by Polarn » Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:08 pm
I can't really answer for the risks in all areas, but I know that the risks are greater in netherlands/holland since we generally try not to import birds from there due to the higher number freq. of diseases. Here as of right now there is quite a minimal risk for diseases and I personally thinks the benefits outweights the risks.
as of pros I can think of right now:
-sozialization (and in an enviorment where nobody(well a minor amount) will do something strange if your bird decides to land on them or poo on them or even in a scenario of a bite, everyone there own birds themselves and most people engaging these activities are the same people trying their best in every aspect.
-stimulation, the more that is happening around the bird at the same time the more he/she has to look at, and generally birds not used to attend these events gets mentally exhausted and takes a nap in the car on the way home.
-human sozialization, meaning you have a forum to discuss behavior/training/nutrition etcetera with other likeminded people eye to eye. Or simply meet new friends.
cons:
Well.. the only one I can think of is the risk of diseases.
Even if there is a slight chance one of the birds attending is sick birds doesn't tend to be too close to one another if they do not previously know each other, like they generally wont preen each other or cuddle up, but they will have the possibility to scream as a flock or fly as one.
Although somtimes at these events there isn't too much flight involved simply because not all birds do want to fly around, like my brownheaded generally sticks to me as a bandage, and today I got him to fly but then he ended up landing up in the roof and hung out there preening himself, and he wouldnt recall down so I figured worse case scenario is me staying there until all the other birds are gone and then get onto a ladder and use a really really really long dowel to get him down, but after a bit he came flying down again to me when I ignored him, then he was back to being a velcro bird part for some time spent with my brothers eclectus in a tree.
I truly find these events to be rewarding to your bird and to yourself, and to actually be rewarding enough to outweigh the risk of illness.... However living somewhere else I may have thought it otherwise or have a smaller group of people where you may only include your close friends etc.