natural perches

[sean]

a post below got me thinking about perches. For those of you who use natural perches (i.e. cut from the trees outside) i have a few questions:

1.) how do you all know for certain that the trees havn't been exposed to some sort of pesticide or herbicide? my concern here is that, in my area, mosquito spraying happens in the summer to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. Also, are there any concerns about indirect exposure (i.e. lawn pesticides, etc.)

2.) will baking the branches really kill anything nasty that is probably living in them? I'm thinking here of mites, bugs, etc.


do the potential risks of natural perches really outweigh the costs ($9-$11) of manzanita perches?

i'm interested to hear your input.

[FeatherHarp]

To answer your questions:

1. You have to know your neighborhood...if there is any doubt...then you should buy the store perches or if you have a friend out in the country who you could get some from.

I live in a rural area and we don't use chemicals on our lawn. We are an equal opportunity weed grower.

2. If you soak the perches in a 1 ounce of bleach to 1 quart of water, or you can use Grapefrut Seed Extract that you purchase at a health food store, following the directions for disinfecting. Then rinse perches extremely well then dry in a low, 250 degree oven for 30 minutes that should do the trick.

3. Only you can answer your last question Sean.

[L in Ontario]

Deborah's answers sound good to me.

[franny]

a post below got me thinking about perches. For those of you who use natural perches (i.e. cut from the trees outside) i have a few questions:

1.) how do you all know for certain that the trees havn't been exposed to some sort of pesticide or herbicide? my concern here is that, in my area, mosquito spraying happens in the summer to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. Also, are there any concerns about indirect exposure (i.e. lawn pesticides, etc.)

2.) will baking the branches really kill anything nasty that is probably living in them? I'm thinking here of mites, bugs, etc.


do the potential risks of natural perches really outweigh the costs ($9-$11) of manzanita perches?

i'm interested to hear your input.

Interesting comment about the mosquito spraying. I lived in Winnipeg for years, and they spray regularly there as well (the skeeters there are large enough to carry off a small dog or cat!) I wonder if your concerns are really valid with regard to this particular spraying program though. In Winnipeg they sprayed at night, to minimize human contact - but I think this was to appease the environmentalists who were trying to stop all spraying. (They actually have a "no spray" list which any household can be added to - and this puts a buffer around you so that your neighbour can't get sprayed either. This issue has broken up many a friendly neighbourhood, when bbq season came around and they couldn't sit in their yards because of the mosquitos!

But there have been no known negative affects on the bird population in the city, at least not that's been documented, to my knowledge. In the morning after the spraying, I can say for certain that we didn't go out and find a whole lot of dead sparrows under the trees, and they were surely roosting in those self same trees that were just sprayed.

ALthough I suppose there could be long term affects due to exposure, I've not heard of any complaints with regard to the songbird population in Winnipeg. And contrary to what you might think, there are plenty of birds who live here year round, so it's not like they move on and die somewhere else. I think that what others have said with regard to cleaning/baking the branches would be sufficient, in my book. Though I'd likely hesitate to use a branch that was newly sprayed. Once there's been a heavy rain or two, I would think it safe enough to bleach it and/or bake it and use it though.

In some cases, I think it would be worth the small risk. Store bought branches are pretty expensive, especially if you have a lot of birds and have to replace them often. Since I only have the two birds, I might be tempted to buy branches, but more out of laziness than a concern about chemicals.

[gomer]

Just to add to the comments made.Natural perches vary in diameter this is very important for the exercise of the birds feet.I am not sure if the ones you purchase do vary,but they should.
I spray chemicals in my aviary's to control bugs,As long as the correct one is used there should be no problem.As others said time when you collect the branches,don't collect them just after spraying,Perhaps if they use a natural pyrithium they could be actually beneficial sprayed.although I would check with your council before using them.