Deuteronomy 22:6
If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
The verse belongs to the laws God gave Israel as gracious guidance expressing the law they were to observe. It stands within the special instructions given by Moses in Deuteronomy 18-26, setting forth great principles for deciding questions and repeating laws for the government of Israel and the regulation of their worship. It forbids taking the mother bird together with her young or eggs from the nest, whether found in the way in any tree or on the ground with the dam sitting upon the young or upon the eggs.
It teaches kindness to animals and birds and protects them from cruelty and unnecessary cruelty. It was given to keep cruelty from developing in God's people. It places the bird as a creature under God's care and teaches respect for its preservation. It forbids robbing a nest or wantonly taking the life of a bird.
It stands with the same principle that forbids killing a cow or ewe and its young on the same day. Taking the young while killing the mother is cruel because it brings needless suffering and death to the brood. Wholesale slaughter stirs more cruelty and heartlessness than killing one animal at a time. It upholds the life and right to live of the innocent bird and the tiny occupants of its nest, which are disregarded when someone kills for pleasure. Therefore boys must be taught to be manly, fair, and kind and to be ashamed to admit such cruelty.