The illegal exports and imports of feathers affects the conservation of rare and protected bird species.
FeatherExchange.com (owned by Mark's Products & Services / aka MP&S) in Australia - places the conservation of rare and protected bird species before profit. Our business operation commenced back in 2014, with a focus to combat the illegal international exports of Black-Cockatoo tail feathers. Their tail feathers are valuable, because the demand for them overseas (especially in the United States) is higher than the total moulted feathers that can possibly fall from the legally kept Black-Cockatoos in captivity.
Only the best and most reputable bird keepers (that care about conservation like we do) have partnered with us.
It's important to educate the public about the laws and the importance to purchase these feathers only from a business that's sourcing and supplying feathers the right way, in the best interest of conservation.
WARNING: Australian birds are the most exploited in the world. The public must play a crucial part to help protect our rare and threatened birds.
The licence requirement to keep Australian protected bird species or trade with their feathers is the equivalent to the signature on a cheque or the pin number for a credit card. Appropriate licensing ensures the trading entity is regulated and monitored by the Government and ultimately protects the birds, just like how the requirement of a signature on a cheque or a pin number for a credit card protects the bank account holder.
Australian Law, in relation to international trade with feathers from CITES Appendix II listed bird species.
Moulted feathers from all CITES Appendix II listed bird species must include a CITES Permit when exported outside of Australia by Post or Courier. Most of the feather species we stock fall under this category, so legal to export worldwide with the appropriate licensing and a CITES Export Permit, which we include with each order that leaves our office in Australia. All Australian Parrot and Raptor Species are CITES listed, except for the Budgerigar and Cockatiel. Nearly all Non-Australian Parrot and Raptor species are CITES listed. The majority of these species (Australian & Non-Australian) are listed as Appendix II of CITES, so their feathers can be legally shipped worldwide from Australia, but only with a CITES export permit.
Feathers from any protected Australian native bird species (whether CITES listed or not) must still include an Australian native export Permit. Example feather species:Cockatiel, Budgerigar, Laughing Kookaburra, Tawny Frogmouth, Australian Raven, Night Heron, Bush-stone Curlew, Lyrebird.
Any feathers from a CITES Appendix I listed bird species (regardless of its origin country) or an Australian EPBC listed species is totally prohibited from commercial export. No exceptions. Example feather species: Peregrine Falcon (Appendix I), White-tailed Black Cockatoo (Appendix II, but EPBC listed), Scarlet Macaw (Appendix I), Red-fronted Macaw (Appendix I), African Grey Parrot (Appendix I), Moluccan Cockatoo (Appendix I).
