Outdoor Bird Aviary

Outdoor accommodation for birds consists of a shelter or bird room for roosting and a flight for exercise. It should he planned so as to allow easy entrance for the owner with minimum disturbance and so that the birds can be locked in at night or during had weather. The spot chosen should offer the maximum in light and fresh air, with protection from wet, cold or windy weather and also from excessive heat.

The shelter is the most important part of the aviary and needs to be designed with care to ensure that the owner can feed and maintain birds with minimum effort. The shelter must be spreading plant which looks very attractive with its pinky-white flowers. The Cotoneaster rotund folia grow upright and have larger blossoms. Both types produce red berries and require a sunny area which is not too wet. The foliage lasts all the year round and are therefore very suitable plants to grow in an aviary in any garden.

English Holly (Ilex Aquifolium) or American Holly (Ilex Opeca): Holly requires a sunny area but soil that is not too dry. Male and female bushes should be obtained if possible and planted side by side to ensure a mass of lovely bright red berries. Holly may be used for hedging, particularly the pyramided variety, which provides useful nesting sites. This species also produces plenty of fruit.

English Ivy (Hedera Helix): A very useful, attractive climber suitable for covering aviary netting or walls. Too much sun makes this plant shrivel. It prefers a shady spot. The evergreen colour is maintained throughout the year. The tiny flowers produce black berries which are occasionally eaten by birds. There is a larger-leaved variety called Hibernica which is also attractive.

European Elderberry (Sambu-cus Nigra) or Common Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis) or Red elderberry (Sambucus pubens) - Grows rapidly in most types of soil with sufficient humus. It needs plenty of sun and moisture to produce lush clumps of berries eagerly devoured by birds. The berries also attract insects to tempt the insect-eating species. It is easy to grow and maintain.

Forsythia (Forsythia spectabilis): The tough woody stems are impervious to beaks, and the profusion of yellow flowers makes a beautiful sight. It pro-vides good shade, cover and useful nesting sites.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): A fairly tall tree which is very suitable for nesting purposes. It hears pleasantly scented, pinky-red flowers which pro-duce bright red berries. These are enjoyed by many species of birds. Hawthorn does well in most soils in a sunny area.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera): A versatile climbing plant which looks very attractive and provides useful nesting sites. The lush flowers smell delicious and attract insects as well.

Juniper: Junipers are recommended and there area great number from which to choose. One of the most attractive is:

Blue star (Juniperus squantata): An adaptable and hardy Juniper, the steel blue foliage is attractive. It grows very quickly and occasionally needs to be trimmed. In three years, this Juniper can grow to four times its original size.

Mock Orange Blossom (Philadelphus coronarius): Irills delightfully scented shrub can grow very tall. A good choice as the blooms attracts plenty of insects. It is a very hardy plant.

Raspberry (Rubes): This plant has similar conditions to the Blackberry. The rich, red fruit is best loved by birds.

Russian Vine (Polygonum): Another very popular, rampant climbing plant suitable for aviaries. It rapidly covers aviary netting.

Snowberry (Symphonicalms): A hardy, bushy shrub which hears profusion of pink blossom and fruits into white berries, which are much appreciated by the small species of quail.

Weeping Willow (Sal ix babylonia): If plenty of space is available and water-fowl are kept on a small pond or lake, then reeds, rushes and this willow are every attractive.

Wild Rose (Rosa multiplexor): There are many different varieties of wild rose. All make excellent and picturesque climbing plants for aviaries. They may also be used as nesting sites and they invite large numbers of useful insects. Sunny areas and damp soil are favored.

Perches

These should vary in thickness to exercise the birds' feet properly. Dowel perching may be bought in pet stores and cut into various lengths as required. Natural per-chin should also be provided in the form of branches of different sizes. Incorrect perches often cause birds' toenails to grow too long and curve into uncomfortable shapes. Metal perches should never be used. Some of the perches should be sited quite high up, particularly in the shelter for roosting. These should be the thinnest perches, which birds usually prefer.

Soft billed birds’ wipe their beaks on perches constantly, so natural perches should be replaced frequently, while dowel perches are easy to wash. Birds also foul their perches with dropping sand dirty perches must always be re-placed or washed. Many birds enjoy stripping the bark from branches and for this purpose; apple wood is a very good choice.

Feeding Dishes and Drinkers

Feeding dishes should be placed where they are not fouled by bird droppings.

Different containers are required for various types of birds. Seed eaters need radish which is fairly deep for mixed millet sand plain canary seed. If several different dishes for millets and a separate one for canary seed are provided, it is possible to identify the birds' preference and balance their diet. Further containers should hold mineral grit, canary song food and insectile mixtures, dietary supplements and any other favored snacks, such as apple, which some seed eaters really enjoy. Food and water dishes may be made of chi, earthenware, glass or plastic and should be scalded before use. Metal containers are often used for parrot like species. Dietary supplements should not be given in metal containers because a chemical reaction may take place. Automated bird seed feeders, which are efficient and reliable, may be purchased at pet stores. Clear plastic or glass drinkers of tubular design keep water fresh and clean, although some birds tend to use them as shower baths. These are essential for nectar-feeding soft bills. Any algae forming on the inside must he removed by regular, thorough cleaning.

Several feeding positions in an aviary prevent any squabbling or bullying over meals.

It is always better to place food aboveground level, except for quail and other ground dwellers. Wild bird feeders on stands keep food in a clean condition well above the ground.

Bird Baths and Pools

The type of bird bath normally purchased for a garden can look very attractive within an aviary. Water pumps may bemuse to provide a fountain which can be another pleasing feature, but it may take some birds a little time to become accustomed to it. Bird baths and pools should always be shallow to avoid young birds drowning. The type of plastic pool normally used for small fish can be used if stones are placed on the bottom of the pool to reduce the depth. Baths and pools should have clean, clear water at all time sand never is allowed to stagnate. If possible, provide fresh running water.

Nesting Boxes and Baskets

Nest boxes for finches, with a round entrance or a half square front, should he position at varying heights in the aviary. Cover should he given in the form of bundles of reeds, branches, heather, hedging screens, tree bark or shrubs .Wicker nest baskets come in various shapes with entrance holes in different positions, but need to be sprayed regularly with mild disinfectant as they attract mites and other tiny insects. A mild disinfectant will not cause any harm to the birds.

Some species favor canary nest pans or nest logs. The greater the variety of nest sites offered, the better the chance of birds attempting to breed. Coconut shells may be wired together to make an un-usual nesting site for small finches. Care must be taken to ensure there is nothing for the birds to catch their feet on .Bundles of hay and dried grasses may be packed into mesh bags and hung up for the use of nesting birds.

Parakeets and cockatiels need larger nest boxes and logs than smaller birds, although cockatiels use a budgerigar nest box quite frequently. It is often surprising how small a box some birds select if the yare keen to breed. Perhaps a small box creates a feeling of security.

Wired-In Safety Door

A wired-in safety door is essential to prevent birds escaping. This should also allow the owner to feed the birds without entering the aviary, thus creating a mini-mum of disturbance.

Other Sundry Equipment

• Racks - Racks for green food
• Clips - Cups for hanging up cuttlefish bone bins for seed storage
• Catching Net
• Broom
• Cleaning Utensils - This includes a scraper for removal of droppings trave cage.
• Bird Bath Cage
• Hand Mist Spray
• First Aid Box - This should contain such items as hydrogen peroxide to stop bleeding, cotton wool, disinfectant and nail clippers. A torch is another useful item.
• Hospital Cage - Used to provide sick birds with controlled heat. This can he simple box cage with a light bulb fitted inside. Ensure it has adequate ventilation.

Incubator Used for hatching eggs here are many excellent makes available from specialist suppliers.