Completed Aviary
Although the door no longer sports the historical “Chicken Little Lanai” sign, said sign is actually mounted on the side of the aviary, and the restoration work is done. Note the inventive sliding glass door … an old window my husband found in the shed and recycled. The entire inside of the aviary is secured with 1/4″ hardware cloth, bungee cords and branches are strung and scattered about for perches, a neat table/shelf is set up for food and water dishes, and the Starlings and Grackle have taken up residence.
The birds have been outside for about a week now, and are doing extremely well. Birdies and home have stood up nicely to several rather raucous thunder storms without any problems. In fact, one storm hit in the middle of the night, and I stood for some time, with rain pouring down and lightning flashing around me, under the car port in my jammies just making sure the birds were safe.
They slept through the storm.
At first, we tried putting the three little House Finches in with the others. However, after an hour or so, one Finch had lost several tail feathers to the naughty Starlings. I sent my six-foot-three inch son, who despite the added height still bends better than his old mother does, in to rescue the little ones. The Finches are now spending days in their reptarium out on our front deck under the shade awning, and I’m searching for additional ideas for a safe release for them. Fortunately, we have House Finches coming to the feeders out front, so they’re becoming acquainted with others of their species.
Several of the Starlings
The six Starlings are overjoyed by their new location. They have lots of room to stretch their wings, and took right away to the feeding station and perches. There are ledges, front and back, up under the roof where it’s most sheltered, and they seem to like to roost there at night, while the Grackle takes the x-shaped bungee cord perch in the enclosed corner of the cage.
Today, for the first time that I was able to observe, I sat for a while beside the aviary and watched the Starlings drop to the floor of the cage. They were wandering about in shavings, prying with their beaks as “real Starlings” do in the grass, cleaning up cat food crumbles and dried mealworms that had been dropped from the feeding station. I even watched one find himself a real live beetle of some sort, beat it against the floor, and then manage to lose it again before he ate it. He’ll learn, though. They’re really coming along beautifully!
Kelly, the federal migratory bird rescuer whom I apprentice with, stopped by (with a baby Eastern Phoebe, who is still in my laundry room with the Barn Swallow who came for a visit last month and stayed) the day I’d put the birds outside. She said they all looked very happy, and I must agree. They’d truly outgrown the indoor quarters, and they really are enjoying the chance to be birds in a safe environment, learning the ins and outs of being, well, out instead of in!
My Grackle Friend
The Grackle is also doing very well. I was a wee bit concerned about him, actually, as he is a strange little fellow who seemed alternately to hate me and depend on me. However, he’s taken to the outdoor digs in a great way, holds his own against those rowdy Starlings, and seems to be having a grand old time. Four times a day, when I bring out fresh food and water, he is the first to hit the dishes and fill up on mealworms, sift through his favorite seed mix for peanuts, and drink the fresh, clean water before the Starlings have a chance to bathe in it. He’s such a funny bird, curious and comical, and I enjoy watching his antics as he explores perches, sifts through the cat food looking for mealworms, and stands with his head upside down to get a better view of the surface of the water in the big dish.
Although it took a while, and I got the birds outdoors much later than I’d hoped to do, they’ve adjusted just fine. I don’t think they’ll have any problem at all when time comes to release them. I’ll be setting up feeding stations outside the cage before that happens, in addition to the ones out front that are already frequented by the wild birds. The rescues will have a continual supply of fresh water, and all the foods they’re used to eating, as they spread their wings and learn to find goodies in the wild. I’m seeing wild Grackles, Starlings and House Finches all over the area, so I don’t think they’ll have any problem at all locating their own kind, and integrating.
Life’s good, when you’re a bird at the top of Gridley Hill.
