It seems that in the spring of the year....beginning now...we are asked at least once or twice a week about the different woods and plants considered safe for exotic birds. There seems to be some differences of professional opinions on this subject, so I chose the ones that definitely fall into safe and unsafe.

CLEANING WOOD

Before making my list....the cleaning and debugging of safe branches is another must....again, there are several different views on the proper way to disinfect....Usually, 1 capful of Bleach to 1 gallon of water is the method most used...the wood must be rinsed thoroughly and allowed to dry completely....drying in the sun is optimum. The other method is using an antibacterial soap and hot water...rinsing well and allowing to dry thoroughly.

It is wise to not use wood found around highly traveled areas such as streets and highways due to possible contamination from exhaust and other pollutants.

Another area to be concerned about is insecticides and week killers.....NO....NO and NO...! Also be aware that if your grass is treated with weed killer and insecticide it can be absorbed into the root system of trees and into the wood...

UNSAFE WOOD

ANY PRESSURE TREATED WOOD...most light pine lumber in stores is not coated, BUT ask anyway.

LILY OF THE VALLEY, APRIOT, AUSTRALIAN FLAME TREE, AUSTRALIAN UMBRELLA TREE, AZALEA, AVOCADO, BLACK LOCUST, BOX ELDER, BOXWOOD, CEDAR, TRUMPET VINE, CHERRY, CHINABERRY, DIEFENBACHIA, BUCKEYE, ELDERBERRY, EUONYMUS, KALANCHO, FLAME TREE, FIRETHORN, PYRACANTHA, FOXGLOVE, CROWN OF THORNS, HEMLOCK, HOLLY, HONEY LOCUST, HORSE CHESTNUT, HYDRANGEA, JUNIPER, JASMINE, LANTANA, MANGO (fruit ok....wood is not), MEXICAN BREADFRUIT, MOCK ORANGE, MYRTLE, NECTARINE, NUTMEG, OAK, MISTLETOE, PEACH, PEAR, PLUM, PRIVET, RAINTREE, RED MAPLE, REDWOOD, RHODODENDRON, RHUBARB, JERUSALEM CHERRY, TOBACCO, TOMATO, WALNUT, WEEPING FIG, WHITE CEDAR, WISTERIA, YEW-TAXUS.

SAFE WOOD

ALMOND, ASH, ASPEN, BAMBOO, BARBERRY, BIRCH, BEECH, BOTTLEBRUSH, BUTTERFLY BUSH, CAMELLIA, CITRUS, CORN PLANTS, COTTONWOOD, CRABAPPLE, DATE, DOGWOOD, DOUGLASFIR, DRACAENA, ELM, EUCALYPTUS, FIG, GINGKO, GRAPVINES, GRAPE PALM,  GUAVA, HACKBERRY, HAWTHORN, HIBISCUS, JADE PLANT, LILAC, MAGNOLIA, MANZANITA, MULBERRY, PALM, PAPAYA, PECAN, POPLAR, PUSSY WILLOW, RIBBONWOOD, ROSE, RUBBERPLANT, RUSSIAN OLIVE, SASSAFRAS, SPIRAEA, SWEET GUM, SYCAMORE, WEEPING WILLOW, WIEGELA, YUCCA.

NOTE: These are not all inclusive lists, there are many more safe and unsafe woods, but these are the most common. Be cautious and don't be afraid to ask if you are unsure.

Stay warm and talk to you next month,

anne