Parrots

[Ann001]

Can anyone recommend a veterinarian for parrots? Or a regular veterinarian who knows anything about avian care? Just planning ahead in case my Amazonian girl needs a doc. Thanks!
Ann

[TulieB]

We would like bring our Quaker Parrot (24 years old) with us when we come back to GTO next time. What steps did you take to get your bird into the country?

[Ann001]

It requires time and paperwork. First you should apply for a CITES export permit from the Dept of Fish and Wildlife--this can take 30-60 days. And some bird species are forbidden to be imported or exported--for instance, a yellow-named Amazon is listed as a CITES appendix 1 species (very endangered) and Mexico forbids importation. (presumably because they don't want a foreign bird bringing in a disease that could wipe out their population of yellow-napes--which are native to parts of Mexico) So for that type of bird, the dept of Fish and Wildlife won't give you a permit unless you can show them an import permit from Mexico. Which you aren't going to get.
I think the Quakers are listed as appendix 2. You can check here-- https://www.fws.gov/international/travel...-bird.html --- to find out if you can import your bird. If you're going to be going back and forth, it's best to get the passport type of permit, but from what I understand, even with a passport permit, you will be required to fly--not drive--back into the USA via a designated port--I think LA or Miami--, and your bird will have to be quarantined for 30 days then retested for diseases (can be at your house). If you plan to drive to Mexico you will also need to get a 'designated port exception' to cross with your bird at Laredo or other location. I said I needed to drive because my bird was old and flying would stress her. They gave me the port exception permit with no further questions.
The next agency you need to deal with is APHIS. There are 2 forms to fill out--both seem kind of strange, a poultry/hatching eggs form and an addendum health certificate for ornamental songbirds. Then you will need a health certificate filled out by an accredited USDA veterinarian as well. (Your vet will fill out all 3 of these forms, but may need some guidance from you--so have all the info available for him/her) Your vet will have to do two tests on your bird, a salmonella and an avian flu test. All of these forms and test results must then be overnighted to the appropriate APHIS office for 'endorsement' and overnighted back to you. The overnighting is necessary because you must cross the border within a specific time frame--I think it was 10 days--after the date that your vet signs the health certificate. Thats when the clock starts ticking. All of the APHIS info can be found here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-tra...vel-mexico

If you are driving, when you reach the border you will need to meet with a Fish/Wildlife services official who will stamp all your permits and look at your bird. In Laredo, this took place at a strip mall, and the official was very hard to get in touch with. I tried to set up an appointment and he didn't return my calls, even though I told him when I would be arriving etc. And these forms must be stamped if you want to return to the USA with your bird. I ended up wandering around the Agricultural offices on this side of the border asking if anyone knew this man who was supposed to meet with me. Finally one person happened to know him and tracked him down. I drove back to the strip mall, and the office was STILL locked and dark. I pounded on the door, and he finally appeared. (Whew). So that was an ordeal.

After all of that, once I actually drove across the border (I wasn't actually driving, I hired a Mexican to come pick me and my pets up in the USA and drive me down) nobody even looked at ANY of my paperwork.

Good luck! It's all possible (if you're bird is not a forbidden species) with time and patience. Don't forget to make multiple copies of everything.

[TulieB]

Thank you Ann!... I appreciate your thorough answer. I will need to study up on this. Pancho will be 25 in July. She has been with us longer than our children. We do have a great lady who has kept Pancho for us since 1999. But we are hoping to spend more time in Mexico and we miss her cute little face and hugs/kisses. Background: we thought she was a male and didn't bother to have her "sexed". Then at age 10 she laid her first egg... What a surprise.

We usually drive down here from Tularosa, NM. We use the El Paso crossing. We take 3 days travelling to get to GTO. Our plan is to spend 3-4 months each visit so we would be bringing her back and forth. I think flying would be fairly traumatic on her. I will visit with our vet and see his thoughts on the project.

Thanks again.
TulieB