Young magician told he can't use doves in state fair act

How much could the bird flu possibly affect a young magician's magic act?

Turns out, quite a bit.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Live Stewardship in May canceled all live bird exhibitions from county fairs and the Iowa State Fair due to the avian influenza outbreak that's stretched across the Midwest.

Now a young magician set to perform in the Iowa State Fair Bill Riley Talent Search was told he wouldn't be able to perform a major part of his act involving his two pet doves.

Michael Osman, a 19-year-old magician from Des Moines, was told after performing at the Warren County Fair the doves weren't allowed.

And the doves are the stars of his show.

"It's a huge part of his act," Bill Riley said Tuesday night. "This young man is wildly talented."

Osman, who goes by Michael Oz as a stage name, said Tuesday night he's still hoping he'll be able to use the doves, but he's brainstorming other options if the bird barring holds.

"Without them it takes out a big majority of the act," Osman said. "I thought about using fake birds or a rabbit or borrowing a rabbit from a friend. I also thought about poking fun at them for not letting me use my birds by using Dove shampoo."

He said he's also been practicing with fish, so that may be an option.

Riley said he and Osman are following the Department of Agriculture's guidelines. Riley tried to promptly warn Osman so he could find a replacement for the act.

"I just feel bad for Michael," Riley said. "He's a tremendous performer. He'll take this negative and turn it into a positive. He's worked way too hard to let this knock him down."

Riley said if Osman were to use props, Riley would inform the audience and the judges of the switch that had to be made. Osman is scheduled to perform Aug. 13 at the fair.

Osman, who stumbled upon a love for magic at the age of 4, said the Iowa State Fair has been "easy to work with" and that Riley has been pulling as many strings as he can, but as of now, he still can't use his pets of five years.

"We complained to them and they said they don't want to break any exceptions and because they're afraid of it spreading," Osman said.

But Osman said it would be nearly impossible for his birds to have caught the avian flu, as they are pets that are rarely outside or near other birds.

He also said his magic performances help pay for his college at Iowa State, where he'll be entering his sophomore year in the fall studying business and marketing.

"Magic is paying for my college," he said. "It's taken me a lot of places. That's one of the main reasons I'm trying to win the Bill Riley show."

Osman isn't the only one affected by the Department of Agriculture's decision to remove the bird exhibits from the fair. Youths in FFA or 4-H who had planned on showing a rooster, hen or other poultry, were forced to pull their projects or use props, Riley said.