by Karen Lawson

Created on: December 20, 2008

Landscaping an aviary depends on what types of birds you're keeping. The size(s) and number of birds, their habits, and your reasons for keeping them contribute to landscaping choices. Are you keeping a few pairs of finches for ornamental purposes? Perhaps you want to provide a natural a habitat for pet birds. If you're a commercial breeder, aesthetics may not be as important as providing a secure environment for nesting.

Let's consider the needs of a common aviary bird, the zebra finch :

Zebra finches are hardy finches native to temperate climates in Australia. They require shelter from direct sun. They are ground feeding seed eaters that nest in hollow tree branches. Thee finches are prolific breeders that prefer living in flocks, but will fight if overcrowded.

Using this information, you can plan aviary landscaping that accommodates these finches:

Provides shelter from direct sun and severe weather.

Food and water should be supplied on or near the ground

Provide non-toxic plantings for shelter and nest material

It's important to provide for your birds, but also plan for easy maintenance of your aviary.

Designing an Aviary that's Accessible and Easy to Maintain

Enjoying your birds depends on your ability to care for them properly and efficiently. Here are some general hints for planning and landscaping an aviary that's genuinely "for the birds:"

When constructing an outdoor aviary, consider weather, climate and light exposure to accomodate birds and aviary plants.

Psittacines (birds of the parrot family) from budgies to macaws enjoy chewing. They can destroy vegetation, wooden perches, and nest boxes very quickly. Plan on replacing these items regularly! Larger parrot species are best housed in heavy gauge metal aviaries as they can quickly damage wooden construction.

Ensure that plants used in landscaping your aviary are non-toxic to birds: Contact an avian veterinarian if you have any doubts, Commercially grown plants may be treated with pesticides or fertilizers thatcan harm birds; it's a good idea to purchase plantings for your aviary from "green" suppliers, or grow your own.

Provide natural perches Branches,and plants provide birds with a variety of perch widths, which helps to exercise their feet. Place plenty of perches near nesting areas.

Taking care of fledglings: Baby birds typically spend some time on the ground before they learn to fly. Avoid plants that have thorns, needles, or those that can entangle baby birds.

Knowing what your birds need will help you select landscaping that works for you and your feathered friends.

Learn more about this author, Karen Lawson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.