Travelling with your pet bird

If you’re planning to travel with your bird, get the travel cage a few weeks in advance. This will give your bird time to get accustomed to the new cage. It is also important to have more than one cage for the bird at home so that the bird feels ok with changing cages. Make sure it will fit in where ever it will be going car, travel trailer, family vehicle, motor home, commercial airliner, vacation cottage - just make sure it fits.

A travel cage can be metal, fabric or plastic like - rigid or collapsible. Because it’s a travel cage only makes it slightly different than his home cage. If its metal, bar spacing should be appropriate. If it’s fabric, the fabric should be durable enough and well designed to discourage chewing. Clear plastic cages allow for great vision but may be confining for extended travel periods. It may only have one perch instead of three or four. Make sure it’s comfortable on the feet. Stopping and starting in traffic should not cause your bird discomfort.

A couple of small toys should be introduced to keep birdie boredom down. If you’re traveling by auto, keep the bird in the back seat away from airbags. Keep it strapped with a seatbelt to avoid sudden movement.

If you’re driving at night, cover the cage, the intermittent glare of auto lights can be scary, especially if it’s after bed time. If you’re taking a road trip stopping at motels, find a place to put the travel cage where you bird can sleep with as little disturbance as possible through the night. The bath room counter to be the best spot, it’s out of the way and once the cage is covered, affords privacy. In terms of temperature, it’s simple - if you’re comfortable, your bird is comfortable. Don’t make it in front of air conditioner.

If traveling for the first time, we suggest a few trial runs before the big trip. Go to a friend, the vet or even just a ride, the bird gets accustomed to the procedure, travel process and change in general. If you let the bird out of the travel cage while in the vehicle don’t forget to put him back before any passengers open the door.

Some birds don’t like to poop in their travel cage. This is a judgment call. Choose carefully where you’ll let them out to poop. You also may want to check out the nearest avian vet to your destination, before you get there - just so you have the info.

Travelling is usually less of an issue for the bird than for you. birds in the wild are natural travellers.

Lastly, don’t show off your bird at unknown places.

Travelling Abroad with your pet bird

Most exotic birds (such as parrots, cockatoos and macaws but excepting budgerigars and cockatiels) are protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as well as the United States Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA). If you wish to bring your pet bird into or out of the United States you will need to meet certain criteria under CITES and the WBCA and obtain a permit from the Service.

To determine whether these regulations apply to your pet bird, you will first need to determine the scientific name (genus and species) as wildlife protections are designated at the species level. Ask your veterinarian to help you determine what type of bird you have; you may also be to find the scientific name online. Once you know the scientific name you can search whether your pet bird species is listed under CITES.

You will need to select a Designated Port and apply for and obtain necessary permits and authorizations from the United States and the foreign country prior to firming up your travel plans.