Long's Garden Aviary

Abstract

You don't need acres ofland to have
d very nice avia1y garden_ Indeed,
the vast majority of the AFA members
keep their birds on an ordinary tractsized
lot of about 50 or 60ft by 80 or 100
ft. Some members have even developed
nice avia1y gardens in a condominium
environment. We will feature a variety of
situations where birds and plants have
been put together in a pleasing way.
There will be, of course, the occasional
estate-sized layout that involves many
acres and an heroic investment but
mainly we want to show you what can
be done with the more common backyard
that the majority of us putter around
in.
Sel and Aletta Long have a beautiful
aviary garden established on a Southern
California lot measuring 60ft by 100ft.
Most of the backyard is given over to aviaries
and the surrounding garde n. The
main aviary complex is 34ft long by 12ft
wide with its length running parallel to
the wall across the back of the prope rty.
This aviary is divided down its length so
in actuality the re are two flights 34 ft long
by 6ft wide. The flight to the front (nearest
the house) is well planted and filled
with an assortment of finches that are
not very destructive to plants. The rear
flight is not heavily planted because the
Princess of Wales Parakeets keep all
growing things gnawed down.
This rear flight extends two feet
above the six foot wall on the boundary
of the property which is a clever labor
and material saving method of construction.
Inside this flight is a smaller e nclosure
that is made of wire with a two inch
square mesh. This allows the weavers to
have complete run of the flight but preve
nts the larger and more destructive
parrots from getting into the weaver's
nesting area. The weavers can fly full
speed through. the two inch mesh while
the Princess of Wales can't squeeze
through it under any circumstances.

The major plant species in this flight is a
large dead and dried out tumbleweed.
The weavers have started several nests
in the tumbleweed and the parrots show
no interest at all. The parrots seem interested
only in green and growing plants.
The front flight, on the other hand, is
well planted and contains a small waterfall
and pond. This flight, of course, contains
no parrots. The plants are so well
grown that they fill the aviary to the
point that it is difficult to really see all the
birds. The best method to observe these
birds is to sit quietly in the shade of the
patio and just watch. Under these circumstances
the birds seem not to know
anyone is about and they carry on their
normal affairs. This is a wonderful way
to enjoy aviary birds and also a good
way to learn a great deal about their behavior.
Some of the larger plants in this flight
were planted before the aviary wire was
stretched across the top. The large plant
behind the waterfall is a species of
Scheff1era, an evergreen shrub or small
tree of the tropics that does well in the
moderate climate of Southern California.
It can also serve as a very nice potted
plant to be kept indoors or in a greenhouse
in colder climates. Another large
plant in the flight is a variety of podocarpus,
a good looking evergreen shrub
that is widely distributed throughout the
Southern Hemisphere with one species
found in Asia. Podocarpus are grown
outdoors in Florida and Southern California
where they make fine specimens
and attractive hedges. A well-drained
soil with peat or leaf mold is ideal. This
plant can withstand an occasional light
frost and does well in shade.
Also inside the aviary are several
clumps of Nandina domestica often
called "heavenly bamboo" although it is
not a bamboo at all but is in the Barberry
family. It is a very graceful plant that can
grow to about eight feet and is easy to
maintain. With exposure to the sun, the
leaves turn various shades of red and are
quite colorful. In the shade it remains
green.
Much of the ground cover inside the
aviary is comprised of air plant also
known as spider plant which is usually
found in hanging planters. It is called
spider plant because long stems hang
down from the planters then terminate
in a spidery looking clump. It is not often
seen on the ground but in this case
makes a good cover for the dirt of the
aviary floor. Also covering much of the
floor is a variety of Korean Grass that

clumps up and can grow very long
blades. One of Long's favorite scenes is
when a small finch picks up the tip of a
blade of this grass then flies off to its nest
with the grass in its beak. After flying
three or four feet (the length of the blade)
the finch hits the end of the rope, so to
speak, and gets snapped around and hovers
at the end of the tether. Eventually, of
course, the finch lets go then perches to
ponder this puzzling form of grass. This
Korean Grass is recommended for those
aviculturists with a sense of humor and
dumb finches with strong necks.
Actually, it is completely amazing
how many little birds live in peace and
plenty in this well planted enclosure.
Not all of them can be seen at once. They
all find their favorite hiding places and
remain out of view much of the time,
usually being seen only as they flit from
bush to bush or, as occasionally happens,
perch on an exposed twig to take a
little sun. When one enters the aviary,
however, as I did before Long could
stop me, and vigorously beats the
bushes with a hefty stick, the air explodes
into life with hundreds of little
blurs swarming about one's head like
gnats. The birds suffered no ill effects at
all and even Long, once she recovered
from a dead faint, was none the worse
for wear. And I did learn that the aviary
·contained Lavender, Shaft-tailed, Green
Singers,Nuns,Stars, Strawberries, Cordon
Blues, Orange-cheeked and other
finches along with some Napoleon and
Orange Weavers, a Button Quail or two,
Pekin Robins and a few species that
were too quick to identify under the circumstances.

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