What could be more natural than a bird that flies? The sky is their home. But since birds normally fly under their own power and not in the belly of a great silver bird, an airline flight is a new experience.

You can make it less stressful for your bird by having him accompany you in the passenger cabin in his approved carrier. These carriers will usually need to fit under the seat in front of you. Most airlines have such carriers available at an extra charge. Just remember to book your flight well in advance and confirm the airline you choose will accept pets.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulate the transportation of animals such as birds, and airlines have the final responsibility for adhering to these regulations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in accordance with the terms of the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA), provides permits to allow foreign travel with your pet bird. Since most exotic pet birds are species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), most are affected by the Act.

If you are planning to take your pet bird with you on foreign travel, and plan to bring it back home, you must obtain a CITES export permit. This permit allows you to bring your pet bird back into the United States without a separate WBCA import permit. At the time of export, you must have this permit validated by the USFWS, and you must keep a copy to show upon returning. Also, it is important to contact the appropriate offices in the countries you plan to visit to get the required paperwork.

For information on what documentation you'll need and what forms you'll need to fill out before your pet's flight, you can contact the USFWS (1-800-358-2104 or 1-703-358-2104) or ask for this information from your booking agent.

Some airlines may impose additional rules and fees for traveling with pets, so you should ask your booking agent for specific details about what will be required when your bird accompanies you on your flight.

Available Travel Choices

You have three choices available to you for transporting your bird by air.

Carry-on: Most airlines will allow him to travel in carry-on status with you in the passenger compartment in an approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. If for some reason the airline does not permit you to bring your bird in carry-on status and you want to avoid shipping him in the baggage compartment, ask if it is possible to purchase a seat for him.

In Passenger Baggage: You may also choose to have him travel in the baggage compartment as checked baggage. If for any reason he cannot travel in the passenger compartment, he must either travel in the baggage compartment as checked baggage or be shipped as cargo. An approved carrier is still required.

As Cargo: If you will not be on the same flight as your bird, he will have to be shipped as cargo in his travel cage because unaccompanied pets are not allowed either in the passenger compartment or as checked baggage.

Baggage status isn't as bad as it sounds. If all goes as planned, your bird will never know he's riding with the luggage and he won't be able to tell steerage from first class. Modern airplanes are equipped with fully pressurized, temperature-regulated sections in the baggage compartment in order to transport animals safely and comfortably.

You should know that he will have to pass through the baggage checking and handling system and he may have to travel in the company of other animals. Remember that if strange surroundings and sounds easily frighten him, he won't have you around to comfort him. Your own peace of mind may also suffer if he isn't nearby in the passenger compartment.

Important Facts You Should Know

Airlines are not required to carry live animals, and they reserve the right to refuse to carry an animal for any reason.

No airline will guarantee acceptance of an animal that it has not seen. Important considerations for acceptance of animals include the health and disposition of the animal, proper health certificates and carrier or cage markings and sizing.

No matter where your pet travels (in the passenger compartment, as checked baggage or as cargo), the airline may impose an extra charge for accommodating him.

If your pet should turn up missing during transport, immediately speak to airline personnel. Many airlines have computer-tracking systems that can trace a pet transferred to an incorrect flight.

Tips on Making Reservations

When you make your reservations, advise the airline that you will have your bird with you. Be sure to reconfirm with the airline 24 to 48 hours before departure that you will be bringing your pet.

Advance reservations are not a guarantee that your bird will travel on a specific flight because only a certain number of pets are allowed on each flight, usually on a first come, first served basis. Some airlines do allow you to put your name on the travel list in advance.

Use direct flights whenever possible to avoid accidental transfers or delays and travel on the same flight as your bird whenever possible. Otherwise your bird will have to be shipped as cargo.

In the summer, choose early morning or late evening flights to avoid temperature extremes that may affect your bird. By law, animals cannot be exposed to temperatures below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees for longer than 45 minutes in the baggage compartment. Even with reservations, your bird can be refused if these conditions are likely to exist.

And finally, avoid holiday traveling whenever possible.

Health Issues

Major airlines require any pet they carry to be examined by a veterinarian and a current health certificate issued within 10 days of transport. The certificate must contain the age of the animal, a statement that the animal is in good health and a list of inoculations administered.

Other Important Factors to Consider

The Age and Size of Your Bird: If you have an older bird he might not travel well. A particularly large bird might not fit in an under-seat carrier and might have to travel in the baggage compartment.

Time and Distance of the Flight and Your Bird's Regular Dietary Routine: If the flight is a long one, consider whether he will be adversely affected by having to go without food for the duration of the flight.

Emotional Makeup of Your Bird: Tranquilizers are not advised since their effects on animals at high altitudes are unpredictable.

Pick Up Your Bird Promptly Upon Arrival: If he is traveling in the cargo system, remember that after his arrival at the destination there is a processing period for cargo, which may vary by airline and airport. It may be helpful to contact a pet travel service to handle unaccompanied shipments of your bird, since these services manage pickup and delivery and can advise on quarantine requirements for international travel.

Carrier / Cage Requirements

Whether your bird travels in the passenger compartment or baggage compartment, an airline-approved carrier is required. The basic rules are that the animal must be able to stand up, turn around and perch in a natural position without any body parts protruding.

The USDA assigns airlines the final responsibility for determining the safety and compliance of the carriers and cages they accept.

Instructions for feeding and watering the animal over a 24-hour period must be attached to the carrier. The 24-hour schedule will assist the airline in providing care for your bird in case he is diverted from his original destination. You as either the pet owner or shipper must document that the bird was offered food and water within 4 hours of transport, indicating the exact time and date of feeding. If you put those instructions on a colorful sign with your animal's name, the handlers can call your pet by name, making him feel a little better. You'll also be able to find your cage more easily upon arrival.

Food dishes and water bottles must be securely attached and accessible to caretakers without opening the cage. Mature animals must be fed every 24 hours and given water every 12 hours. Don't fill the food bowl yourself. Tape a plastic bag of food to the top of the crate.

More cage ventilation may be required for international flights than is required by the USDA for domestic flights.

Arrival and Check-In

You should plan to arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare. If your bird is traveling with you as a carry-on pet, check-in will usually be at the passenger terminal. And, in keeping with airport regulations and as a courtesy to other passengers, don't take your bird out of his cage inside the airport.

You should be prepared to open the cage for inspection before boarding or if checking him as baggage. It is advisable to request that this be done in a closed room in case he should escape.

In most cases, if your flight must connect to a different airline, you must claim your bird from the original airline and re-check it with the connecting airline.

Certain animals are accepted as baggage at passenger check-in locations, and others are accepted as cargo at the airlines' cargo facilities. For the specific requirements pertaining to your bird, make advance arrangements with the airline you are using.

If you are sending your bird through the cargo system, you may need to go to the airline cargo terminal, which is usually located in a separate part of the airport. Be sure to check with your airline for the acceptance cutoff time for your flight. Note that by regulation an animal may be presented for transport no more than 4 hours before flight time or 6 hours by special arrangement.

International Air Travel

International flights may require additional ventilation, labeling and a shipper's certification. Contact your airline for information about these requirements.

Required Documentation

Before you travel with your bird to another country or state, it is important to determine exactly what documentation and certificates you need. Many countries require a certificate of health issued by a veterinarian a certain number of days prior to the start of the trip. Additionally, you should find out whether the countries you are visiting have additional import and export requirements and restrictions. At a minimum, a re-export certificate from the countries visited will be required. USFWS can provide you with contact information for other countries.

Even when traveling from state to state within the U.S., you may need a health certificate issued by your bird's veterinarian. Health certificates usually cover a thirty-day period and must note the state of origin and the state of destination. If your travels will take you through several states, they should all be listed. Be sure to have your veterinarian issue the certificate to cover your return route back home.

Be certain you know exactly what documents you will need, because if you do not have them you run a very high risk of having your bird confiscated, quarantined and in some extreme cases even destroyed.

Quarantine Areas

Hawaii, U.S. territories and some foreign countries have health and quarantine requirements for arriving pets, and their rules and regulations can change at short notice. The best place to get the latest information is from the country of destination. Usually this means contacting the country's consulate, embassy or government veterinary department at least four weeks in advance of your trip. For information on requirements for Hawaii and the U.S. Territories, contact your state veterinarian's office.

Countries that are relatively disease-free tend to have the strictest requirements. These countries may restrict the type of animal that can be imported, refuse an animal's entry owing to its country of origin or demand that animals undergo quarantine before their departure. Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand and Hawaii have some of the strictest requirements.

If you are traveling with your bird to a country where quarantine is imposed, you must generally make an advance booking with an officially run or approved quarantine facility that will provide required accommodations and assure adherence to regulations. The period of quarantine may vary from one to six months or even more. Birds that are temporarily visiting quarantine countries only have to be quarantined for the duration of their stay if this is less than the normal quarantine period.

Returning Home

Restrictions also apply to your bird when you return to the United States from abroad. The USDA has disease quarantine requirements for birds entering the United States. You can obtain information regarding quarantine requirements by contacting the USDA.