Bird Welfare, Birds and the law

Aviary Construction

Outdoor aviaries can be extremely beneficial for your companion bird, providing fresh air, natural sunlight and a large safe space for play. This blog discusses the aspects involved in designed an outdoor aviary that will provide a secure and safe environment for your parrot to play in.

Legal Requirements

Before you start planning and buying the materials for your aviary check with your local council in regards to the legal requirements surrounding the building of a potentially large obstructive structure in your back garden.

  • You may require a permit.
  • If you a planning on building the aviary as an extension to your house you will be required to follow the building regulations of your local council.
  • If you live in a rented property it would be advisable to contact your landlord/landlady for permission prior to the construction. Even if the aviary is dismantlable you may face a contract dispute if your tenancy states you cannot make any notable changes to the layout of the house and the outside spaces.
  • Consult with your neighbours – when it comes to making significant changes to the display of your house your neighbours will usually be your biggest objectors, especially if it is obstructing their view.
  • Talk to your neighbours prior to planning your aviary – will they have an issue with where you are planning on putting it and will they have an issue with the noise. A playful parrot can be a noisy parrot.

Considerations

When drawing up the initial planning of your aviary consider,

  • Materials – make sure the materials you use are safe (non-toxic) for your bird, and are hard wearing and will last against adverse weather and most importantly your parrot’s destructive behaviours.
  • Size – does the size of the aviary at least meet the minimum requirements for the number and/or species of parrots you intend to have.
  • Location – where is your aviary going to be built? Is it obstructing anything? How close will the aviary be to your neighbours?
  • Design – your design should minimize maintenance, maximize cleanliness and maximize safety. An easy to clean aviary will prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria.
  • Essentials – what additional features will be added to the aviary to provide the essentials such as places to perch and source of food and water.
  • Shelter – the ideal aviary has an indoor/covered space to allow your birds a place of shade and protection from adverse weather. Will it have a heat source for winter?
  • Predators – the design should prevent access from predators both flighted and ground dwelling, such as hawks, cats, squirrels, rats.
  • Escape – your aviary should have a double / safety door system to prevent escape as even the most well trained parrot can be spooked into a panicked flight.
  • Enrichment – what else can you add to the aviary to make it fun for your parrots – such as parrot safe shrubs and trees, hanging baskets full of parrot edible flowers and herbs, ropes, swings etc.
  • Security – are the construction and location secure ? What can you do to deter theft of the birds – e.g. security lights, padlocks on aviary doors, a secure garden, plenty of privacy so people can’t see into the garden.

Materials

Safe Materials include:

  • Non pressure treated or stained lumbar e.g. plain pine, hard wood such as red .grandis.
  • Stainless steel, aluminium. powder coated iron.
  • PVC piping
  • Untreated natural fibre ropes (cotton, sisal and hemp).
  • Non- treated wood free from pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, moulds and fungus (pine, balsa, birch, basswood, poplar, maple, walnut, ash, apple, elm, cactus, manzanita, rose, ribbon, sycamore, willow, cork, bamboo, and palm tree).
  • Leather
  • Acrylic (supervised!).

Toxic materials include:

  • Non-stick coating (Teflon) and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
  • Lead, zinc, nickel, copper or anything galvanized.
  • Insecticides, fungicides, pesticides and herbicides such as snail bait, rat poison and ant killer.

For a full list of all TOXIC household substances please see further reading.

Size and location

Size

Ideally you want your aviary to be as big as possible to allow your bird to spread its wings and fly however it is understandable that not everybody has the space for an arena sized, netted dome. There are however minimum requirements to ensure your bird is not restricted. The aviary must be a minimum of 2x the wingspan of the bird in length and 1.5x  the wingspan for both depth and height of the aviary. If more than one bird is housed in the aviary the length, depth and height must be increased by 5% for every additional bird over two birds.

Location

The aviary should be situated away from fences and overhanging trees to prevent ease of access from predators, your aviary becoming a litter box for wild birds, squirrels etc… or potentially becoming a battering ram for fallen branches/fences in heavy winds.

It should be situated at a suitable distance away from your neighbours property to prevent any noise or obstruction complaints occurring and not in close contact with drainage pipes to prevent water overflowing into the aviary, or, close to exhaust vents to prevent hot air burns and inhalation of harmful gases.

Consider how the weather will affect your bird with the aviary in your chosen location. In times where daily temperatures soar will this area become too hot? Even with shelter from direct sunlight your bird can become seriously ill if left in an area of sweltering heat for long periods of time. Therefore the aviary should be placed in an area where air circulates to prevent overheating and placed away from areas that are in direct sunlight. What about in the winter? How will you protect the birds from the cold and wind? Polycarb insulated sheets can be affixed to the outside to provide protection from the elements.

Design

So you’ve made it past the legal requirements, and you’ve decided on the size and location and have made sure the materials used in construction are 100% safe for you beloved bird. It is now time to begin planning the overall design. Not only should the aviary be safe and durable, but it should be tailored to the species of bird housed.

Exterior

The mesh used in the wall sections should be in two layers with the internal wire mesh being located a minimum of 5cm from the external wire mesh,

The mesh should be the appropriate thickness and size for the species of parrot housed. If you are housing a larger species of bird with a smaller species of bird the area of the wire mesh squares should be suitable to prevent the escape of the smaller bird however the thickness of the mesh should be durable enough to prevent the escape of the larger bird.

The frame can be made from thick lumbar or non-toxic metals however please note that lumbar frames will have a shorter lifespan due to it being an easy material to chew and more prone to weather damage as the wood must be untreated.

The aviary should have a solid construction roof, or a double meshed roof with a debris net on top. This is to prevent predator attack, and to protect from the presence of avian influenza in wild birds.

Ground

Soft ground flooring is aesthetically pleasing, and different layers of substrate can be used to provide a natural filter (use sandy soils not clay soils as the ground will become waterlogged).

  • If pebbles/stones are used as the top layer they should be large enough to prevent your bird ingesting them.
  • When using soft ground floors the wire mesh must be installed under the gravel layers to prevent predators digging under and gaining access to the aviary.
  • Soft ground floors can be difficult to maintain. The use of a jet wash or hose and disinfectant is ideal however the ground may become waterlogged leading to bacterial build-up and potentially making the frame unstable.
  • Food debris can be difficult to clear, attracting rodents and making contaminated/mouldy food readily available to your bird.  
  • Safe soft ground options include pre sterilized play sand or builders sand mixed with agricultural lime. The substrate can be disinfected regularly and can be sifted for food debris and droppings.
  • Any soft ground flooring should be completely replaced every couple years or when necessary to ensure hygiene is maintained.

Cement ground floors are not as aesthetically however they are;

  • Easy to disinfect
  • Prevent predators accessing the aviary
  • Longer lasting.
  • Cement slabs may also be used, placed over a layer of gravel and sand to provide natural drainage.
  • Cracks must be maintained as they will become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
  • Concrete flooring must have an adequate drainage system to prevent the build-up of contaminated water when cleaning. Many parrots like to explore the ground, especially African Greys, and dirty, damp flooring can cause sores, burns to the soles of their feet and bumblefoot!

Security

Your aviary should have a double door system to prevent your birds from escaping, with at least one metre between the internal and external door, and an indoor or enclosed area to allow your bird to seek shelter from the scorching sun, torrential downpour and heavy winds, hail and snow.

Interior

Please do not provide a nesting box as this will encourage breeding behaviours. Instead provide an area to perch indoors which allow your birds to roost. This may be heated with the appropriate lamp or heater when the weather turns cold.

If the aviary is entirely indoors then full spectrum lighting should be installed to prevent vitamin D deficiency. In the wild different species are exposed to different UVB strengths nevertheless a lamp with 2.4% UVB and a 12% UVA output will be sufficient in replicating natural sunlight. When artificial light is provided it should only be turned on for eight to twelve hours of the day and fixed to the outside of the aviary to prevent the birds chewing on the wires.

Food and water points should be covered to prevent contamination from wild animal feces (particularly wild birds!) and debris. A separate drinking water point should be made available if there is also a bird bath in the enclosure, as although some parrots like to drink their own bath water it is always ideal to provide an alternative fresh source of water.

If you are housing a flock of birds in the aviary there should be multiple perching points and points of food and water to allow all birds access to the provisions.

Remember!

Don’t rush out and begin buying materials for your aviary, plan first as unexpected setbacks will occur.

It does not matter whether your bird only spends two hours of its day in the outdoor aviary or its entire day, the aviary should be safe and species specific!

Please take into consideration the species of birds and their individual personalities when birds in an aviary together to ensure they will be compatible with each other. A small timid budgie is not going to do well in an aviary with 6 other boisterous large macaws, especially if they have never been housed together before.


Further Reading

For information on aviary maintenance, decoration and enrichment in aviaries please see part 2 of this blog – aviary maintenance and enrichment

Designing an outdoor parrot flight or aviary

https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/guidance_notes_for_selling_animals_as_pets.pdf

https://www.nca.uk.net/factsheets/Fact_Sheet_03.pdf

https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/basic-husbandry-for-cage-and-aviary-birds-part-two-best-environment.pdf

TOXIC MATERIALS: http://myanimalandbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/How-to-Kill-Your-Birds-Without-Trying.pdf

Bird Welfare, Birds and the law

Keeping ‘Wild Birds’ Captive

If you find a wild bird can you keep it? The answer isn’t clear cut and various regulations apply. However, generally it would be better to hand the bird over to a vet, or an experienced wildlife rescue group, who have the skills, equipment and funds to care for and rehabilitate the birds, often in a group of the same species.

All the information provided in this article is in line with current government legislation and advice by Natural England (April 2021). In Great Britain all naturally occurring wild birds, or captive bred birds released as part of a re-population program, their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which was established to prohibit certain methods of killing or taking wild animals.

It is an offence to intentionally

  • Kill, injures or takes any wild bird from its natural habitat.
  • Take, damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird included in schedule ZA1 (birds which re-use their nest).
  • Take, damages or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.
  • Take or destroys an egg of any wild bird.

It is also illegal to be in the possession of

  • Any live or dead wild bird.*
  • Any part of, or anything derived from a wild bird.*
  • An egg of a wild bird or any part of an egg (unless they can prove it was collected pre-September 1982).

*There are some exceptions, where lawful killing or taking of wild birds can occur, under General Licenses 40,41 and 42. These licenses allow an individual to carry out activities in relation to certain species of wild birds for the purposes of: conserving endangered wild birds; preserving public health and safety;  or preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, fisheries or inland waters.

Keeping a wild, unwell or disabled bird (temporary & permanent)

If you find an injured wild bird and intend to care for it yourself, you should be aware that there are regulations which must be followed such as:

  • Be able to prove that the wild bird was injured (other than by your own hands) and that the sole purpose of keeping the bird is to rehabilitate and release it back into the wild. Valid records should be kept stating it has been legally taken from the wild in conjunction with General Licenses 40, 41 or 42.
  • All captive held wild birds should legally be kept in an enclosure of sufficient spacing to allow the bird to spread its wings freely unless undergoing veterinary treatment or being transported.
  • Prove everything possible has been done to release the bird back into the wild including providing appropriate veterinary treatment, keep it in a suitable enclosure and caring for it in such a way so that it can fend for itself when released.
  • In circumstance where the bird is unfit to be released back into the wild a statement from a vet that has the relevant experience must be obtained to state why the bird is unfit for release.
  • Register any Schedule 4 birds (birds of prey) with Animal Health immediately and ensure the bird is passed on to a licensed person(s) who is legally allowed to keep such a bird, under the terms of a General License.

However, there are some wild birds (such as the non-native Indian Ring Neck Parakeets which it is illegal to release back into the wild. Wildlife rescues often have suitable aviaries where these birds can live out their lives with others from the same species.

Requirements for keeping a Captive Bred ‘Wild Bird’

If you intend to keep a captive bred ‘wild bird’, such as a parrot you should check the legal status prior to obtaining it. They should be accompanied by documentation of proof of captive breeding and, in some cases be fitted with an identification ring.

For a full list of the legal status of all birds in the schedules and other common British species refer to The Status of Birds in Britain and Ireland, with updated reports published by the BOU Journal.

At the present time, no specific license is required unless the bird is listed under:

  • Annex IV(a) of the EC Habitats Directive
  • Classed as a European Protected Species
  • Listed on schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (WCA)
  • Classed as a dangerous wild animal (ostrich and cassowary)
  • Classed as a destructive imported animal
  • Listed on CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species

Remember

  • Unless stated otherwise in relevant legislation, you do not need a license to own a wild bird. However, you must be able to prove it was obtained legally, otherwise you will be prosecuted.
  • While caring for a wild bird you must meet the birds welfare needs and not cause any unnecessary suffering, otherwise you will be prosecuted.
  • Only buy a captive bred ‘wild bird’ from a reputable source that is able to produce the correct paperwork and has adhered to the terms and conditions of General Licensing.

Contact

For all enquires regarding the killing, taking, rehabilitation or capture of wild birds contact either Natural England (NE) or the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).

NE: 0300 060 3900

WAG: 0300 060 3300 (English) or 0300 060 4400 (Welsh)

For General Licencing regarding birds go to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bird-licences


Further reading

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bird-licences

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/keeping-wild-birds-or-animals

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wild-birds-licence-to-sell-captive-bred-live-wild-birds/licence-to-sell-captive-bred-live-birds-gl18#appendix-1-birds-that-cannot-be-sold-under-this-licence

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wild-birds-licence-to-kill-or-take-for-conservation-purposes-gl40/gl40-general-licence-to-kill-or-take-certain-species-of-wild-birds-to-conserve-endangered-wild-birds-or-flora-and-fauna

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wild-birds-licence-to-kill-or-take-for-public-health-or-safety-gl41/gl41-general-licence-to-kill-or-take-certain-species-of-wild-birds-to-preserve-public-health-or-public-safety

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wild-birds-licence-to-kill-or-take-to-prevent-serious-damage-gl42/gl42-general-licence-to-kill-or-take-certain-species-of-wild-birds-to-prevent-serious-damage

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/schedules/

https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/documents/positions/wild-birds-and-the-law/wild-birds-and-the-law—a-plain-guide-to-bird-protection-today.pdf

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Status_of_Birds_in_Britain_and_Irela.html?id=g0HUpl-D5vMC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

Birds and the law

Cites information

What is CITES

  • CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals which came into force in 1975. It forms a framework on which national legislation is based. CITES works by subjecting the trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls and licenses, which in the U.K. are managed by APHA (the Animal Plant and Health Agency).
  • Plants and animals on the CITES register are grouped into three appendices based on their endangered status, with Appendix 1 being those which are at the highest risk of extinction. Legislation exists to protect these species, and applies to species in their natural environment and those bred in captivity.

Cites Regulations

  • There are strict regulations around the trade of endangered species and this includes several species which are commonly breed and owned by people in the UK, such as African Greys and Scarlet Macaws. See below for a full list of parrots on the cites 1 appendix.
  • You must apply for a permit or certificate to import, export or re-export any animal or plant species, and their parts or derivatives, that are on the CITES list. This includes if you move CITES specimens between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the EU, and Great Britain and Northern Ireland (NI).
  • To sell a parrot listed on the CITES 1 appendix, you must have a Specimen Specific Certificate or apply for a Transaction Specific Certificate – even if that sale means the bird remains in the same country. More information here.

It is a criminal offence to use commercially

  • any specimen listed under annex A of the CITES list without a valid certificate
  • any specimen listed in annex B that has been imported illegally

You could get a prison sentence of up to 5 years or an unlimited fine.

CITES and Birdline

  • Current advice from APHA states that Birdline must apply for A10 certificates if we charge a foster fee for any birds who species are listed on the CITES 1 appendix. However, we do not believe that this should be required for a number of reasons, and have written to APHA to challenge this instruction.
  • In the meantime, where we have to apply for A10 certificates, we must unfortunately pass this cost onto the fosterer.

CITES 1 – Parrot list

Common NameDATE ADDED TO CITES 1
Goffin Cockatoo14/12/2019
Red Vented Cockaoo11/06/1992
Salmon-crested Cockatoo, Moluccan Cockatoo18/01/1990
Lesser Sulpher Crested12/01/2005
Palm Cockatoo22/10/1987
Red-and-blue Lory16/02/1995
Ultramarine Lory, Ultramarine Lorikeet18/09/1997
Jacquot, Red-necked Parrot, Red-necked Amazon06/06/1981
Yellow-naped Amazon, Yellow-naped Parrot13/02/2003
Yellow-shouldered Amazon, Yellow-shouldered Parrot06/06/1981
Red-tailed Amazon, Red-tailed Parrot06/06/1981
Lilac-crowned Parrot, Lilac-crowned Amazon12/01/2005
Saint Vincent Amazon, St. vincent parrot,01/07/1975
Imperial Parrot, Imperial Amazon01/07/1975
Caribbean Amazon, Cuban Amazon, Cuban Parrot, Bahamas Parrot01/07/1975
Yellow-headed Parrot, Yellow-headed Amazon13/02/2003
Red-spectacled Amazon, Red-spectacled Parrot01/07/1975
Red-browed Parrot, Red-topped Amazon, Red-browed Amazon, Red-topped Parrot01/07/1975
Alder Parrot, Tucuman Parrot, Tucuman Amazon18/01/1990
St. lucia amazon, Saint Lucia Parrot01/07/1975
Vinaceous-breasted parrot / Amazon01/07/1975
Green-cheeked Parrot, Green-cheeked Amazon, Red-crowned Parrot, Red-crowned Amazon18/09/1997
Puerto Rican Parrot, Puerto Rican Amazon, Red-fronted Amazon01/07/1975
Glaucous Macaw22/10/1987
Hyacinth Macaw22/10/1987
Indigo Macaw, Lear’s Macaw22/10/1987
Buffon’s Macaw, Great Green Macaw01/08/1985
Blue-throated Macaw29/07/1983
Scarlet Macaw01/08/1985
Military Macaw22/10/1987
Red-fronted Macaw29/07/1983
Little Blue Macaw, Spix’s Macaw01/07/1975
Norfolk Parakeet, Norfolk Island Parakeet04/02/1977
Forbes’s Parakeet, Chatham Island Yellow-fronted Parakeet,01/07/1975
New Zealand Parakeet, Red-crowned Parakeet, Red-fronted Kakariki04/02/1977
Red-crowned Parakeet04/02/1977
Coxen’s Blue-browed Fig Parrot, Coxen’s Double-eyed Fig-Parrot,06/06/1981
Horned Parakeet19/07/2000
Golden Conure, Queen of Bavaria’s Conure, Golden Parakeet01/07/1975
Orange-bellied Parrot, Orange-bellied Parakeet01/07/1975
Yellow-eared Parrot, Yellow-eared Conure29/07/1983
Night Parrot01/07/1975
Ground Parrot, Ground Parakeet, Swamp Parakeet04/02/1977
Pileated Parrot, Red-capped Parrot01/07/1975
Blue-headed Macaw13/02/2003
Illiger’s Macaw, Blue-winged Macaw18/01/1990
Golden-shouldered Parrot01/07/1975
Hooded Parrot01/07/1975
Paradise Parrot, Beautiful Parakeet01/07/1975
Mauritius Ring-necked Parakeet, Mauritius Parakeet01/07/1975
African Grey02/01/2017
Blue-chested Parakeet, Red-eared Conure, Blue-throated Parakeet, Ochre-marked Parakeet01/07/1975
Thick-billed Parrot06/06/1981
Maroon-fronted Parrot06/06/1981