Each state and territory across Australia has their own strict rules and regulations around the collection and movement of bird feathers. The Feather Map of Australia Project has obtained licences from each state and territory in order for members of the public to help us with this important research.
All states and territories require that:
1) All participants must comply with the local authority rules and regulations of the state or territory where the feathers are collected
2) Copies of licences can be provided on request by emailing feathermap@ansto.gov.au
3) All participants should follow correct hygiene practices including washing hands after handling feathers and/or wearing gloves
4) All participants understand and follow the licence requirements for your state or territory (see below)
5) Some key target species of interest are nominated (see bottom of this page).
Australian Capital Territory (licence #LT2016870)
The Feather Map of Australia's ACT licence allows members of the public to collect cast feathers from the ground at wetland sites throughout the ACT for the purpose of the citizen science project, Feather Map of Australia.
New South Wales (scientific licence #SL101642)
The Feather Map of Australia's NSW licence allows for the collection of moulted feathers from birds at wetland sites throughout NSW. Landholders permission is required on private land.
National Parks and Wildlife Services Estates where feathers can be collected are:
South Australia (permit #A26504-1)
The Feather Map of Australia's South Australian permit provides the authority to collect feather samples from the ground in and around wetland sites in all National Resource Management regions – on and off reserves (excluding wilderness protection areas, Witjita National Park and prohibited areas).
Tasmania (Ref: SKMBT_C554e16030313370)
The licence/permit provides the authority to collect feathers for the purposes of the citizen science project – Feather Map of Australia.
Tasmanian legislation requires that the movement of biological specimens be accompanied by an export permit. For this reason all feathers collected in Tasmania need to be sent to the following Tasmanian address:
Feather Map of Australia Project
c/- Vishnu Prahalad
Private Bag 78
University of Tasmania
HOBART TAS 7001
The Feather Map of Australia project team will then arrange export permits to move the feathers from Tasmania to NSW.
Queensland (permit #WISP16967616) – PLEASE NOTE CHANGES AS OF 24/06/16
IMPORTANT CHANGES: Anyone collecting feathers in Queensland for the Feather Map of Australia Project are NO LONGER REQUIRED to submit a movement advice or movement permit to the QLD Department of Environment and Heritage, as previously required. You can just post the feathers once you collect them with no need for additional paperwork. This is great news for the project as it will make participate much easier. You will still need a letter of endorsement and a copy of the now revised permit. The current permit details are below:
The Feather Map of Australia's Queensland permit authorizes the holder to collect moulted waterbird feathers in areas not protected under the 'Nature Conservation Act 1992', for the purpose of the “Feather Map of Australia” project.
Participants MUST obtaining and carry an endorsed letter and copy of the permit
It is a requirement of the permit that anyone collecting feathers for the Feather Map Project MUST carry an endorsed letter and copy of the permit plus proof of identity of the permit holder, while engaged in any activity authorized by the permit.
To obtain an endorsed copy of the permit please email feathermap@ansto.gov.au including your name and physical mailing address, and the permit will be posted to you.
Western Australia (licence #SF010464)
The Feather Map of Australia's Western Australian licence allows for the opportunistic collection of moulted feathers from birds at wetland sites throughout Western Australia.
Western Australian legislation requires that the movement of biological specimens be accompanied by an export permit. For this reason all feathers collected in WA need to be sent to the following Western Australia address:
Feather Map of Australia Project
PO Box 384
WEMBLEY WA 6913
The Feather Map of Australia project team will then arrange export permits to move the feathers from WA to NSW.
Victoria (Permit #10007719)
The Feather Map of Australia's Victorian permit allows members of the public to collect cast feathers throughout all lands managed under the National Parks Act 1975 and submit them to the permit holder as part of the citizen science project Feather Map of Australia.
Northern Territory (Permit #58383)
The Feather Map of Australia's NT permit allows for the collection of moulted feathers from birds at wetland sites throughout NT including the following parks estates:
Collection is not permitted in Kakadu National Park (at this time).
Key target species
For all states and territories, the key target species nominated of being of interest are:
Australian Pelican
Great cormorant
Little black cormorant
Pied cormorant
Little pied cormorant
Straw-necked ibis
Australian white ibis
Glossy ibis
Pacific black duck
Australian wood duck
Great egret
Intermediate egret
Little egret
Magpie goose
White-necked heron
Royal Spoonbill
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