From: vaughn@cs.washington.edu (Vaughn Iverson)
Subject: Re: transporting birds
Keywords: 2-day drive, canary
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, U. of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 92 20:44:41 GMT

In article <1992Apr6.120841.14166@cbnewsc.cb.att.com> joi@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (JMM) writes:
>I'll be moving from Illinois to Colorado within a month or two.  I'd
>really like to take my canary with me but I'd rather leave him behind
>with a new family than jeopardize his life.  I've heard from a couple
>of pet shop owners that I've asked that the chances of him making it
>by either car (if I drive) or plane (if I fly) are only about 50/50.
>I do know that the mortality rate of wild birds is extremely high,
>but this bird has never been wild and is 4 years old, maybe 5.
>
>If anyone has any experience or knowledge about the advisability 
>of transporting a pet bird cross country, I'd appreciate hearing from
>you.  And if it can be done with a high chance of success, I'd like
>to know that, too.
>
>Since I haven't been getting on the net very often lately, please send
>email if you can.  I'll still get it if you post, but it might be a while.
>
>Thanks.
>	Joy Metcalf
>	att!ihlpy!joi

I drove from Palm Beach, Florida to Seattle, Washington with my Sun Conure.
I did it in 4 days, in December, when it was subfreezing and snowing outside
much of the trip.  He survived the trip fine, and actually enjoyed riding in
the car.  I used one of those "pet carriers" that would normally be used 
for a small dog or cat.  I filled the bottom of the carrier with the normal
corn cod litter that I use, punched a couple of holes in the side to mount 
the side mount perches from him cage so he would have something to perch on.
I had the entire cage wrapped in a heavy wool blanket, leaving a flap at the
front of the cage that could easily be opened to get to the door and provide
ventilation.  In the morning, I would *completely* warm up the car before
bringing the bird out from the hotel room.  When transferring outside, the 
bird was never in the cold for more than 30 seconds, and the heavy blanket 
with the door pressed tightly to my body prevented almost all cold air from
getting to the bird.  During the trip I kept the car about 75 degrees, and 
I let the bird out of the cage to roam around the front seat.  He usually 
perched on the seat back just above my head and sat there for most of the
trip enjoying the view.  I left the cage door open, and he would go back 
as necessary for water, food and to poop (he's potty trained, and the new
cage and car didn't interrupt this more that once or twice on the whole trip).

I'm moving back to Florida for the Summer, and Beamer is going with me.  I
have no concern at all for his health or safety.  Just make sure that the
car temperature stays within the bird's normal range.  Also ensure that 
adequate food/water are available and that there are no fumes of any kind 
in the car (exhaust, cleaning fumes, etc).  Considering that this was a
4200 mile trip in the middle of winter, and I experienced no problems, I 
don't think that a trip of under 1000 miles in Spring/Summer should present
any difficulty at all so long as you take reasonable precautions for the 
bird's needs.

Vaughn

-- 
 Vaughn Iverson            |  If the State of Washington thought my opinion 
 vaughn@cs.washington.edu  |  was worth anything, they'd try to tax it.
 --------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
 Univ. of Washington, Dept. of Computer Science, FR-35  Seattle, WA 98195
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds