions (e.g. light/snow/Ross's geese conservation order, sandhill crane and Eurasian collared-dove in some states). State law adds further restrictions; check with your state Department of Wildlife.
• Canada — Migratory Birds Convention Act 1994; using a recorded bird call to hunt migratory birds is prohibited unless authorized for overabundant species (e.g. snow goose spring conservation harvest). Provincial law applies to upland and resident game.
• Mexico — Ley General de Vida Silvestre + NOM regulations; electronic calls regulated; permits required.
• Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil — national and provincial hunting/wildlife laws vary; electronic decoys generally restricted for migratory and protected species.

4. Middle East, Asia, Africa, Oceania

• Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman — hunting heavily regulated; electronic calls and decoys generally prohibited for native species. Falconry-related uses may require permits from the local environment authority.
• Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria — national hunting laws restrict electronic decoys; AEWA obligations apply to Mediterranean migratory routes.
• Iran, Pakistan, India — wildlife protection laws restrict use; permits required.
• Australia — state and territory Wildlife Acts (e.g. Victoria's Wildlife Act 1975, NSW Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002); use of recorded calls for native birds generally prohibited; allowed for declared pest/feral species under permit.
• New Zealand — Wildlife Act 1953; use of recorded calls regulated by the Director-General of Conservation; permitted for game bird hunting under regional Game Bird Hunting Notices.
• South Africa — National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act + provincial ordinances; electronic calls generally restricted; permits required.

5. Identification, research, education, and entertainment use

Use for bird identification, ornithological research, ringtones, educational content, broadcast (with separate commercial license), film foley, and personal listening is permitted under the basic license — see Terms of Service §1.

6. Animal welfare

Even where legal, prolonged playback can stress birds, particularly during breeding and nesting periods. We recommend minimal-intensity use, short sequences, and respecting nesting and migration peaks. Avoid playback near nests, roosts, or species listed under IUCN Red List or your local equivalent.

7. No legal advice

Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. Consult your local hunting authority, ringing/banding office, or attorney before any field use. Laws change; the summary above reflects our understanding at the last-updated date and may not be current for your jurisdiction.

8. Hold harmless

By purchasing, you agree to indemnify BirdSings against any claim arising from your use of the audio in violation of applicable laws, including fines, penalties, and reasonable legal fees.