Birds of many feathers could be found at the Mid-American Exotic Bird Society's Bird Fair on April 22 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard.
"It's a dog-and-cat world at pet stores, so (our bird fair) is a popular event," said Janet Brenot, treasurer of the society, which organizes the event each spring at the fairgrounds.
The bird fair included common finches and budgerigars, a breed of parakeet often called a "budgie," that cost $25 each, as well as rarer birds like the macaw, a parrot native to Mexico and South and Central America that can live a century and can cost up to $3,000.
John Moseley, who owns and operates Ranch Moseley Aviary in north Columbus with his wife, Carrie, showed a 20-year-old macaw at the bird fair.
But Lilly was not for sale.
Instead, she was present to become more socialized, said Moseley, who does not purposefully breed birds but rather accepts them as rescues from the Columbus Humane Society.
Lilly's owner no longer could care for her, which is not an uncommon circumstance because macaws generally have a longer lifespan than humans, he said.
Lilly soon will join a family in Portsmouth that includes a mother and her 3-year-old daughter to replace a bird who died, he said.
The Moseleys have an outdoor aviary but all the birds – usually 35 to 70 – are indoors during inclement weather, occupying all but two rooms in their residence.
"Our birds are in every room except the bathroom and our bedroom," Moseley said.
Other exotic birds at the show included Mandy, a 12-year-old Moluccan cockatoo, who serves as the shop mascot at the Sugarcreek Bird Farm in Bellbrook, near Dayton.
Mandy was not for sale, either, said Bernadette DiSalvo, 29, who is assuming the day-to-day operations of the store as her parents, the founders, move toward retirement.
Pete and Paula DiSalvo received a cockatiel as a wedding present 49 years ago and thus began "a fascination with birds," Bernadette DiSalvo said.
Mandy, she said, would not make a good pet for many people because the screech of the species "is a few decibels less than that of a jet plane on takeoff."
It is a calling sound for the species but also for when the bird wants attention, and the birds loathe being alone for long periods of time, she explained.
"(These birds) are often passed from home to home," DiSalvo said.
She said they have a 60-year lifespan and cost up to $3,000.
Carla Jackson, who with her husband, Don, owns Shake Your Tail Feathers Aviary in North Lewisburg, said she strives to help customers find the right bird.
"I want it to be a good match," she said.
Denise Verrico and Fae Fern of Reynoldsburg were among the customers who made purchases at the bird fair.
Verrico bought a budgie – her fourth – and named her Arwen, after "The Lord of the Rings" character.
Fern, whose boyfriend is Verrico's son, bought her first bird, a cockatiel, but had yet to name the bird.
"It's our new child. ... Once I learn his personality, we'll give him a name," she said.
Patti Hughes, president of the Mid-American Exotic Bird Society, said membership and bird-fair attendance has decreased since the society was founded in 1980.
The recession a few years ago was part of the reason, as people had less expendable income, she said, but it also is due to people who purchase exotic bids online.
"(Breeders) will ship birds (via airlines) and I don't support that at all," said Susan Dugan, vice president of the society.
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