[Avodah] Shiluach Hakan

[Gila Atwood]

> Now I am aware of the promised rewards for shiluach hakan but I cannot
> believe we are supposed to be tramping through woods frightening birds
> to secure long life.
>
> Alan Rubin
> _______________________________________________
Finding nests of kosher birds in the woods is quite difficult but happily 
it's unnecessary since rock doves alias feral pigeons/town pigeons are 
kosher, or rather, tahor, birds that breed plentifully around human 
habitation. Finding their nests is quite easy. (any ledge above eye level is 
good for them).  The main halachic problem with them is making sure the 
place they're nesting is hefker. (Can the ba'al habayit mafkir the place 
after the bird has already nested?) In Israel the same is also true for 
Laughing doves.  Best done at night when the female incubates (also early 
morning in case of laughing doves)

In the woods most tahor birds nest high in trees making their nests 
inaccessible but gamebirds such as quail, grouse, partridge nest on the 
ground. Their nests can be tricky to find because they're well camouflaged. 
If the clutch is large (usually the case with these birds) the loss of one 
or two eggs will not constitute tzaar baalei chaim or a conservation issue. 
Delicious too if your mesora allows you to eat them. (they are all tahor 
birds related to quail)