|
Woods |
Note |
| Acacia, Almond, Apple, |
|
| |
|
| Alder - |
The
wood appears to be safe, but I have not been able to confirm this.
faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick Wilson) |
| |
|
| Apricot |
Gillian
Willis on his website says "Do not use apricot, cherry, peach, prune,
plum or nectarine. These trees all belong to the Prunus species. They contain
cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide if ingested. |
| |
|
| Arbutus, Ash, Aspen, |
|
| |
|
| Bamboo, Beech, Birch |
|
| |
|
| Bois d'arc |
The
Bois d'arc (Horse Apple) is a member of the Mulberry family and is a safe
wood but I had to write a lot of bird folks. lindamiddleton_99@yahoo.com
(Linda Middleton) |
| |
|
| Box Elder Wood: UNSAFE |
|
| |
|
| Cedar |
Occasionally
appears on safe lists. If Cedar is to be used, Red cedar should be avoided
for the same reasons as redwood. Yellow and Sitka Cedar may be safe though.
faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick Wilson).
Clyde Camp notes that his Macaws have chewed up cedar lumber for 10
years with no ill effects but that he's switched to poplar just to be on the
safe side. |
| |
|
| Cherry |
This
one is really controversial. there are confirmed cases of dogs and of horses
having fatal reactions to eating cherry wood. However I have been unable to
find any confirmed report of bird fatalities. Regardless the sap is what
contains the toxic elements (see Gillians Help pages) and that is contained
primarily in the Cambium, a layer of material just below the bark. If cherry
is to be used it should be dry, debarked and any traces of sap removed. Under
no circumstances should fresh cherry, the foliage or bark be given to birds.
faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick Wilson) |
| |
|
| Chinese Popcorn/Chinese Tallow: UNSAFE |
|
| |
|
| Chinese Magnolia - |
The
wood, foliage and flowers all appear to be safe, but I have been unable to
confirm this. According to CSUF biologist and agronomists they could see no
reason to consider it dangerous (it is not a known toxic plant) but know of
no reason to consider it completely safe either. faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick
Wilson) |
| |
|
| Chinese Snake Tree UNSAFE |
One
plant that deserves mention as it occasionally appears in gardens as an
exotic ornamental is the Chinese Snake Tree. This is a VERY TOXIC plant and
even contact with the sap (through the skin) can present the risk of fatality
to small animals and children. It is sometimes called the Lacquer plant
because it was the source of lacquer. faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick Wilson) |
| |
|
| Citrus |
All
types - Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Lime, etc. |
| |
|
| Cork Oak (wood only - avoid foliage and acorns) |
The
bark of cork oak is safe for consumption even by humans whose tolerance for
tannin is much lower than most bird species.
Cork Oak is a safe wood to leave the bark on. Cork oak has very low
levels of tannin (far lower then other oaks) and the bark is just what the
name says 'Cork" Cork Oak is originally from southern Europe and is the
source of all natural cork. The bark is very thick and well, cork like. It
can be found wherever there are old wine growing areas as it was grown to
provide corks for the bottles. It is also found scattered around the
southeastern US and California. Because of it's very low tannin content it is
safe for use in food storage (the cork in the wine bottle, oil bottles, etc.)
There is a similar species found native to North America, the Prairie Oak a
variety of live oak is found throughout the great plains and east to Ohio. It
has a very thick cork like bark, however I do not know what the safety factor
for this species would be. Information on the composition of woods and
related materials can be found in a number of publications, I don't remember
the names off hand, but any university that has a good botany or agronomy
department, or your university agricultural extension service should be able
to direct you to the appropiate references. When I was researching the safe
woods for our birds the Calif State University Fresno Agricultural Dept was
more than helpful, completely willing to answer any questions I had and to
help me find the references. faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick Wilson) |
| |
|
| Cottonwood, Crabapple, |
|
| |
|
| Crepe Myrtle: UNSAFE |
Clyde
Camp notes that his birds often chew up the stems, leaves and flowers of this
plant and after 5 years it hasn't hurt them.
But still, it's listed as unsafe so don't let yours. |
| |
|
| Dogwood, |
|
| |
|
| Elm |
|
| |
|
| Eucalyptus, |
There
is some disagreement over whether cherry, oak and eucalyptus are toxic.
However the wood should be safe but avoid the leaves and seeds and in the
case of oak and cherry the bark as well. (Safety on Cherry is questionable) |
| |
|
| Fig Species, Fir, Fruitless Mulbery, |
|
| |
|
| Ginkgo - |
While
the female Ginkgo may have an unpleasant smell the wood, bark and foliage all
appear to be safe. faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick Wilson) |
| |
|
| Grape Vines, Grape Palm, Guava, |
|
| |
|
| Hackberry, Hawthorn, Hazelnut |
|
| |
|
| Hemlock: UNSAFE |
The
wood that is sold in lumber yards (sometimes called Hem Fir) is safe but the
foliage is toxic. No other species of hemlock should be considered safe.
faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick Wilson). |
| |
|
| Hibiscus, Hickory |
|
| |
|
| Horse Apple |
The
Horse Apple (Boise d'arc) is a member of the Mulberry family and is a safe
wood but I had to write a lot of bird folks. lindamiddleton_99@yahoo.com
(Linda Middleton) |
| |
|
| Ironwood, |
|
| |
|
| Larch |
|
| |
|
| Laurel UNSAFE |
Appears
on most toxic lists. Most Laurel species are toxic but the Medeteriianian
Laurel is safe. Distinguishing the species can be difficult though and unless
the species is known absolutely it should be avoided. faw@ix.netcom.com
(Frederick Wilson) |
| |
|
| Lilac, Liquidamber, |
|
| |
|
| London Tree |
Member
of the sycamore family, and is currently under research. |
| |
|
| Madrona, Magnolia, Manzanita, Maple, Mediterranean Laurel,
Mesquite (remove thorns), Mimosa, Mulberry, |
|
| |
|
| Nectarine |
Gillian
Willis on his website says "Do not use apricot, cherry, peach, prune,
plum or nectarine. These trees all belong to the Prunus species. They contain
cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide if ingested. |
| |
|
| Norfolk Island Pine, Nut (except Chestnut & Oak), |
|
| |
|
| Oak (wood only, no bark or leaves) |
There
is some disagreement over whether cherry, oak and eucalyptus are toxic.
However the wood should be safe but avoid the leaves and seeds and in the
case of oak and cherry the bark as well. (Safety on Cherry is questionable). Oak appears on a number of toxic lists,
primarily because of the tannin in the leaves and acorns. In the writer’s
opinion this is totally unjustified, the wood should be perfectly fine as it
is not generally eaten and contains little tannin in most species. |
| |
|
| Palm, Papaya, |
|
| |
|
| Peach |
Gillian
Willis on his website says "Do not use apricot, cherry, peach, prune,
plum or nectarine. These trees all belong to the Prunus species. They contain
cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide if ingested. |
| |
|
| Pear, Pecan, Pine |
|
| |
|
| Pitch Pine UNSAFE |
Pitch
Pine is the source material for turpentine and has VERY high levels of
phenols. Contact with the wood can cause rashes and the fumes from burning it
have been known to cause lung and eye disorders. faw@ix.netcom.com (Frederick
Wilson) |
| |
|
| Plum |
Gillian
Willis on his website says "Do not use apricot, cherry, peach, prune,
plum or nectarine. These trees all belong to the Prunus species. They contain
cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide if ingested. |
| |
|
| Poplar |
|
| |
|
| Prune |
Gillian
Willis on his website says "Do not use apricot, cherry, peach, prune,
plum or nectarine. These trees all belong to the Prunus species. They contain
cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide if ingested. |
| |
|
| Redwood UNSAFE |
Do
not give the birds redwood. The oils the wood contains are toxic. But the
biggest problem is if they get a splinter, redwood tends to block the immune
response and they become infected quite easily. Redwood has long been associated with
rashes and the dust with lung and eye disorders. It contains high levels of
volatile oils that are known toxins. Further exposure is believed to suppress
the immune system. |
| |
|
| Ribbonwood, Rose, |
|
| |
|
| Sassafras |
|
| |
|
| Sequoia (redwood) UNSAFE |
Do
not give the birds redwood. The oils the wood contains are toxic. But the
biggest problem is if they get a splinter, redwood tends to block the immune
response and they become infected quite easily. Redwood has long been associated with
rashes and the dust with lung and eye disorders. It contains high levels of
volatile oils that are known toxins. Further exposure is believed to suppress
the immune system. |
| |
|
| Spruce |
|
| |
|
| Sumac: UNSAFE |
|
| |
|
| Sweet Gum, Sycamore, |
|
| |
|
| Thurlow , Tree fern, |
|
| |
|
| Umbrella tree, |
|
| |
|
| Vine Maple, |
|
| |
|
| Walnut, Willow (Goat, Pussy & Weeping) |
|
|
|