What to do with feathers....

[Suz Stickville]

It is getting spring time...

Some of our/your FIDs/birds will be molting ... and I remembered this....

Copied pertanant info for use .... and trying to spread the word....

Every little bit helps... to perserve traditions and help wild birds..

I have even sent my tiel feathers... and they are glad to recieve each and every feather...

Long feathers can be mailed in poster/mailing tubes....

___________

Native American Indians use feathers for their traditional religious ceremonies and that contributes to the demand for parrot feathers which is one reason parrots are so cruelly smuggled. Feathers from all species are useful but Macaw feathers are especially desired by the American Indians. Dr. Reyman said that since this project has been giving feathers to the Native American Indians (free of charge) that the price for a center macaw feather has gone down from $75 to about $25. But the demand for these feathers is still there. They can even take feathers with broken shafts and cut feathers as shown on his website and all feathers over an inch in size can be put to good use. So please save them all, even cut wing feather feathers! They can also use turkey feathers, for those of you out there that know turkey hunters.

If you know of anyone that has a parrot, please spread the word. Feathers can be mailed to:

Dr. Jonathan E. Reyman
Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center
1011 East Ash Street
Springfield, IL 62703-3535
(217) 785-0069
reyman@MUSEUM.STATE.IL.US

Many people toss away their feathers because they don't know what to do with them. By doing this, we can help to keep the wild parrots in their native lands where they belong. (from http://www.wingsofhope-nj.com/feathers.html)

http://www.wingwise.com/feather.htm

[Samm]

Thanks for the info Suz, I have quite a few tiel feathers, also a few macaw feathers I just hate to throw away.....I'm gonna start collecting them up in a padded envelope and send them there.

[Monica]

Echo's Haven (parrot sanctuary) is also looking for feathers... I save feathers but always end up loosing them or they get trashed somehow...

[Suz Stickville]

I went to the local dollar store and bought some of those cheap plastic pencil boxes....

As the tiels loose thier feathers... just collect and put in a box....

When the box is full... tape shut... wrap in paper grocery sack... address and send...

This method has worked well for me...a safe and convieniant place to store the feathers... and I can send them without damage in same container...

[Freedomoflight]

I save all my feathers- local birdclubs also take up donations of feathers and send them in to projects such as these in one big shipment.

[Ginich]

There is an artist in FL who comes to the shows in SW FL. She does feather art and has macaws of her own. I commissioned her to do a painting of my tiels on their own feathers last year.

I'm still saving feathers.....

[Suz Stickville]

Bump...

Thought I would bump this thread ...

With so many birds molting right now....

Something to help others... that you can do with those molted feathers....

[GOCBS Rick]

There is a lady in our club that collects for native americans. For more info check out our website www.greateromahacagebirdsociety.com.
Thanks
Rick Kling GOCBS President

[catschair]

I keep manilla envelopes on the refr - one of stamps for my dad and one of feathers for Dr. R. Makes me feel SO organized (and the refrigerator is between the birds and the trash can)