Is It Safe to Install a Metalbird in a Tree?Updated 4 hours ago

This is one of our most talked-about questions — and it’s a valid one, so here's a proper long answer.

Yes, we believe it’s generally safe to install a Metalbird in a mature, healthy tree if done properly. But trees are living things, and we know people care deeply about them (we do too). So we’ve taken the time to look at the science, speak to experts, and weigh up the facts.

A Bit of Science

Trees aren’t fragile. They’re remarkably tough — and biologically designed to deal with small wounds and surface damage. Here's what matters:

• Trees compartmentalize wounds. Through a natural process called CODIT (Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees), a tree will isolate an injury by building barrier walls around it. Think of it like internal scar tissue — sealing off the area without needing to "heal" in the human sense.

• It won’t interfere with water or nutrient flow. The important stuff — the cambium layer — sits just under the bark. Our birds don’t go deep enough to touch it, and certainly not enough to do lasting harm.

• Metalbirds don’t leach toxins. Our birds are made from Corten steel, the same weathering steel used in high-end outdoor sculptures and architectural features. It’s completely inert — it doesn’t corrode in a way that harms the tree.

• Conservation scientists drill trees. Seriously. Forestry experts and conservationists often use tools to take core samples — they extract narrow plugs from trees to measure growth rings and monitor forest health. These drills go deeper than a Metalbird spike, and trees continue thriving. In comparison, our birds barely scratch the surface.

• Trees take knocks all the time. Birds peck, deer rub, squirrels dig, storms bash branches — and trees roll with it. A shallow tap-in from a single spike is, in most cases, negligible.

Best Practice for Tree Installation

If you decide to install in a tree, here's how to do it responsibly:

• Choose a mature, healthy tree (4 inches or more in diameter).

• Avoid installing on saplings, thin-barked species (like birch), or any tree that looks diseased or struggling.

• Tap the bird in just enough to hold — you're not framing a house.

• Install during dry weather to reduce the risk of fungal intrusion.

• For extra care, consider applying pruning paste after installation — it’s optional, but helpful.

Rather Not Use a Tree? No Problem

We get it. Not everyone feels comfortable placing anything into a tree — and that’s okay. Your Metalbird can perch just as proudly on:

• Wooden fence posts

• Mailboxes

• Garden sheds

• Pergolas and trellises

• Raised beds and planter boxes

• Siding on garages, barns, or walls

Same bird. Same silhouette. Same moment of magic — just a different setting.

Differing Views? Totally Valid

Some people believe nothing should go into a tree. Others (including many arborists and conservationists) view installations like ours as low-risk when done right. We’ve looked at the research and feel confident that a properly installed Metalbird causes no significant harm.

But we also respect that it’s a personal choice. If you’d rather not — that’s completely fair.

We trust our customers to make thoughtful decisions. And if you ever need help picking an alternative install location, we're happy to suggest options.