Birds of Eden

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Birds of Eden Bird Sanctuary
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The aviary
Date opening 2005-12-15
Location Western Cape, South Africa
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Land area 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres)[1]
Number of animals 3000+[1]
Number of species 280+[1]
Website www.birdsofeden.co.za

Birds of Eden is the world's largest free flight aviary and bird sanctuary, located near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape, South Africa. The mesh dome of the sanctuary was built over 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres) of indigenous forest, and is up to 55 metres (180 ft) above ground level. 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) of walkways, about 75% of which are elevated, let visitors see the birds at all levels of the aviary.

Birds of Eden is one of the three Sanctuaries under The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA). As a member of SAASA Birds of Eden was honoured with four major Tourism awards in 2014. The four awards are namely the Lilizela Tourism Visitor Experience of the Year Award at a 'Wildlife Encounters',[2] the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award,[3] Overall winner of the World Responsible Tourism Award as well as the Gold Award in World Responsible Tourism in the category of 'Best Animal Welfare Initiative' [4]

Facilities

File:Birds of Eden-004.jpg
Masts and mesh

The 2.3-hectare (5.7-acre) enclosure is covered 3.2 hectares (7.9 acres) of wire mesh resting on cables strung between 28 masts. The masts vary in length between 2 and 34 metres (6 ft 7 in and 111 ft 7 in) and at its highest point the mesh is 55 metres (180 ft) above the ground. The total weight of the wire mesh is about 80 tonnes, and it encloses a total volume of 375,372 cubic metres (13,256,100 cu ft).[5][6]

Visitors can access the aviary through about 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) of walkways, about 75% of which are elevated to let them see the birds in all areas of the aviary. Visitors can tour the facility on their own, or take a guided tour.[7]

The enclosure was built over indigenous forest and includes a natural gorge with a waterfall, and a 200-seat amphitheater. The Thanda Cafe is available for hungry visitors.[1]

Animals

File:Macaw at Birds of Eden.jpg
A beautiful macaw
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Inside the aviary
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Pink flamingo
File:BirdsofEdenToucan.JPG
Birds of Eden toucan

[8]

In 2014 the sanctuary was home to about 3500 birds representing more than 200 species.[1]

The bird inhabitants of the aviary comprise a mixture of exotic as well African birds (50/50). They also include previously caged pets and hand reared and imprinted individuals, this explains why some of our inhabitants (especially the parrots of which we have 60 different species) are unafraid of human beings and seemingly tame. All new arrivals at Birds of Eden go through a process of rehabilitation before they enter the actual sanctuary of the main aviary. Be they ex pets, or birds confiscated from zoos or irreputable breeders, most of the birds that arrive at Birds of Eden have a history of being caged in small environments.

The main rehabilitation process involves socialization with other birds in large outdoor pre-release aviaries as well as the building up of flight muscles, and learning flight control, i.e. practicing landings, change of direction etc. Make no mistake! All birds can fly, no matter how badly their wings are clipped; the question is just how high and how far. Releasing them into the main aviary immediately, would be tantamount to running a marathon without any training!

Birds such as the cranes, flamingoes and some of the ducks have been subjected to the cruel practice of pinioning, where a section of the wing is actually removed to prevent them from ever flying again. These birds find sanctuary in our aviary in as natural a habitat as is possible given their history. The rest of the release process is instinctive and absolutely remarkable; all the birds instinctively know which area of the aviary suits their needs, how and where to look for and find food and water and shelter from weather conditions. Species recognition is immediate, for e.g. when a new ringneck is released into the aviary, all the other ringnecks gather to have a look at the newcomer!

The winning factor of the aviary has to be its size. The volume particularly, allows the creation of habitat niches for the large variety of species that find sanctuary here. On entering the aviary, one walks into an indigenous forest which comprises 70% of the aviary.

Birds found in this habitat are either ground living (terrestrial) or arboreal and very shy. Examples are the golden pheasants, the males noticeably resplendent in their breeding colours, the shy minuscule white starred robin, terrestrial bulbuls, olive thrush, and bearded barbets and naturally in the canopy, the shy but colorful Tauraco species - Fleetingly visible when looking up into the canopy, recognizable by their incandescent red flight feathers. At present there are 8 species of Tauraco in the aviary, including the infamous Knysna loerie.

Like plants, humans and all other living things, birds love the sun. This becomes apparent as one moves away from the forest floor and closer towards the canopy, the cacophony of sounds tells of abundant birdlife out of sight, but up there somewhere. In this part of the forest the channel billed toucan and their miniature counterparts, the black necked and green aracaris (toucanettes), as well as the white tailed and inca jays, are memorable when spotted. One exits the forest on to the forest deck area, and here the splendor of all the parrot species really hits you. It is here that the blue and gold macaws, the green wing macaw hang out as well as the very vocal conures (12 species); ringnecks and other parakeets and lorikeets. The exit from the forest marks the beginning of a completely new habitat, namely that of the grasslands, marsh and woodlands, and of course the multiple waterways that traverse the duck ponds. Species to be sighted here are the scarlet ibis, flamingoes (greater and Caribbean), spoonbills, cranes (blue cranes and crowned cranes), egrets, moorhens etc.

The smaller parrot species that prefer more open vegetation are also spotted here (budgies, lovebirds and cockatiels). The lawn area provides resting and feeding space for most of our many waterfowl, (we currently have 29 different duck species), whilst the sparser trees are home to the hornbill (4 different species), and various weaver species, who utilize this area to build their nests over the waterways.

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List of animals

References

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External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website
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