Form 3-186a at a glance
What it is: Form 3-186a is the Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Application Form for Migratory Bird Acquisition and Disposition (Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 50 CFR 21.29, 21.30) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Who signs: The Signature of Permittee/Principal Officer is signed here, with the Date of Signature.
A filled-in Form 3-186a example: a falconer reports a gift of a hawk
How to fill out Form 3-186a, box by box
Species, band number and age
In Section 1, enter the SPECIES and the USFWS Band Number. Mark the Sex as Male, Female or Unknown and the Source as Captive-bred or Wild. Enter the Microchip Number (if applicable). Mark the Age as Nestling, Immature or Adult and enter the Year of Hatch.
Sender
In Section 2, the SENDER is the person transferring the bird: enter the USFWS Permit No., the Name, the Date of Transfer (or other action), the Address, City, State, Zip and E-Mail Address.
For the Permit, mark State Falconry, FWS Raptor Propagation, FWS Rehabilitation (see instructions) or Other. For Transfer, mark Gift, Sale or Loan.
Release or loss
If Release or Loss, mark Release, Escape, Theft or Death, and for Death enter the Cause of Death.
Recipient
In Section 3, the RECIPIENT is the person acquiring the bird: enter the USFWS Permit No., the Name, the Date of Acquisition, the Address, City, State, Zip and E-Mail Address.
For the Permit Type, mark State Falconry, FWS Raptor Propagation or Other. For the Type of Acquisition, mark Gift, Purchase, Loan or Capture/Recapture (complete section 4).
Capture or recapture
Section 4 is the CAPTURE OR RECAPTURE of a bird taken from the wild: provide the band number in Section 1, mark Capture or Recapture, and for all species enter the County (or comparable subdivision) and State of trapping location. If you captured a gyrfalcon, mark its color: Grey, Black, White or Unknown (Nestling).
Re-banding
Section 5 is RE-BANDING, to report the re-banding of a wild or captive-bred bird. REQUIRED: Old bands returned to Migratory Bird Permit Office. Mark Seamless Metal, Yellow Plastic, Black Plastic or Microchip and enter the Old Number and the New Number.
Print name, phone number and signature
Enter the Print name and the Phone Number (with area code).
No stamped signatures. Electronic signatures accepted.
Common questions about Form 3-186a
Where do I file it?
Before filling out the form, access the Return Addresses to obtain the email/postal mail addresses where the form can be returned, and read the form Instructions.
Is there a penalty?
In Section 6, CERTIFICATION, you certify that the information submitted above is true and correct to the best of your knowledge, and you understand that making a false statement may subject you to the criminal penalties of 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Sources
[1] Form 3-186a (Rev. 01/2020), Migratory Bird Acquisition and Disposition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Official source link on this page).