The best treats of all for birds are small, 2.5 inch willow branches. The birds like to play with them, nibble at the bark, pull off strips and eat small pieces. It is the birds' aspirin. Like human aspirin, willow has an active ingredient called salicin. People have used willow leaves and bark to relieve pain and inflammation at least since the time of the third-century-B.C. Greek physician Hippocrates. They use the bark for nest construction. I, myself was told that blackmasked lovebirds love to build their nests with it. I found this to be true. They shred it, and totally enjoy willow branches and leaves. It seems that salicin interferes with the production of prostaglandins, hormones made by the body in response to injury. Willow branches like aspirin, seem to reduce the pain and swelling caused by prostaglandins, among other things.
Zag het op het Engelstalige forum.. Had al eens zoiets gehoord maar had nooit het fijne ervan gelezen.