t6o a Small Cardcu Av'wry. 



A Small Garden Aviary and Nesting Episode. 



By C. H. Macklin, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. 



A few notes on my first season's experiences may be of 

 interest, at any rate to those who are thinking- of starting- a 

 small outdoor aviary for foreii^n birds. 



Before the war I kept a few species in ca.^es, but this year 

 I have been able to start the long-desired aviary in my garden. 

 I built it myself last winter and completed it in April. It is 

 [)]aced against a brick wall facing S.S.E., and is 25 x 6 x 6 feet 

 high. 10 feet of its length is roofed, consisting of a closed 

 shed with glazed front 6x6 feet, and wired front shelter 

 6x4 feet. The rest, 15 x 6 feet, is an open flight, planted 

 with small shrubs, grasses, etc.; hazel " pea-sticks " are used 

 for perches. As it was intended chiefly for small waxbills, T 

 used y^\n. mesh wire netting; the frame-work is 2in. wood 

 quartering, and the shed is of matchboarding; the roof is 

 boarded and covered with " Ruberoid " felt. All the woodwork 

 inside is stained with creosote, and the wire and outside 

 woodwork painted with Brunswick black. 



The first occupants were turned out in May, viz : pairs 

 o^ African Fire and Lavender Finches, Grey and Golden- 

 breasted Waxbills, Cordon Bleus, and an old tame cock 

 Goldfinch. In June were added pairs of Cutthroats, Zebra 

 Finches, Black-headed Nuns, and Grey Java Sparrows. 



The Cutthroats almost inunediately nested in a coco-nut 

 shell, in the shelter, but failed to rear any young ones; the first 

 clutch of four eggs hatched out. and the young birds lived 

 about ten days. The hen soon started to lay again, and all 

 seemed going well when one day there were no soimds coming 

 from the nest. On inspection I found seven clear eggs and 

 two dead fledglings of al^out the same age as the previous 

 brood; their crops on both occasions were full of millet seeds. 

 1 had noticed that the parents did not seem to take many of the 

 insects or live food supplied. 



Meanwhile the Firefinches had lined a small rush nest 

 and were both sitting in tiUMis. the cock incubating during the 

 (lay. and the hen at night, as a rule. Unfortunately the nest 

 was not verv securelv fastened; it tilted forward a little and the 



