An Aviary Meant for Waders. 277 



An Aviary Meant for Waders. 



By H. L. Sich. 



Nearly the whole of last year I was building- this 

 aviary. 



Never having kept these birds before, I thought mud, 

 water, and sand were the chief items. I did not stock the 

 aviary until this spring. In the meantime I received some 

 very good advice from several members, which caused some 

 alterations. 



The aviary is 48 x 29 feet, and 6 feet 2 inches 

 high, except over the pond, where it rises to 10 feet 6 inches 

 at the ridge. The four corner posts and the three others which 

 support the roof over the pond are made of 4 x 4 inch' 

 quartering, the two tie beams are 5x2 inches; all the 

 other posts and rails are 4x2 inches. The top and lx)ttom 

 rails are fixed to the posts by a joggle mortise, the middle 

 rails half way up are fixed with an ordinary mortise, cut in 

 both post and rail, and nailed together. The roof rails are 

 nailed flush with the posts and supported with iron or wooden 

 brackets. It is boarded up all round If feet high, and the 

 wire netting is let into the ground about 2 feet and bent 

 outwards. In many places zinc is used instead. Owing to the 

 slope of the land, part of the foundations are above ground 

 and some below, they simply consist of bricks under every 

 post which are six feet apart. The wire netting is stretched 

 from the ground rail straight over the roof. 



I do not think it is necessary to say any more about 

 the construction. I procured the raw materials and made 

 everything I could myself. The stretching of netting on the 

 roof, and part of the ridge board, laying the drain pipes 

 to feed the pond, and the digging out thereof, I had done 

 for me, as it was impossible to do that alone. 1 cut down 

 expenses as much as possible, so as to have a large aviary. 



I did not accept the lowest tender, but, one from a local 

 carpenter, which was more satisfactory, as he undertook the 

 carting of the timber. The following is the cost of nearly 

 everything, for the benefit of those who have time but a shallow 

 pocket: — 



