Traveling with a parrot

 In the modern world, we often travel, some move to other countries. The question often arises about the movement of animals, including ornamental birds, across the border. Of course, for a period of short trips, not everyone dares to take birds with them, since this will be a huge stress for a bird. The best solution is to find someone who can take care of your pet while you’re away. However, there are situations where displacement is unavoidable. What you need to know to trip with a parrot turned into a series of troubles and nightmares?  

International government agreement.

There is an international governmental agreement signed as a result of the resolution of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1973 in Washington. The CITES Convention is one of the largest agreements on the protection of wildlife. Parrots are also included in the CITES list. The convention establishes that animals and plants included in the application lists can be moved across the border. However, a set of permits is required to travel with a parrot included in such a list. Agapornis roseicollis (rosy-cheeked lovebird), Melopsittacus undulatus (budgerigar), Nymphicus hollandicus (corella), Psittacula krameri (Indian ringed parrot) are not included in the lists. For their export, a smaller list of documents is required.  

Check the legislation of the country of import.

From our country, usually, a veterinary international passport, chipping (banding), a certificate from the state veterinary clinic at the place of residence on the state of health of the animal at the time of export (usually 2-3 days) or a veterinary certificate are required.  

But the receiving party may require additional documents. These may be additional tests for infections that birds can carry and quarantine.

As for species from the CITES lists, everything is much more complicated here. If a bird from this list was bought without accompanying ones, then it will not be possible to take it out. When buying a parrot, you must conclude a contract of sale. The seller is obliged to give the buyer the original or a copy of the bird certificate issued to him by the Ministry of Environmental Resources of the Republic of Belarus. Next, you need to put the bird on the account within the prescribed period, providing this very certificate and a contract of sale. The next step is to submit an application for registration to the Ministry of Environmental Resources of the Republic of Belarus. The deadline for submitting this application is 1 month. After that, you need to order an inspection report stating that the conditions for keeping the bird in your home comply with the established standards. At the moment it is a cage of the established sample. After that, you will receive a certificate of registration in your name. Only with this document will you be able to take the bird abroad. If you are the owner of a species of parrot that is on the first list of CITES, you need an import permit from the host country. Types of the second list do not require such a permit. When you have received all the permits for the export and import of birds into the intended country, you need to decide what transport will be used to travel. 

 Remember that the transportation of birds by air is subject to prior agreement with the airline on whose flight you intend to fly. And also with the permission of the countries of arrival or transit for international flights. Transportation of a bird is possible only by an adult passenger. In the aircraft cabin, birds can be transported, the weight of which, together with the cage/container, does not exceed 8 kg. If the weight of a bird with a cage exceeds 8 kg, then its transportation is provided only in the luggage compartment. When traveling with a parrot by train, you may have to buy a whole compartment. On a car, this is much easier – a carrier or cage is enough, which must be well secured. You need to go through the red channel and declare your pet. As you can see, moving parrots across the border is quite a laborious task. In addition, this can be stressful for a bird, but if you do everything according to the rules, the trip should be painless for both you and the pet.You might also be interested in: Parrot and other inhabitants of the house«