How Safe are those Bird Fairs?

Most everyone who has owned and loved parrots for any length of time, has either attended a bird fair, or at least has heard what a bird fair is all about. I think the article linked here (click on the title above "How Safe are those Bird Fairs") is very good food for thought the next time you decide to attend the local bird fair. If you do decide to attend, at the very least make sure you know the appropriate protocol to follow to protect yourself and your birds from any undesirable germs you might pick up while at the fair. These diseases are not something to be taken lightly. Don't be fooled into thinking only the birds for sale have germs either, because every person walking around is spreading those nasties on the bottoms of their shoes, on their clothes, and especially on their hands, so no bird cage, bird toy, or bird supply, can be guaranteed safe from exposure. And pay special attention to the vendors who have birds out on open playstands and who let anyone who walks up, touch and play with their birds, and never even mentions disinfecting their hands. Be wondering how many other bird fair birds they touched and handled before handing this bird and how many of those other birds were carrying a disease. And if you do buy a bird fair bird, take it for a complete vet checkup ASAP and do quarantine it from any birds you already have for a minimum of 30 days, 90 days is better.