FINCHforum

I am determined to have an outdoor aviary next year, and I have a question for those with experience. When mowing your lawn, does the noise/dust bother your birds? I have a large yard, so I have a zero-turn mower, a riding mower, and a walk-behind self-propelled mower (not to mention all the other gas-powered gadgets that are involved in lawn care). I make a lot of noise!

When we have rain, I need to mow at least once a week. When we have a drought, the grass gets quite sparse, and I throw up a lot of dust when mowing. I know how the dust chokes me, so I worry about how it would affect the birds. Any tips on how to keep the yard looking good while not spooking the birds?

We mow around ours with a push mower without any problems. Can't help with the dust problem though, our grass is thick. We also throw snow around them with the snowblower making walking trails and they handle it just fine. Noise doesn't seem to get to them much.

Thanks, Debbie, I guess they get used to the noise after a few times, sort of like how the vacuum cleaner doesn't bother them much any more. The dust has been a problem since I moved here, I am coated with it after mowing during the dry spells.

I agree with Debbie. Our lawn service uses leaf blowers and weed whackers around the aviary which is on a huge cement pad. Grass clippings and debris are flying around as well as the noise don't seem to bother them. Both you and your birds will love the aviary!!!

Sally, Idle the throttle way down on the mower when near the avairy (it will reduce noise, vibrations, and slow the blades down, so as to not stir up dust). Mow with the deck exhaust away from the birds. I think that will solve your problem. Kernel

We use a push mower and a weedeater outside the aviary and the birds just carry on their business. They get used to the sound very quickly. We do water the grass lightly in front of the aviary first though, just to keep the dust level down. It does seem to help a bit.

Sally-

When I maintained an outdoor aviary, the birds never really got used to the mower. They didn't like it. However, their response wasn't too problematic. Basically they would drop what they were doing (feeding, nest building, preening, etc) and hide away in a planted area. Once the "threat" was over they promptly went back to the activities, which at this point often included picking through the grass debris that may have blown into the aviary.

The only problem was that *some* females came off the nest while brooding when the mower got too close for comfort. However, they always returned and in the end, I think it caused no reduction in productivity. Overall, although it definitely upset the birds acutely, it wasn't a major problem....

Sally

my aviary rebuild went on for many weeks with me hammering around and ripping out the plasterboard walls. at some stages i'd be hammering whilst less than 6 foot away on the other side of the wall the parents were feeding young. surprised me what you could get away with.
probably a good idea with the mower is to work well away from the aviary for several minutes then come in and do a few quick aviary sweeps then back off to where you were earlier. that will confused them