Sumter outdoors columnist Dan Geddings: Building the aviary

It started as an idea. I wanted to build something that would be unique. My plan included a core area that could be added to over time with minimal disturbance. I made a rough sketch on a scrap of paper at lunch one day. It would be my design for a waterfowl aviary.

An aviary is defined as an enclosure where birds have a large enough living space where they can fly around. Aviaries usually contain plants and shrubbery to simulate a natural environment. Waterfowl aviaries will also contain a pond.

My plan would include the largest pond that I've ever built. It would be concrete and include an underground drainage system. Aviary ponds can be built with liners and rocks or with concrete. Dirt ponds are not practical, as they are hard to keep clean and maintain. I've collected some large limbs and driftwood pieces that will be placed in the pond for the ducks to perch on.

Once I had my plan, the first task was to lay out the site. Ginger helped me measure and stake out the corners. I made a few revisions and restaked the site. The outside dimensions for the core area were set at 44 feet by 36 feet. The pond would be 32 feet by 28 feet.

Next, I rented an excavator and installed a 4-inch drain pipe from our small natural pond to the corner of the aviary pond. I spraypainted the shape of the pond on the ground within the staked area and excavated the pond shape about 2 feet deep. I piled the excavated dirt outside of the staked area to use as future backfill.

The soils at the site are very poor and subject to shrinkage and expansion, so I lined the pond excavation with 3 to 4 inches of clean commercial sand. I placed the sand with my tractor and shaped it by hand with a shovel. I sprayed the sand down with water and compacted it with a homemade tamp. I installed a cleanout at the lowest point with the top of the cleanout 3½ inches above the compacted sand.

A concrete contractor formed the top edge then poured and finished the concrete with a broom finish. Over the years, I've built many duck ponds myself, but this one was just too big for me to do by myself. The pond job turned out excellent. I sprayed the pond down several times a day for at least 10 days to give the concrete time to set without cracking. I've filled and drained the pond a few times to make sure there is no problem with the drainage.

Next, to install the frame for the fencing, I bought 4-by-4 posts and rented a gas-powered auger. The soils here are hard, and the auger was a necessity. Ginger helped me install the posts that were bedded with ready-mix concrete. The posts were set at different spacings to allow for my future additions and enable the use of dimensional lumber to minimize waste. I used 12-foot posts through the center and 8-foot posts around the perimeter. I bought 2-by-6s to go around the top of the post and give the fencing some stability. I rented a scaffold to install the lumber in the center. My son Clayton helped me install the lumber. The taller posts and lumber through the center give the aviary a very distinctive look.

I ordered 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch vinyl-coated wire from a manufacturer in New Jersey for the sides and 1-inch heavy-duty knotted netting from a company in Pennsylvania for the top of the aviary. I wanted to do everything I could to exclude predators like foxes, raccoons and snakes. I've used 2-inch wire before, and it doesn't keep anything out.

Clayton helped me install the netting. We had to use a rope to pull the netting over the top of the aviary, and I was very pleased with the result. There is some netting left over that I will use for future expansions. Next, we will start with the fencing and gates.

When the fencing is finished, I will place the limbs and driftwood and plant some ornamental grasses and plants. Hopefully I can get some ducks before next spring. I'll probably start with some mallards then add some of the more exotic types like mandarins and teal. They will be full winged and I hope happy in the new aviary. I've kept ducks for nearly 60 years, so I think I'll be happy, too.

Reach Dan Geddings at cdgeddings@gmail.com.