134



Mr. H. C. Martin,



THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF SMALL

AVIARIES. Some Notes and Notions.


By H. C. Martin.


The aviary most to be desired, and the one with which

one is most likely to be successful in breeding birds, is no doubt

that of large dimensions where their natural surroundings can

be to a great extent reproduced and where they can be left largely

to their own devices as far as the means and material for nesting

are concerned. It is not, however, very often practicable to

build an aviary of this type, and for one such I think there must

be many, like my own, in which the birds live under conditions

which are distinctly unnatural, however suitable the}" may be.

For my own part, much as I would like to have my birds almost

at liberty, and to enclose a whole garden for them if I could, I

must say I think the small “artificial” type of aviary has its

advantages, and is more interesting in this way, that its inmates

must of necessity be tamer and that their goings and comings

are under closer observation. I must confess, too, to a certain

predilection for a building on “ ornamental” lines as well as to a

weakness for symmetry, new paint and general spick-and-span -

ness.


One learns by experience and, simple as it may seem at

first sight to build and fit out a home for a score or so of small

birds, it is astonishing (at least, I should say, it was in my case)

how many points one may overlook or fail to foresee, and how

many more will suggest themselves from time to time. I venture

then to record a few such points as have occurred to me in my

small experience, and to make one or two suggestions for the

possible improvement of the small, “artificial” aviary, with a

view to making it most suitable for the birds and most convenient

for the owner.


When I decided to build my aviary—a little span-roof

structure, 12ft. by 8ft. by 7ft. (which, to begin with, would have

been much better split in two and built as a 24ft. “ lean-to ”), I

thought how nice it would look amongst that foliage three-parts

of the way down a rather long garden. So it did—in summer-



