Are bird feathers dirty?

I was always told never to pick-up feathers growing up because they were covered with diseases and feces by my Mother. At the time she said this I was probably eyeballing some icky twice-run-over, dirt-bag pigeon feathers in a Dunkin Doughnuts parking lot or something as I was eating my second Boston Creme standing next to the '82 white Buick Skylark my parents owned at the time.
I turn my back for a second and Tanner has these seagull feathers that Jen gave her and I want to grab them away and say, "NO! Bad Baby! These are covered in poo and bird flu - you can't have them!"  Then she starts trying to fly around and it's great and Jen points out this is the Oregon coast, not a fast-food parking lot in Plainville, CT.

-Michael

Comments

[Mia]

okay, I have to admit when Jen sent those pictures this morning my first thought was also "Ewwww! Gross bird disease dirty poo feathers! Big fluffy stalks of death!!"

Mom and Dad sure screwed us up, huh?

[Mia]

And my next thought was, "wow, Brother sure needs to get some sun....."

[Steve]

Wait... your mother used to cover bird feathers with disease and feces? Well that's what you said!

[J&W Cog]

Dear Steve,

Yes, I did indeed cover bird feathers with disease and feces.
Is there a better way to teach children not to pick things up?

Michael's mother