Aussie Finch Forum

Rosemary Hutton says in her softbill book not to place actinic blue (insect attracting) lights where the birds can see them because they reportedly have a damaging effect on bird eyesight over the longer term.

Given she wrote that many years ago does anyone know if that is now a confirmed issue? Is it also an issue with the UV lights used in modern insect traps?

From what I can read on the web..there is differing views...but they all say a birds eye is different in its make up to a mammals eye....some say the chemicals create a film cancelling the effects where other say they see the broader UV spectrum....so I think the jury is still out on this one

i have read (may have been on this forum) that normal wattage fluro lights can affect your birds eyes as they see these lights as a constant flicker. Us humans cannot see this as the flicker is too quick for our eye sight to pick it up. Having said that I have UV lights in my avairies as my avairies don't get sufficient direct sunlight during winter and I can tell you that sitting directly under the lights is the favourite spot for my birds....so based on my reading and my observation of my own birds....I'm going by the feedback given by my birds....UV fluro lights are suitable for birds....cheers, Paul