A friend of mine claims to have come up with this story on his own:

A fellow was brought before the judge because he had been caught cooking and eating an endangered California condor. The man threw himself upon the mercy of the court.

"Your honor, I know what I did was wrong. I was out hunting, and I shot the condor before I realized what it was. You can imagine how horrified I was when I discovered what I had done. I panicked. I prepared a fire and cooked the bird, thinking maybe I should just eat the evidence. I wasn't thinking straight. I am so sorry for what I've done."

The judge considered. The man had a completely clean record and was an upstanding member of his community. He hardly seemed likely to become a menace to society.

"Son, the court is willing to overlook what you did this one time. Case dismissed." After banging his gavel, though, he motioned the man over to the bench.

"I do have one question, speaking as one sportsman to another."

"Yes, your honor?"

"What did the condor taste like?"

The man smiled and offered an aw-shucks shrug. "Well, your honor, it tasted kinda like a cross between a bald eagle and a spotted owl."