Trees Are For The Birds

[BirdWhisperer]

I read with great interest Bonesy's post of the use of Willows for nourishment, recreation, and just plain great stuff for their flock of budgies.

We have 250 year old Eucalyptus trees around our home. You will notice the trunks of three of the seven on this side of our creek. Every bird in the neighborhood resides in these condos. At the top we have red and white tailed hawks, then great horned owls. The lower you get, the smaller the birds are. We love it.

Have been thinking of using some of the Euc limbs for Bogie, my budgie, but it worries me that somehow this might not be as safe as you would think.

Are there any opinions out there?

[Mammabird]

You need to visit budgieworld.com ! Very informative regarding how much eucalyptus plays a part in both a natural food source and breeding. Very cool site for anybody with a native Australian bird.

Only reservations regarding your tree would be any regular insecticide/fertilizer application to the grass/plants under it (the roots would spread out at least as far as the canopy is wide).

[BirdWhisperer]

Great point Fawn. These trees are at least 5 stories high and you can imagine how far and wide the roots go.

It would never have dawned on me. There is, as you can see, a very large garden below them. I have no idea what has gone into the soil.

Thank you and Bogie thanks you as well.

[itchysquid]

I think it should be alright, I live in Australia so there are a million and one eucalyptus trees here. When I bought Caesar, the woman in the pet shop told me I could put eucalyptus branches in his cage, and I have been doing so for a year now with no ill effect. I just wash the branches well before I put them in his cage, in case there are pesticides etc on them. He loves them!