Light Up Your Bird’s Life
Birds prefer to be in bright light because they cannot see well in dim
light. In dim light birds are easily startled and may even bite when
being removed from the cage They have a decreased appetite and they
show decreased activity level.
Bright light can be provided through the windows and by the regular
lights in the room. However, typical room lights and sometimes the
light through windows do not provide adequate amounts and quality of
light necessary to provide a bird with comfort and security.
The best way to provide good quality adequate amounts of light is to use
a full-spectrum light, which is a light source that provides bright white
light and UV light. UV light should be provided because birds can see
light in the UV spectrum. For indoor birds, artificial UV light is the only
source of UV light because window-glass filters out the natural UV light
and regular room lights do not produce UV wavelengths.
UV light is important to birds for three primary reasons. Firstly, UV
light improves the sight ability for birds. Birds have four color cones in
the eye: red, green, blue, and UV. Without UV light birds can be
considered colorblind. Humans have only three color cones: red, green,
and blue. In comparison if humans are missing a cone, for instance the
red cone, we would be considered red/green colorblind. Providing bird
with a source of UV light will allow them to distinguish and see things in
their environment that they may not have been able to see and
experience before. In many cases birds will eat things they would have
otherwise rejected because it helps them determine what is eatable or
not; or they may accept a new toy that frightened them before. The
ability to see in the UV spectrum is an advantage for birds in the wild.
For example, they are able to tell from a distance if fruit is ripe based on
the UV color of the fruit. If the fruit is not ripe, then they do not need to
expend energy and expose themselves to predators by flying over to see
if the fruit is edible. Raptors such as hawks can see the urine trail of
mice and other prey from on high because urine reflects UV light,
allowing them to hunt more effectively and efficiently.
Secondly, UV light provides birds with a natural source of vitamin D3.
The oil from the preen gland contains a precursor of vitamin D3. The oil
is spread through the feathers and when exposed to UV light the
precursor is converted to vitamin D3, and as the bird preens, the vitamin
D3 is ingested. Formulated diets such as pellets contain a synthetic
vitamin D3, which may not be as easily absorbed and utilized by the
body.
Thirdly, UV light improves the quality, strength, and color of feathers.
All of the benefits from UV light dramatically improve a bird’s quality of
life.
Not all UV lights are the same. Some are designed for humans, some are
designed for plants, and others are designed for fish. None of these are
appropriate for birds. They do not provide the wavelengths of light that
are beneficial to birds. Owners should provide only UV light sources
designed for birds. The only one that I recommend, based upon the
quality and quantity of UV light omitted, the life-length of the bulb, and
the design and craftsmanship of the lamp is the ZooMed AvianSun Lamp
and bulb.