Importing from Europe

[40whacks]

I've imported from Puerto Rico...and shipped from the states...but Europe eludes me.

Even beyond that, into Bahrain and the Middle East......there are AMAZING finches there!!!

My question is, has anyone ever thought of forming a group where organized ship,nets can be made and import fees can be split by interested people to cut down cost???

I'd be interested for sure

[Sally]

I don't know if it has been considered. I believe there was a group once that imported a lot of finches from Europe through Canada. Birds were shipped to one person, who then split them up and shipped them to all the other people in the group. I believe this was a group that knew all the others quite well, so they could trust this one person with thousands of dollars worth of birds. They still had losses.

Finches are very cheap in other countries, i.e. Strawberries for $5 U.S. in Southeast Asia. The costs come in the import fees and quarantine fees. The losses in quarantine are quite large, from what I hear, so birds have to be imported in the hundreds if not thousands in order to have enough survive quarantine to make it cost effective. I know that in New York, you are required to use a broker to handle the birds from arrival to transport to quarantine, which adds to the cost. Probably the same system exists at all the quarantine stations.

Quite a daunting task, which is why so few do it.

[40whacks]

Certainly riddled with regulations and fees ......if it's even possible at times.....HAS ANYONE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY?

Give me your insight, tips, stories good and bad, etc....

I won't rest until I make this a possibility....some great birds there, why shouldn't we get some!

[lovezebs]

40whacks

I've never ordered any birds from anywhere. I usually like to see the birds I bring home, not buy sight unseen, unless it's from a breeder that I trust whole heartedly.

There are success stories and nightmare stories, and that's just in the States and Canada. With over seas buying and shipping, I would envision the possibility of problems arising and I'd be hesitant.

However, that's not to say that it can't be done. I imagine that there are some people on Forum that have ordered from overseas, let's hope someone will chime up, and share their experiences with you.

What birds are you interested in, that are not available this side of the big pond?

[40whacks]

Well....let me start by agreeing with you pointing out the obvious....

Obviously you buy from trusted, experienced, knowledgable breeders.....that's a given.

Me personally, I have imported birds. I recently got some beautiful finches from Puerto Rico where there are great bird clubs with individuals who are very well known in those circles.

You research, you check the references, you get as much info on what and who you are buying from....

These days, breeders can send you everything from Facebook pics to YouTube videos of the stock being sold....it's a great way to see what you're buying.

I bought from a great breeder, who is also a bird show judge....I still checked his credentials before buying....and I started a communication relationship that I still maintain ....

[Sally]

Puerto Rico has a large number of finch keepers. Their shows are normally at least 3 times larger than the shows on the mainland U.S. Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S., importation laws are totally different than importing from somewhere outside the U.S.

At this time, it is illegal to import birds from most countries from the Middle East all the way to the Far East, due to the outbreaks they have had of avian influenza. Europe also has those restrictions against imports from those areas.

If it was not so difficult and expensive to import, we would be flooded with birds from outside the U.S. It is even getting harder to get birds from Africa, not due to import restrictions, but due to some of the export restrictions of some of the African governments.

Good luck with your search! I'd love to be able to get my hands on some of the more rare species, such as Violet-eared Waxbills and Green Avadats, which have just about disappeared from U.S. and Canadian aviculture.

[40whacks]

I am undaunted.....lol.....where's the group!

The end result would be absolutely worth it......

Strawberries or other types are one thing, Imwouldnt do it for types like that.....especially just to save money.....my intention is to get specific MUTATIONS

[DanteD716]

I have only imported from Puerto Rico, and all 30 birds arrived safe and healthy. I'd imagine from Europe it would a bit more stressful... Longer times in the box, etc. But I wish you the best in your research!

[Sally]

40whacks Just noticed that there are two threads on this same subject, so I will combine them into one, in the General Questions forum.

[Sally]

The group to which I refer was very private, I heard little about it. The whole transaction was pretty hush-hush, so no details are available. I only knew about it because I was approached to possibly join the group, but it did not materialize, possibly because the others in the group did not know me.

As far as I know, the birds were not imported directly from Europe, but were imported into Canada first, and then into the U.S.

[lovezebs]

40whacks

Can't help you wiith what you are seeking, although I did come across some articles a while ago, about people sneaking illegal birds in their clothing through boarder crossings.

I posted about it here somewhere, saying that I should get a double D bra, hop across the boarder into the States, and come back with a pair of Painted Buntings (god, I love those birds) or two or thee pairs, lol...

Anyway, do you have any pictures, of the mutations and or birds that you are interested in? I'd love to see them, and I'm sure others would too.

[Atbird]

lovezebs

Me too, stories of people seeking fledgling Russian canaries in their socks. They carry an "empty" little cage through customs and a bird in their sock cuff, then keep the bird in a covered cage for the plane ride. No one says anything

Also, eggs, which get incubated by fosters.

@40whacks

You can start with this maybe
http://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing ... birds.html

[lovezebs]

Atbird

Just have to find that article again Anna, it was seriously hilarious.

[lovezebs]

40whacks

Read my post A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE , and you'll see what extremes people go to, to 'import' animals across borders, lol.

[40whacks]

I'm certainly not interested in illegal importing.....no way.

if the issue is a high rate of bird influenza then I guess that's a hard one to overcome .....