This place is for the birds!
http://www.pcwomensjournal.com/articles/139/1/This-place-is-for-the-birds/Page1.html
Rosie Erskine Lamrhari
By Rosie Erskine Lamrhari
Published on 06/17/2011
You don’t have to travel to the Outback to enjoy the raucous laughter of the kookaburra – or to Chile for a glimpse of long-legged, pink flamingos. These exotic birds are in your own “backyard.” A pair of Australian kookaburra, renowned for their boisterous, unmistakable call, and a small flock of colorful flamingos from Chile are only a few of the lucky residents at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, a small community about 1 hour north of Greenville.
At Sylvan Heights, more than 1500 birds from around the world live peacefully together in a kind of bird paradise. About 170 species from 6 continents share this unique avian park and represent some of the most endangered waterfowl on the planet.
The park was founded by British aviculturists Mike and Ali Lubbock, who opened the facility in Scotland Neck in 2006. According to Ali Lubbock, “Sylvan Heights has the largest waterfowl collection in the world. There’s no other place like it – not even in the U.S.”
Inside the wooded park, visitors stroll along pathways, through large outdoor aviaries that closely resemble the natural habitats of the various species. Although it is tempting – but not permitted – to reach out and touch these lovely creatures, it is possible to observe their interesting behaviors and admire their beautiful feathers and unusual features up close – sometimes face-to-face.
One goal of the park is to educate people about the environment of these birds and the need to protect them and their wetland habitats. Another is to breed various birds in order to preserve the species in captivity in case their native environment is threatened.
At the breeding facility adjacent to the park, university students, wildlife biologists, zoologists, and aviculturists from many countries come to study breeding habits and behaviors of the park’s avian residents. The breeding center is not open to the public. However, visitors may be fortunate enough to see a chick pecking its way out of an egg in the incubator at the visitor center.
From the delicate pair of Demoiselle Cranes, the colorful collection of quacking ducks, honking geese, and noisy parrots, to the pair of laughing kookaburras, showy peacocks, and giant emu, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park is a delight for visitors of any age – and a true paradise for birds.
Sylvan Heights, an affiliate of the North Carolina Zoological Park, is located at 4963 Highway 258 in Scotland Neck. For more information, phone (252) 826-3186 or visit their website at www.shwpark.com.
You don’t have to travel to the Outback to enjoy the raucous laughter of the kookaburra – or to Chile for a glimpse of long-legged, pink flamingos. These exotic birds are in your own “backyard.” A pair of Australian kookaburra, renowned for their boisterous, unmistakable call, and a small flock of colorful flamingos from Chile are only a few of the lucky residents at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, a small community about 1 hour north of Greenville.
You don’t have to travel to the Outback to enjoy the raucous laughter of the kookaburra – or to Chile for a glimpse of long-legged, pink flamingos. These exotic birds are in your own “backyard.” A pair of Australian kookaburra, renowned for their boisterous, unmistakable call, and a small flock of colorful flamingos from Chile are only a few of the lucky residents at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, a small community about 1 hour north of Greenville. At Sylvan Heights, more than 1500 birds from around the world live peacefully together in a kind of bird paradise. About 170 species from 6 continents share this unique avian park and represent some of the most endangered waterfowl on the planet.
The park was founded by British aviculturists Mike and Ali Lubbock, who opened the facility in Scotland Neck in 2006. According to Ali Lubbock, “Sylvan Heights has the largest waterfowl collection in the world. There’s no other place like it – not even in the U.S.”
Inside the wooded park, visitors stroll along pathways, through large outdoor aviaries that closely resemble the natural habitats of the various species. Although it is tempting – but not permitted – to reach out and touch these lovely creatures, it is possible to observe their interesting behaviors and admire their beautiful feathers and unusual features up close – sometimes face-to-face.
One goal of the park is to educate people about the environment of these birds and the need to protect them and their wetland habitats. Another is to breed various birds in order to preserve the species in captivity in case their native environment is threatened.
At the breeding facility adjacent to the park, university students, wildlife biologists, zoologists, and aviculturists from many countries come to study breeding habits and behaviors of the park’s avian residents. The breeding center is not open to the public. However, visitors may be fortunate enough to see a chick pecking its way out of an egg in the incubator at the visitor center.
From the delicate pair of Demoiselle Cranes, the colorful collection of quacking ducks, honking geese, and noisy parrots, to the pair of laughing kookaburras, showy peacocks, and giant emu, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park is a delight for visitors of any age – and a true paradise for birds.Sylvan Heights, an affiliate of the North Carolina Zoological Park, is located at 4963 Highway 258 in Scotland Neck. For more information, phone (252) 826-3186 or visit their website at www.shwpark.com.