Council News WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2014
Issue 18
Weekly information from us to you
FREE AS A BIRD: Wagga Wagga City Council Supervisor of Horticulture Mick Cave releases birds back into the free flight aviary at the Botanic Gardens Zoo.
Aviary birds take flight The free flight aviary at the Botanic Gardens Zoo has been reopened and its flying residents are being reintroduced back into their home. An inspection of the aviary structure earlier this year found a white ant infestation in the support poles, which forced the aviary’s immediate closure to ensure the safety of its feathered residents and visitors to the facility. Repairs to the free flight aviary saw the old timber support poles, which had become weakened over time, replaced with sturdier steel ones. During the $100,000 works, which commenced in September, the birds were rehoused in separate cages at the zoo and on Thursday approximately 25 birds were released back into the aviary by Council staff. “The other birds will be slowly released back in groups over the next week to ensure we do not cause them too much distress,” Council’s Director Environmental and Community Services, Janice Summerhayes said.
The species of birds housed in the free flight aviary are carefully chosen, they cannot not be too territorial or destructive as they may damage the aviary or harm each other. The free flight aviary, which opened in the early 90’s, has had many bird species call it home. The aviary has housed over 80 different varieties of species, and prior to its closure, hosted approximately 250 birds. At the time of construction it was named the biggest free flight aviary in Australia. Repairs to the structure included installing new support poles, restitching of the netting, trimmng plants and trees, remulching of the garden beds and new plantings. Other repairs were made to the various bird boxes, boardwalk and walking paths within the aviary. The free flight aviary provides an opportunity for the public to get up close and personal with the birds, as they would be in the wild, which offers visitors to the zoo a great spot to take some great pictures. If you would like to visit the birds in their refurbished home, or any of their friends at the zoo, visit the Botanic Gardens between 9am and 5pm every day.
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