Practical Bird-Keeping.



178



The size of the aviary is not so important an item as many

seem to think ; and, personally, I believe that more success is

likely to be attained by keeping a pair to itself in a large cage

than in an aviary with other birds; a fact I have proved to my

own satisfaction over and over again, but if birds are to breed in

a cage they must of course be in tip-top condition. The reason

for this is fairly obvious : in an aviary they have so many outlets

for their energy in flying about, fighting and searching for a

suitable site, that much of the vigour that should be expended

in breeding becomes dissipated in other directions, besides which

the smaller (within limits) the cage or aviary the easier it be¬

comes to give each bird individual attention and keep up his

condition.


The next important point is quiet or seclusion. Many

species will not nest unless they feel secure from their enemies,

and, consequently, before the nesting season the breeding quarters

should be thoroughly overhauled, and all mice, rats and especially

cats, should be kept well away. There is nothing more disturb¬

ing to birds than the nightly patroling of their premises by cats,

and this of itself is quite sufficient to prevent many species from

attempting to nest.


We must now consider the furnishing of the aviary, and

as a preliminary should read up as much as possible of the birds'

habits when wild and try to imitate them fairly closely. In most

cases of course an exact replica is impossible, and, therefore,

more success is likely to be obtained by studying the essentials

rather than the details. For instance, with species that nest high

up in trees the essential point is that the nest is placed well away

from the ground, and a nest-box attached to the roof of the aviary

is more likely to be appreciated than one lower down or on a

tree. A Kingfisher that breeds in a hole in a bank overhanging

water would take equally readily to a box on the wall provided it

went in far enough from the entrance—the water would not be

essential. Each nesting-place should be arranged so that it may

be easily defended, and there should be very few perches near it,

only just sufficient in fact for the needs of the nesting pair, for if

other birds are able to settle near the nest it will probably be

deserted or the young destroyed. For those species which nest



