importing of \"too\" info

[faze]

i know my lesser sulfur crested was a import atleast to the best of my knowledge... he has the typical rounded anklet of a import but the funny thing is... its not a usda import bracelet all the usda import bracelets have 3 letters followed by three numbers and states that its a usda bird... his is not a 3 letter or 3 numbers its 4 letters (inav) followed by three numbers (030)
and i haver verified with sarah kaman of the usda that it is NOT usda import.. does anybody know how i might track down his origin byu these # any help would be greatly appreciated.. thanks in advance...
[addsig]

[JuliusSqueezer]

I think your problem is that you are assuming it was imported directly from Australia. It very well could have been shipped to anywhere....or even farmed in an another country other than Australia and then shipped here. Import does not always mean wild caught. I have never seen a data base anywhere on id bands for birds sold in the pet trade. It seems that they keep a much lower profile than say...fish and game bands on wild birds that they are doing research on in the wild. I tried to dig something up for ya awhile back and never came close. I just tried again and still can't find anything useful.

Speaking of bands...it is a good idea really to have a vet remove them....DO NOT attempt removal yourself....this is one of the most common ways pet birds end up with broken legs....people trying to save 8 bucks by twisting them off with pliars... Those stainless bands have to be cut off with a cutting tool like a dremel and there has to be a heat shield placed between the leg and band before cutting...and sometimes the bird needs to be put under first. The reason to remove them is that they sometimes get snagged in cage toys and the struggle to get free often ends in broken or amputated legs.
[addsig]