Excerpt from Bird News, Vol. 1
Be it. what it may - with the fundamental principles already observed; with average care bestowed upon the species of birds congregated and attention given to their habits, food and other demands; almost any structure or any arrangement will have a large measure of success. The site is important; possibly in this climate a north or northwest frontage or frontage and ends would suit most localities. A detached building would have sun allround, and would here need only special protection according to the direction of prevailing winds and rain. It is well to note in passing that birds dislike wind, and should be protected from It. Above all, don't place your seed hoppers or feed boxes in the wind, for it is as risky and unpleasant for a bird to eat its spray-millet or German rape, in a wind current, as it is for some bald headed epicure to eat blue points, or cracked crab at a window ledge or ventilator shaft.
The shed or inclosed portion of the aviary wants to be light, roomy, well-ventilated and free from drafts. Material, wood, brick or re-inforced concrete.
The foundations should be well sunk into the ground and so constructed that rats, mice, or gophers, cannot gain entrance. If elevated above ground the piers, or posts, should be capped with wire netting, or other metallic cowls, which would prevent vermin climbing up the supports. The elevated house has many advantages, which render it a desirable class of structure. The floor should be planed boards, grooved and tongued, or else cement finished, and should always have a slight incline in order to run off water when wasted. The floor independent of its composition should always be liberally strewn with dry sea sand (never red or yellow inland sand.) This sand should, of course, be renewed when necessary for sanitary purposes.
Walls - or sides of the enclosure, even when of wood, should be white washed, smooth finished with no nooks or dark corners to retain dirt or hide vermin.
The ceiling should be finished as the walls, and with same precautions as to vermin.
The roof - Slates, tiles, or shingles, as may be possible; but must also he rendered vermin proof; must have no space between ceiling and roof finish. On no account should glass enter into the roof; a green house is good for plants, but very bad for birds, causing sweating, feather dropping, and even apoplexy.
Glazed windows, movable, with wire screens on the inside should be placed in the shed; so that abundance of light, sun and air can be admitted at the same time be under the control of the attendant.
Entrance to shed should be by a door in the rear or side. A most excellent plan for convenience or study is to have a verandah, or closed corridor at the back of the shed, here observation can be made without disturbing the birds. This corridor can be formed into a store-room to contain seeds, cages and other bird-room "fixins". The door must work upon a spring to prevent being left open; and it must have a bar. or latch on the outside. In addition, inside of the door may be a wire screen, which will serve many useful purposes. The front of the shed, facing the open flight, maybe left entirely open; provided the shed is deep enough to prevent rain from being driven in by the wind.
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