A quick post on bird safety and a picture of my new favorite birdie night light!

When I was a child I remember my parents always covering up the birds at night with a cage cover or blanket. Back then this was necessary, as homes did not have the insulation standards they now do, temperature swings were more drastic and I distinctly remember cold drafts giving me the occasional chill. Homes have come a long way since then, with energy efficiency and comfort becoming more important.

Covering up a bird cage at night is no longer necessary, and can actually pose a risk to bird safety. We all have seen a bird fly around frantically in a cage when they are startled by a strange noise, and this is not usually a problem during the day. But at night this can be if the room, or their cage, is in total darkness. They cannot see where they are flying at night if they are startled, and can collide with the cage walls, perches, dishes, anything and everything. This can result in bruises, torn or pulled feathers, strains, and even broken bones or worse.

To prevent this I have always placed a little night light in every bird room. This can be anything, and there are many different low wattage LED light bulbs and fixtures, LED accent lights and so on that can be used for next to no cost. Not much light is needed, a 1watt fixture will be enough. Just enough so the birds can make out the cage walls and fixtures, but not enough to disturb their sleep or ours. For those concerned about a light disturbing a birds sleep cycle, a red colored bulb can be used, a color which does not register as daylight or an alert light for them.

This picture is of my new favorite birdie accessory, an accurate 3D printed moon! This one is small, but they come in all sizes, and are powered by a 1watt LED bulb that can change to many different colors and light levels. I found these on Amazon, and while they are not exactly cheap I think they are worth it and have several installed now, one in each bird room. Who knows, maybe the birds have an instinctual memory of the moon, and seeing it means clear skies and good weather, natures' nightlight!