The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), codified at  /703 §§ 703 –/712 712  (although §709 is omitted), is a United States federal law, first enacted in 1916 to implement the convention for the protection of migratory birds between the United States and Great Britain (acting on behalf of Canada). The statute makes it unlawful without a waiver to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, or sell birds listed therein migratory birds)