New slangbos

[MariusStegmann]

I collected some new slangbos and put it into the enclosed part of my aviary. The Dutch and Flemish speakers would understand the word "slangbos". It means snakebush. The birds love it. I hope to entice all the birds into the more sheltered area of my ariary with the "slangbos" Hopefully they will build winter nest in the bushes and nest there and not sleep in the parts of the aviary exposed to the elements.

[Sally]

Interesting plant, it looks very feathery. Have you put live plants in there, or have you cut branches from a 'slangbos' to place in the aviary? South Africans, Australians, New Zealanders--all use much more plant material in aviaries than what I see in the United States.

[Rox]

Marius, where did you go and cut down?

I've tried looking for it my side and can't find any. I cut down some similar looking brush but the leaves don't last as long on the branch as slangbos or even conifer branches.

Sally, usually we just go and cut it down from the veld (unpopulated area's). It grows wild, in almost a shrub type bush. You can purchase them from the nusery (if you are lucky) but the plants there are very small and not worth it.

[MariusStegmann]

Sally, the particular bush that I cut off is feathery because is is sort of flowering. It is the wrong time of year to use it for nesting. If you use in in summer, it does not have the feathery ends. Then it has seeds and it almost stick together like velcro. It makes ideal nesting bushes. I take fruittree branches and put it in the aviary, I then tie the slangbos to it. I normally take my fist and push some holes into the bush to make it easier for the birds. They however manage fine to create their own nests in the slangbos. Slang = snake and bos = bush. It has a nice smell - like herbs. Slangbos works well as a nesting bush, it also stimulates the birds to breed. I suspect that the waxbills uses it in the wilds as well.

[MariusStegmann]

Rox, this bush I picked along the R304 (the road between the N1 and Stellenbosch.) You drive to Stellenbosch, turn into Bird Street, and drive towards the N1. About 4 km out of Stellenbosch, you will start seeing slangbos along both sides of the road. If you get to the big petrolstation on your left (together with some other shops 7 km from Stellenbosch), you have driven too far. There are also slangbos on the Bottelary Rd and N7 (near the Melkbos turnoff. Take some of the bushes that have not started with their new growth. The follage stick together better.

[Rox]

Awesome, thanks Marius. I have been going out towards Kleinmond side and couldn't find any.

I will definitely go look Stellenbosch side

[delray]

Interesting plant. Let us t
Know how they like it

[MariusStegmann]

Delray, farmers will have heart attacks if they hear slangbos being referred to as a plant. It is regarded as an invader weed that will take over large areas of farmland if not controlled. That is why we only find it on the side of the roads. Birds always love it and will sometimes abandon they nests in nestboxes in favour of building a new nest in slangbos. Ants also don't attack nests in slangbos. I think that the smell deters them. Bird and especially waxbills like it so much. that if you drop a piece of slangbos on the ground, the chances are good when you want to pick it up a couple of days later, you will find a nest under it. I prefer to put tree branches in the aviary and tie the slangbos branches to it. If I put the slangbos on the ground, mice can shelter there. Some people who have problems with rats will take wire mesh (10 cm blocks) and make a large cube (1 metre X 1 metre X 1 metre) with it. They will fill it with slangbos and suppend it from the aviary roof. They use wire covered with thin layer of grease / vaseline to suppend the cube. Attached is a photo of a red-eared waxbill nest. I tied slangbos to the mesh on to the side of the aviary, a piece twisted and rested on the ground. Before I could reposition the piece, there was a nest under it.

[Perfex]

I wonder if we have anything comparable here in US. It looks as you say, a really awesome place for a waxbill to build a nest. Hmmm got me thinking now. Thanks

[MariusStegmann]

What about a tumbling weed?

[Sally]

I wonder if we have anything comparable here in US. It looks as you say, a really awesome place for a waxbill to build a nest. Hmmm got me thinking now. Thanks

I did a search on slangbos, but it is only found in Africa.

What about a tumbling weed?

Now that's a good idea. There are many different plants that are called tumbleweeds, but I did a search, and one of them is common in my area. It's common name is redrooted pigweed, and I hate it, as it seeds and comes up everywhere. When you pull it out of the ground, you have to get every bit of root or it comes right back. It never gets that big on my property, as I put out herbicide in my pasture to kill the weeds, and I pull it in my yard. But I'll start looking around for it in vacant or untreated pastures.

This got me to thinking. Some of the Australians use tea tree in their aviaries for nesting waxbills. We have lots of mesquite here, maybe that would work. I'll have to start trying to find plants in my area that could be used.

[sgolds]

That is what came to my mind... the tumble weed bushes that grow in the plains of central US.

Looks great for the birds!

[Colt]

I'll bet mesquite would work well. There are several other plants that would work. Love grass is found in Texas. It's a great grass. The birds could feed off of it as well as nest in it.

[cjkrit]

Marius,
The "slangbos" works fantastic. I have been using it for a few years now. It holds its foliage well and can sometimes last 2 seasons.
I have on a very few occasions lost young birds that got themselves entangled in the fine leaves which sticks to their feathers and they could not free themselves. Not a major problem though but keep an eye.

I normally spray mine with an insecticide before I put them in they aviary to get rid of spiders and other unwanted pests but do not think that is essential. I use DURAMITEX which is a product for control in pigeon lofts. Then leave them in sun to dry and in they go.

Greetings from a cold Burgersdorp.[ minus 3 degrees C yesterday morning]