The Feather Distribution Project:
A Little Effort Goes a LongWay
by Catherine Vine Bird Keeper, The Philadelphia Zoo
I
first came across the Feather Distribution Project about five years ago, while searching on- line for information about parrots in captivity. This project was founded in 1982 by Dr. Jonathan Reyman, and since then, has distributedmore than 8,500,000 feathers to all of the
Pueblos of the southwest United States. The goal of the project is to provide Pueblo Indians with the feathers they need to maintain their traditions. All feathers are provided at no cost.
As I read more about the project, I wanted to find a way to help. It seemed like a perfect fit
for a bird keeper; by donating molted feathers from the Philadelphia Zoo’s collection birds, I could help to reduce the need for the Pueblos to purchase feathers fromdealers or online from unknown sources. It took several months to work out the protocol for feather collection, but ever since, the Philadelphia Zoo has been sending feathers to Dr. Reyman for the project. Un- fortunately, the zoo’s collection of parrots is fairly small. Currently,we send feathers fromeight macaws and an eclectus parrot. As word about the project spread around the zoo, staff mem- bers and volunteers started bringing in feathers fromtheir birds at home. I also collectedmolted feathers froma nearby bird store, and included themin the zoo’s shipments, along with feath- ers from my own birds at home.
Dr. Reyman sends me an e-mail following each shipment from the zoo, letting me know
where the featherswere sent. It’s always been rewarding to hear howthe feathers are used, and to know howmuch they are appreciated. However, I honestly had no idea how important the project was until the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE) Con- ference in New Mexico in March 2010.
16 Good Bird Magazine
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