Are you looking for how to ship your newly bought parrot? If your answer is yes, this post will provide you with a comprehensive shipping procedure for a newly bought parrot. You have to understand that shipping a newly bought parrot is easy. When it comes to shipping birds, things can become tricky. There is an extensive amount of paperwork involved in shipping a feathered bird overseas.
There are certain risks involved with shipping your newly bought pet bird. In this article, we will look at the things involved in shipping a bird to your location.
What exactly is involved in shipping your parrot to the United States, Canada, or any other country? Here are informative and comprehensive things to keep in mind when shipping your newly bought pet bird.
Shipping Guide For Your Newly Bought Parrot
1. You need to know the pre-export, and post-import requirements
This is arguably the toughest step in shipping a newly bought bird internationally. It is not enough for you to know those export requirements for the country or location you are shipping. You also need to understand the import requirements for your destination country. Your bird must originate from a region that is free of Avian Influenza. Some countries like Japan demand that birds be kept in an "embarkation quarantine facility" for 21 days before departure time. This is done to prevent the entry of mosquitoes.
Other countries have their peculiar paperwork regarding the shipping of pet birds like a parrot. You will have to understand the requirements of your export country and that of your destination country.
2. Check the CITES status of your parrot.
Before you start making preparations to ship your newly bought parrot, it is important to understand its CITES status. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) protects endangered species and other exotic species that may be susceptible to endangerment if the trade is left unchecked.
If your newly bought pet parrot is listed as a CITES protected species, you will need to ensure you have all the right permits beforehand. If your bird is departing from the United States, you need to have your bird inspected. Also, the permits must be issued by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service before departure. You will need between 6 to 7 months to acquire the necessary documentation needed to legally ship a CITES species.
If your parrot is not among the species listed by CITES, you won't have to go through the lengthy CITES permitting process. Popular parrots like the African greys, cockatoos, and macaws are all protected by CITES.
3. Know the right bird travel crate for your parrot
If you have satisfied the first and second procedures above, then you will have to consider the travel crate for your bird. When planning to ship your pet bird, you will need to comply with the IATA's Live Animal Regulations (LAR). It means that the crate must provide your bird with some sort of perch and an opening for ventilation. The ventilation space must be small enough to prevent the bird from getting its wing or beat outside. You must also ensure there is enough food to last the bird the entire duration of the journey.
Depending on the size of your newly bought parrot, you can make customized bird crates from a small dog or cat travel crate. You can attach a store-bought perch to the inside of the crate wall. Ensure you cover the ventilation holes and door with very fine pieces of wire mesh attached securely with plastic zip ties. Since birds enjoy privacy, you can make detachable "curtains" by cutting out strips of burlap attached to the outside of the crate with Velcro.
You can also add a couple of dishes to the crate door and cover the floor with a piece of newspaper. That's a first-class bird crate you have created there for your bird. You must get your bird to start getting used to being in the crate well before the day of departure.
Steps Involved In Bringing Your Newly Bought Parrot Into The United States
If you are shipping your newly bought pet bird into the United States from countries other than Canada, the requirements generally include:
• You must have appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) certifications and permits.
• Get a Veterinary Service (VS) import permit.
• You must have an original health certificate issued or endorsed by the government of your parrot's foreign country.
• An examination at the first U.S. port of entry, and must be done at designated airports.
• Your bird will undergo a 30-day quarantine.
In the United States, there are service fees associated with all VS services. You can expect to pay at least $700 for these services.
STEP 1: Make the necessary travel plans
Your pet parrot must have to enter into the United States at designated airports. Therefore, you need to make tentative travel plans to ensure your bird arrives in the right place. The flight must fly directly to the eligible port of entry without stopping at any other airport. The designated airports are the JFK airport, LAX airport, and the Miami airport.
STEP 2: Contact the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regulates birds protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). They are also in charge of birds protected by the Wild Bird Conservative Act of 1992 (WBCA). There are extensive entry and exit regulations for birds protected under these laws. You must contact FWS to discuss their fees and processes.
STEP 3: Apply for Veterinary Services (VS) import permit
Before you can import any bird into the United States, they must have VS import permit. For returning U.S. origin pet birds, you will have to submit the permit application to the VS National Import Export Service (NIES) Staff in Riverdale, Maryland. You must submit your application for a VS import permit approximately 30 days before departure. It is imperative that you know your route of travel and specifies a travel date before applying.
STEP4: Pre-export Isolation
If your newly bought parrot arrives from a country that the U.S. considers to be affected with HPAI, the bird must undergo pre-export isolation in that country. The isolation must be done for at least 21 days before travelling to the United States. The isolation must be supervised by either an official government veterinarian or a veterinarian who has been authorized by the foreign government.
After the supervision, the veterinarian for the country your parrot is leaving must issue your bird a health certificate.
STEP 5: Consult your transportation carrier
You will need to discuss with those in charge of the shipping for any specific requirements regarding your bird travel. Ships or airlines may have different requirements for when the health certificate must be issued. Some may demand that your pet parrot travels as cargo, and it can impact where your inspection happens upon arrival.
STEP 6: Contact VS port office to finalize arrival plans
You must do this within a minimum of 72 hours, preferably one you have scheduled the flight. Your VS import permit will outline the contact information for the first port of arrival. The port veterinarian will provide you with more information about the specific processes involved and what you should expect on arrival. You should let the port veterinarian know if your newly bought parrot is travelling in the cabin with you or as unaccompanied cargo.
The port personnel will review your import permit and discuss any additional requirements that might be listed. Depending on STEP 2, you should know whether your parrot is subject to any additional FWS requirements.
STEP 7: Arrive in the U.S and avail your bird to U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Upon your arrival in the United States, you will need to clear your bird with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). If your bird is with you and not manifested as cargo, you will need to declare your bird to CBP when you clear customs. If your parrot comes in as cargo, you will need the cargo company to know where your bird will be transported to after landing. You will have to seek where to obtain your documentation and the procedures for clearing your bird through customs.
STEP 8: Discuss with port personnel and submit your bird for quarantine
When you arrive in the U.S., VS port personnel will meet you and take your bird to the federal quarantine facility. All non-U.S. origin birds must complete a 30-day federal quarantine in an Animal Import Center (AIC). You must provide a notice of arrival to VS port personnel at least 72 hours before your arrival. The daily fees vary, depending on the number of birds you have in isolation.
STEP 9: Second sample collection
Your bird will have two sets of samples collected and tested for avian influenza and Newcastle disease. The first sample will be collected on the day of arrival, while the second is 7-14 days later. You will be the one to pay for the laboratory testing fee for these samples.
STEP 10: Release from quarantine
Your pet parrot will be released from quarantine 30 days after arrival, provided both samples are negative, and the bird is healthy.
Conclusion
You have seen the shipping procedure for a newly bought parrot, especially in the United States. These steps are not so much different from what is obtainable in various countries. Kindly share your thought using the comment section provided below.
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