Scare passes without threat to 2002 National Cage Bird Show
We are pleased to announce that the few recent cases of Newcastle Disease in Southern California this year are contained, and there are no restrictions on the 2002 National Cage Bird Show.
This Fall, the disease was discovered in fighting cocks in a few backyards hundreds of miles to the south of the show site. The State Veterinary Office reports that there is no evidence that it has, or will, spread.
A few fairgrounds cancelled bird marts as a precaution shortly after the outbreak was discovered. This ban is now being lifted. Bird marts will be allowed to have birds for sale if they have an avian veternarian inspect birds entered for sale. Any birds not looking completely healthy will not be allowed in the mart, that is the extent of the proposed regulation. This will not apply to judging shows, although the host club has previously contracted with Dr. Govers from the West Valley Pet Clinic to be our official show vet and he will be present during checkin.
There was never any plan by the State to cancel other exotic bird shows. There is NO plan to quarantine or ban exotic birds into or out of California. There is NO travel moratorium. There is a moratorium on shipping poultry chicks through the U.S. mail, but that will not affect exhibitors who drive or fly to the show and bring their birds with them. The U.S. Postal Service has not allowed shipping of exotic birds through the mail for years, even though enforcement has been inconsistent.
The National Cage Bird Show was never considered for restriction or cancellation, and the State Veterinary Office has explicitly said there is no intention of doing so. A member of the Newcastle's Task Force has personnally contacted the president of the National Cage Bird Show, Inc., and the show chair for the host club, to convey this positive information.
This page last updated: October 28, 2002