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The Feather Distribution Project

The Feather Distribution Project collects molted feathers and donates them to the Pueblo
Indians for use in traditional religious ceremonies

 

San Ildefonso girl wears donated macaw feathers in her dance headdress

Founder: Jonathan E. Reyman, Ph.D.
Origin Date: 1982
Purpose:

  • To provide wild turkey, macaw, and parrot feathers to the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest for traditional religious ceremonies to help them maintain their 1st Amendment rights under the Constitution.
  • To eliminate the smuggling of endangered and threatened species of macaws and parrots, and, in turn, to reduce the destruction of native bird populations and their habitats in Latin America.

  • To eliminate feather plucking by providing specific Pueblo people with the particular feathers they need so that they will use only molted feathers from their birds.

Feather Sources: Turkeys: NWTF member hunters, other hunters, and zoos. Macaws and parrots: Zoos, bird clubs, breeders, bird owners, and rescue and rehabilitation facilities.

There is NO charge for feathers. They are a gift

Click to enlarge picture
All feathers are precious.
This Sandia Pueblo man's ceremonial head ornament is made from broken and cut macaw and parrot feathers. Published with permission from Sandia Pueblo

THE PROJECT NEITHER BUYS NOR SELLS FEATHERS, BUT SHIPPING COSTS ARE GLADLY REIMBURSED UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED.

BECAUSE OF THE BACKLOG OF REQUESTS, AS OF MARCH 25, 2008, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT NEW REQUESTS FOR FEATHERS

IT IS ILLEGAL FOR US TO SEND FEATHERS FROM EAGLES, HAWKS, OTHER RAPTORS, PASSERINES, AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. WE NEVER HAVE FEATHERS FROM THESE BIRDS.

Personnel: Jonathan E. Reyman & volunteers.
Results: Since 1982, the Project has distributed about 7,500,000 feathers free- of-charge to 29 Pueblos.

Donations: Send feathers to:

Dr. Jonathan E. Reyman
Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center
1011 East Ash Street Springfield, IL 62703-3500
(217) 785-0069
E-mail: reyman@MUSEUM.STATE.IL.US

Scarlet Macaw Feather


Scarlet Macaw feather


 

The organizations below are happy to donate molted feathers to The Feather Distribution Project.

Gateway Parrot Club  Peninsula Caged Bird Club   Brookfield Zoo  Audobon Nature Institute National Wild Turkey Federation
Kentuckiana Bird Club  Birmingham Zoo  Jessie's Hunting Page
Philadelphia Zoo  Central Florida Zoological Park Gulf World Knoxville Zoo Natural Encounters
Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure  San Diego Zoo Scofield Zoo  St. Lousis Zoo  Treasure Coast Exotic bird Club  Zoo Atlanta
York Area Pet Bird Society  Southern Nevada Parrot Education National Aquarium  The Great Plains Zoo 
Bird Clubs of Virginia Todd Marcus Exotic Birds Wynd Song Border Collies  Henry Vilas Zoo  Milwaukee County Zoo Discovery Cove

Turtleback Zoo  Phoenix Landing  Erie Zoo Animal Adventures

 

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