THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fourth Series.-~W ol. XII.—No. 2 .—All rights reserved. FEBRUARY, 1934



NOTES FROM A CHICAGO AVIARY


By Karl Plath


Now that cold weather is at hand one has a greater ambition to write

about the happenings in the aviary during the past season, though

naturally the interesting events occur during the warm summer months

when the birds are all in their outside home. All of my birds are now in

the winter aviary which is partitioned off from my studio on the top

floor of my home with glass and wire. This forms a room 9 X 12 X

8J feet high, and is perhaps half the size of the summer cage. To the

left along the entire side is a ledge made of artificial rock and extending

up the wall is a rocky formation down which water trickles into a

shallow pool. Numerous branches are arranged in a natural effect

and sprays of arbor-vitse impart a pleasing green effect that lasts for

months. The floor is covered with about 2 inches of coarse sand

which is sifted once a week or oftener if necessary. The seed is placed

in a home-made hopper of glass so that it is readily noticed when it

needs replenishing. As the supply of seed lasts from four to six weeks,

having it in this hopper does relieve from the daily feeding. As both

fresh water and seed are taken care of the only feeding necessary

is the soft-food mixture prepared every morning and which consists of

apple, banana, and grapes chopped up and mixed with the staple

Mocking-bird food, to which ant-eggs and dried insects are added. A



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