Education Department Series - Part I: - Traveling Outside of the US With Your Pet Bird

Education Department Series - Part I:

Traveling Outside of the U.S. With Your Pet Bird

By Kerri McCoy

If your family is longing for that much needed "get away from it all" abroad vacation and you absolutely, positively, have to bring your beloved "George" the Peachfaced Lovebird, or "Clarence" your Cutthroat Finch, this article is for you.

This article is the first in a three part series on laws and current regulations that affect our bird keeping. I hope that this series provides insight to our NFSS members and better equips them to practice our hobby in a fashion that doesn’t put them at risk. Whether you are traveling out of the country with your CITES bird, purchasing CITES birds abroad, or purchasing CITES birds right here at home this series will provide some of you with eye opening information and for those more informed hobbyists there will be a test on the CITES appendices at the end of this article. (Only kidding).

You will find that all three articles in this series will include the appendix listings for finches. I know, it is repetitive, but it is imperative that each and every one of us become familiar with just which species are currently on the CITES appendices. Those of you that actually read our Bulletin rather than using it as a cage liner will hopefully acquire something worthwhile from this series.

There are numerous incidents where hobbyists unaware of the rules and regulations were forced into a situation that they surely would have liked to avoid. The family that travels with their pet bird to Canada as an example, for perhaps a well deserved vacation is unaware that they will be stopped at the border and refused entry into Canada without a CITES permit for their CITES listed pet bird.

Or worse, the family that somehow managed to cross the border into Canada and is now returning to the US is forced to leave their bird behind in Canada, return home and apply for CITES permits for both Canada and the United States in order to legally take their bird back home! Those that are lucky only have to make arrangements for pet sitting for their bird in the meantime. Others have been detained and fined for not having the proper permits in the first place.

The majority of individuals in this situation would have gladly applied for the proper permits had they known they needed them in the first place. If you are going to travel with your pet bird outside of the United States I implore you to contact the appropriate offices in both countries to apply for all the necessary paperwork. This can include CITES permits, import/export licenses, health certificates, and in some instances reservations at a quarantine station at the arriving country. Do all your research well ahead of time. The turnaround time for a CITES permit is at a minimum 60 days. You can also visit our NFSS website at: http://www.nfss.org under the legislation subtitle for links to sites that provide detailed information on traveling with pet birds.

All parrot species except the Cockatiel and Budgie are CITES listed species. The following finch species are CITES listed species:

Appendix I:

Carduelis cucullata – Red Siskin

Appendix II:

Amandava formosa – Green Avadavat

Carduelis yarrellii – Yellow-faced Siskin

Gubernatrix cristata – Yellow Cardinal, Green Cardinal

Padda oryzivora – Java Rice Bird, Java Sparrow

Paroaria capitata – Yellow-billed Cardinal

Paroaria coronata – Red-crested Cardinal

Poephila cincta cincta – Southern Black-throated Finch, Parson Finch

Appendix III:

Amadina fasciata – Cutthroat Finch, Ribbon Finch

Amandava subflava – Orange-breasted or Gold-breasted Waxbill

Amblyospiza albifrons – Grosbeak Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps – Red-headed Weaver

Anomalospiza imberbis – Parasitic Weaver, Cuckoo Weaver

Bubalornis albirostris – White-billed Buffalo Weaver

Estrilda astrild – Saint Helena Waxbill, Common Waxbill

Estrilda caerulescens – Lavender Firefinch, Lavender Waxbill

Estrilda melpoda – Orange-cheeked Waxbill

Estrilda troglodytes – Red-eared Waxbill, Black-rumped Waxbill

Euplectes afer – Golden Bishop, Napoleon Weaver

Euplectes ardens – Red-collared Widowbird or Red-collared Whydah

Euplectes franciscanus – Orange Weaver, Orange Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus – Black-winged Bishop, Fire-crowned Bishop

Euplectes macrourus – Yellow-mantled Whydah, Yellow-backed Whydah

Lagonosticta rara – Black-bellied Firefinch, Black-bellied Waxbill

Lagonosticta rubricata – African Firefinch, Blue-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta rufopicta – Bar-breasted Firefinch, Bar-breasted Waxbill

Lagonosticta senegala – Senegal Firefinch, Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta vinacea – Vinaceous Firefinch, Vinaceous Waxbill

Lonchura bicolor – Black-and-white Munia, Black-and-white Mannikin

Lonchura cantans – African Silverbill

Lonchura cucullata – Bronze-winged Mannikin, Bronze Mannikin

Lonchura fringilloides – Magpie Mannikin, Pied Mannikin

Malimbus cassini – Black-throated Malimbe, Cassin’s Malimbe

Malimbus malimbicus – Crested Malimbe

Malimbus nitens – Gray’s Malimbe, Blue-billed Malimbe

Malimbus rubricollis – Red-headed Malimbe, Red-headed Weaver

Malimbus scutatus – Red-vented Malimbe

Mandingoa nitidula – Green-backed Twinspot, Green Twinspot

Nesocharis capistrata – Gray-headed Olive-back, White-cheeked Olive Weaver

Nigrita bicolor – Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch

Nigrita canicapilla – Gray-crowned Negrofinch, Gray-headed Negrofinch

Nigrita fusconota – White-breasted Negrofinch

Nigrita luteifrons – Pale-fronted Negrofinch

Ortygospiza atricollis – African Quailfinch

Pachyphantes superciliosus – Compact Weaver

Parmoptila rubrifrons – Red-fronted Antpecker, Jameson’s Antpecker

Passer griseus – Gray-headed Sparrow

Petronia dentata – Bush Sparrow, Bush Petronia

Pholidornis rushiae – Tit-hylia

Plocepasser superciliosus – Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver

Ploceus albinucha – White-naped Weaver, Maxwell’s Black Weaver

Ploceus aurantius – Orange Weaver

Ploceus cucullatus – Village Weaver, Spot-backed Weaver

Ploceus heuglini – Heuglin’s Masked-Weaver

Ploceus luteolus – Little Weaver

Ploceus melanocephalus – Black-headed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver

Ploceus nigerrimus – Vieillot’s Black Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis – Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus pelzelni – Slender-billed Weaver

Ploceus preussi – Preuss’s Weaver, Yellow-capped or Golden-backed Weaver

Ploceus tricolor – Yellow-mantled Weaver

Ploceus vitellinus – Vitelline Masked-Weaver

Pyrenestes ostrinus – Black-bellied Seedcracker

Pytilia hypogrammica – Red-faced Pytilia, Yellow-winged Pytilia

Pytilia phoenicoptera – Aurora Finch, Crimson-winged or Red-winged Pytilia

Quelea erythrops – Red-headed Quelea, Red-headed Dioch

Serinus canicapillus – West African Seedeater

Serinus leucopygius – White-rumped Seedeater, Gray Singing Finch

Serinus mozambicus – Yellow-fronted Canary, Green Singing Finch

Spermophaga haematina – Western Bluebill, Blue-billed Weaver

Sporopipes frontalis – Speckle-fronted Weaver, Scaly-fronted Weaver

Uraeginthus bengalus – Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, Cordonbleu

Vidua chalybeata – Green or Village Indigobird, Senegal Combassou

Vidua interjecta – Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah

Vidua larvaticola – Baka Indigobird

Vidua macroura – Pin-tailed Whydah

Vidua orientalis – Northern Paradise-Whydah

Vidua raricola – Jambandu Indigobird

Vidua togoensis – Togo Paradise-Whydah

Vidua wilsoni – Pale-winged Indigobird, Wilson’s Indigobird

The exhaustive list, which includes numerous softbill and other bird species is available in its entirety at: http://international.fws.gov/cites/cites.html For those without internet access you can write for the full appendices at the following address: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Management Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203 Phone: 800-358-2104, Fax: 703-358-2281.

If you are traveling outside of the United States with your CITES Parrot or CITES Finch you need to follow these guidelines:

Contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service and ask them to mail you a CITES permit application. Their address is: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Management Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203 Phone: 800-358-2104, Fax: 703-358-2281. Cost per application submitted is $25. You must also state the port (or border), which you will be traveling through on your application. Your permit will be good for use only at that port unless you have a port exemption permit, which is an additional $25. TIP: make sure to write down the name and direct phone number for the biologist handling your application. It will greatly enhance your ability to speak with the right person and keep your blood pressure down at the same time

Contact the wildlife office in the country you will be visiting to find out what their specific rules are for bringing your pet bird with you. The USFW office should be able to provide you with contact information for all CITES participating countries and/or you can also look up the contact information at: http://international.fws.gov/cites/mgmtaut1.html. Canada for example does not require an import permit for CITES II and III listed species but does require an export permit to return home. If visiting Canada contact: CITES Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Phone: 819-997-1840, Fax: 819-953-6283. There is no charge for a Canadian CITES application. Other countries may vary. TIP: have the office fax you their country requirements. In my experience the border patrol says/does something different than what the wildlife office regulations state. Do not expect the border patrol to know their finch and parrot species. Come prepared.

All countries will require a health certificate for entry with your pet bird. The federal vet in your state must endorse these health certificates. Contact your local avian veterinarian to have the health certificate issued. Cost will run between $22-$30 depending upon your vet. Countries vary in terms of requirements for reissuing a health certificate when you return to the United States. It depends upon the length of time you will be out of the country. Check with the US office of Department of Agriculture and the visiting country's Agriculture department for specifics. Or visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

If you intend to bring more than 8 birds with you on your trip you must apply for a commercial import/export license from the USFW. Cost per license is $50 and is renewable yearly. You need to contact the local USFW office in your area. The CITES office of USFW should be able to provide you with contact information.

A reservation for quarantine needs to be made in advance with the country you are visiting provided that country requires quarantine. Canada does not require quarantine for 2 or less hookbills coming from the United States. Finches are exempt from quarantine if coming from the United States.

Normally the country you are leaving and the country you are visiting require an appointment in advance for inspection at the border of your pet bird. Not making arrangements for an appointment in advance can cause lengthy waiting times at the border or inability to cross the border that day. The cost for the USFW export inspection is $55 for non-CITES birds and $95 for CITES birds. You will pay the same amount when you return to the US. Cost for inspection for the country you are visiting will vary. TIP: I have experienced waiting time and inspection times ranging from 1 hour to 4 1/2 hours. Prepare yourself for the long haul.

Upon returning to the United States you must be inspected by the Department of Agriculture as well as the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Cost for inspection by USFW is $55 for non-CITES birds and $95 for CITES birds. Appointments again are highly recommended. It will help you to avoid lengthy waiting times. The cost for the inspection by the Dept. of Agriculture is normally $16 depending upon the amount of birds you have with you. You will need to contact the Dept of Agriculture office at the border to which you are traveling through. TIP: Again prepare yourself for the long haul and make sure you notify Dept of Agriculture of your arrival. They sometimes close their office at odd times.

Sound complicated? It is. That is why the majority of people do not travel outside of the country with their pet birds. However, if you endeavor to do so, following the above guidelines will help you keep your "ducks in a row" and minimize any surprises. And, if you find your blood pressure rising just from reading this article, leave Clarence and George at home in the care of a much trusted friend.