This is how I moved my Senegal parrot from Europe to America
After six years in Brussels, Belgium, I decided to move back home, to the US. Along the way, I had acquired Tiger, a Senegal parrot, about a year before I knew I would be moving back. I first heard of her as an egg about to hatch, but told the breeder not to hold her for me, as I had decided to leave it to fate as to whether I was to have this bird in my life. Two months later, she was still not spoken for, so she came home with me. I could not imagine giving her up, and so resolved to bring her back to the States with me.
Yes, she would end up traveling for almost 24 hours (two flight delays and three time zone changes), spend a month in quarantine and then adjust to life in a new country. Her carrier was acrylic, with a perch, food cups, toys and room for her to stretch both wings out at the same time. I think her flight was more comfortable than mine, safe underneath the seat in front of me with fresh apple slices to munch on and room to pace and stretch and check people out, while I was cramped in my coach class seat LOL.
I believe it was better to move with her rather than rehoming her to a stranger, when I was all she’s ever known. I also believe a pet is a lifelong responsibility and a full member of the family.
I know that in general, parrots are intelligent, resilient and adaptable, and that being in quarantine for a month would be no different than being boarded somewhere while I was on vacation.
I also knew I had raised my parrot with lots of stimulation, socializing her safely and early, taking her out in her carrier when the weather was nice, and that she would therefore have the confidence to withstand the move.
She ended up doing fine, and as I finish writing this, she is dozing next to me on the couch.
Below are the details of our trip.
Timeline:
6-9 months
Costs:
CS-1 Crystal Flight carrier (airline approved in-cabin only) 125$ + $75 Int’l shipping fee & EU duty
CITES permit US $50
CITES permit EU $50
APHIS application to reserve quarantine space $150 (and import permit)
Health certificates (APHIS/AFSCA) 80$
In-cabin transport $125
Quarantine $450
Tests (APHIS) $52
Pet mover services: P/U from quarantine facility in Newburg $1,228
Includes P/U from facility, kennel, check-in United Pet Safe Program from EWR Liberty (Newark) to PNS via Houston (Pensacola regional airport)
Door-to-door would have run approx $1800
Cost for self: Round-trip PNS-EWR, one night hotel in NY, $125 in-cabin bird fee amounted to approx $1600
Total cost of the move $2,200 (rounded up)
Quote from pet mover for int’l, door-to-door pet bird move from EU to USA could reach $10,000.
After doing it all myself, and considering all the research hours involved and the mechanics of securing a flight, if I had the money, I would have gone for the pet mover, especially if Tiger had to be shipped cargo (I understand fees are much higher for cargo than in the cabin).
Forms needed for CITES II parrots:
US Fish & Wildlife Services (60-90 days from date of receipt of the request. Follow-up @ 60 & 90 days)
I called at 60 days, and was told to call back at 90 days. I did, and the examiner sent my permit out the same day.
CITES import permit request using from 3-200-46
NB:
Form 300-20-46 also complies with the Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA).
Requests are assigned to an examiner, and are supposed to be acknowledged. In my case they forgot, so make sure you know when you mailed your request (they had to look up my request by date)
US CITES import permit allows only for direct flight into port of entry, no stops.
APHIS (Can be completed by e-mail - this took only a few days)
NB:
Miami, NY/Newark, LA are the only three authorized ports of entry. Quarantine arrangements and import permit must be handled through them directly.
Make sure that they send an original copy of the import permit. In my case they forgot, but I got the OK to use the e-mail copy.
US Customs form 3-177
Fill this one out ahead of time
BE (EU)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/info_permits_en.htm
CITES export permit
Took about two weeks to get from BE
Everyone, at every level, in both countries, went out of their way to help me when they realized I was handling the import process alone and it was only for one pet bird.
Do make sure and double check all their info (good intentions but occasionally wrong info - APHIS form VS 17-29 is obsolete, for example)
When I started my inquiries, I was told by the APHIS vet in San Francisco (my original destination) that I could do an in-home quarantine and fly into the airport of my choice. Before I booked my flight I checked with their home office, and I’m glad I did. It turns out, that vet had mistakenly given me the information pertaining to returning US origin birds, and not the import of a non-US origin bird…
Airline
Important: Traveling from Brussels, BE, to Newark, USA, only United airline would allow my bird in the cabin.
I read on another post that US Airways and Aeroflot are the only two other airlines that allow pet birds in cabin. I did not verify that information.
Health certificate (2015 is min 30 days from travel date for in-cabin pets) In my case they also asked to see all the documentation I had.
The devil is in the details:
Exporting country health certificate must match the wording of the APHIS permit exactly. In my case, I had to get a health certificate from my regular vet, plus one from the official vet of the exporting country’s govt. I had to physically bring my bird to both. Note requirements state « counter-signed » by exporting country govt. vet.
CITES requests require proof of your bird’s origin, including ID. My bird came from a breeder, so I had a bill of sale, receipt, and proof my bird was captive-bred and born, including hatch date and closed band ID.
The US CITES permit request includes a space for an essay if your bird came from a pet store.
Also needed is proof you resided outside the US for at least a year (I used phone/internet bills)
Once you have all your paperwork, make several copies and store them in your purse and your luggage and even your carry-on.
Make sure that Fish & Wildlife, APHIS, and US customs are advised in advance of your arrival date, time, and flight number. APHIS no later than three days, everyone else, up to two weeks (I did one)
Make a list of your bird’s food preference and habits to give to the quarantine people (in my case, they asked me to)
At the airport of departure: Present bird’s plane ticket, health certificate and any other documentation the airline requests at check-in. Give yourself some additional time in case they want to make copies and walk off with your originals…
At the airport of arrival: Meet with the authorities. In my case, I ran into them looking for me while I was wandering towards the baggage claim looking for them. They will check your bird’s paperwork and take her into quarantine. They will take all your original paperwork. Any toys in the carrier will not be returned. That process only took about 20 minutes. I also made sure to give them my list of Tiger’s likes.
I got the Rock Tavern facility’s phone number and was able to call in and check on my bird.
I then checked in for my next flight (to accommodate Tiger, I was traveling on two tickets but on the same day). I left myself about 6 hours between flights. It turned out to be way too long. While clearing immigration and customs can take up to two hours at Newark, our plane was late and so we evidently missed the crowds. Additionally, after taking Tiger, customs personal walked me through the rest of security, so I was out of there in no time.
After quarantine:
APHIS requires your bird be picked up on the last day of her quarantine. There are no additional fees due but you may need to travel to pick her up. In my case, it ended up being cheaper to hire a pet moving service and pick her up at the airport.
Obviously:
Have your bird’s new cage set up before she gets home. I tried to get the same toys and setup as she had before.
Tiger recognized me right away. I used our specific « code words » as I call them, that only she and I knew and that I had taught her as a baby and then reinforced as she got older.
She’s been here a few days, and seems OK if a little tired. Her feathers are sleek and shiny. She’s skittish in a new environment, as Sennies can be, but otherwise appears to be just fine and not at all traumatized, upset or scared.
In the end:
You can move your bird yourself but it takes a lot of planning, resourcefulness, nerves of steel and thick skin. I even cried a few times, mostly while dealing with the airlines.
It’s stressful, frustrating, and can be very difficult.
It’s also a pretty awesome feeling once your bird is home with you in your new country and you did it all yourself in spite of everyone telling you it couldn’t be done.
If you can afford it, use a pet shipper and negotiate what you can with them in terms of services (you do the paperwork, they ship the bird, for example).
I recommend Pet Relocation Services. They handled the last part of my parrot’s move, pick up from the quarantine facility and shipping to the airport nearest my house (they would have shipped door to door but it was cheaper to pick her up at the airport, only about a 15 minute drive)
I was traveling alone, with only my luggage. I wanted my bird in the cabin with me, so did not have to look into shipping my bird separately. I did have to create my itinerary according to US Fish and Wildlife’s requirements as per their import permit. This meant changing original travel plans, disappointing my mom and family members in the process, and adding a stop to my itinerary.
Everyone understood of course, but be warned.
For example, United flew direct from from Brussels to Newark, but not to NY, who is listed as an official port of entry. Luckily, the NY APHIS people mentioned I could come in via Newark if they agreed and gave me their contact info (e-mail).
Newark agreed, lucky for me.
This also meant that, after quarantine, instead of being picked up from the Jamaica NY facility, my bird would need to be picked up from the Newburg, NY facility. This meant additional travel costs since outside the normal location of Jamaica.
I was not moving an entire household, kids, or anything like that, and so the only thing I needed to organize was my bird’s move.
The most difficult part was finding an airline. While all the government authorities involved were friendly and helpful, the airlines were not. Expect rudeness, ignorance, and, in the case of Brussels airlines (who partners with United), a hang up.
Also remember that, Just because United (for example) accepts birds in the cabin, does not mean their partner airline(s) will.
