Possible illnesses from volunteering at a sanctuary?

I've been thinking of volunteering at a parrot rescue near me (well, an hour away. And if I ever get time off of work again).

I'm just wondering how possible it would be to bring an illness home to my guys if one of theirs is sick? Do rescues typically test all incoming birds? Are sick birds usually quarantined? I really want to do this but if it's highly likely that I could bring home a disease to my babies, I'll probably pass.

Due to the nature of rescue work, bringing home an illness is definitely something you have to take measures to prevent. Quite a few avian illnesses are communicable via dander, bodily fluids or even through the air. If you wind up coming into contact with a contagious bird, you could carry said contagion home on your clothes, shoes, or hair.

But as you've likely noticed, many members of this forum volunteer at rescues without infecting their birds. For some, that might be due to luck. But for others, the key is found in prevention. Compartmentalization. Keep your rescue clothes and shoes separate from your other clothes and shoes. After getting home from the rescue, change out of those clothes, shower and wash your hair. You basically want to institute the same protocols that you do when quarantining a new addition to your flock. Except that this is easier since the "quarantined" birds don't live inside your home. (This procedure is also needed for any bird owners who work in a pet store.)

So if you feel a calling to volunteer at a rescue, I say go for it! The work that they do is important and quite necessary, given the tragic number of birds that are given up by owners who didn't know what they were getting into. It's just a matter of getting yourself settled into a quarantine-type routine to keep your own birds safe even as you work to make a better life for other birds who need it.

Judging from your posts, I get the feeling that rescue work would be a good fit for you. Please keep us updated on whatever you decide.