Cage & Aviary Birds Magazine No.5788 Captivating colonies Back Issue

THE GUM TREE (or eucalyptus, to use its posh
name) has never been a favourite of mine. I’m
not talking about the tree in its native land, since
I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Australia.
(One day...) But as planted garden trees over
here, eucalypts always look a bit parched, to my eye, and
that distinctive greyish foliage seems out of place among
the more lush green of our other trees and shrubs.
They certainly get around, gum trees. Eucalypt
plantations are a common sight in the Andes, where they
are popular in the highlands as a much-needed source of
building timber as well as firewood. Fast-growing, they
rapidly renew themselves after felling, which means they
take some of the pressure off the native forests.
But there are drawbacks. For one thing, toxins
generated by the
gum trees can
degrade the
fertility of the
soil. For another,
they are useless
for birds. Native
species steer
well clear, except
for certain hummingbirds, which feast on the nectar-rich
flowers and may defend feeding territories in eucalypts.
So it’s good to be reminded of the virtues of the gum
tree. And this week the distinguished Australian aviculturist
Dr Rob Marshall explains how the trees’ natural oils
appears to assist fertility in budgerigars. Dr Marshall’s
article is on page 14 – and it’s a pleasure to read about the
enterprising experiments by fanciers that have brought
these results to his attention.
■ Happy 50th birthday to everybody at Scottish & Northern
ZFS! (News, page 2.) We’re looking forward to the society’s
anniversary show later this year, but meanwhile let’s note
who is being credited for its success: the long-serving
officials who have made sure their
society has always been relevant to and
valued by the paying membership.
Have a great week with your birds.