Next time you visit Vandalur zoo, do not miss the walk-through aviary, a renovated bird house that has been recently opened.
So, what is special about this place? For one, there are all kinds of birds here — insectivores, graniovores, frugivores, and omnivores. Also, it is spread over one-and-a-half acres and is the biggest such facility in a zoo in the country, say authorities.
Fifteen-metre-tall fences have been erected to facilitate the free flight of birds within this area. Another speciality of the aviary is that both sunlight and rains can penetrate the facility, making it a more natural bird habitat, say zoo officials.
A total of 245 birds belonging to as many species have been housed in the aviary. Alexandrine parakeet, rose-ringed parakeet, blue rock pigeon, common myna, Indian Koel, common babbler, white-browed bulbul, francolin, red-vented and red-whiskered bulbul, wagtail, pipit, orange-headed thrush, red-wattled lapwing, little brown dove and spotted dove are just some of the birds in the aviary, says K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, zoo director and additional principal chief conservator of forests.
Mango, pomegranate, guava, sapota (Sapodilla), jamoon, Singapore cherry and chillies are some of the fruit-bearing trees and plants that have been planted here for the benefit of fruit-eating birds.
Heaps of dry leaves, dung, dry wood waste and rotten fruits too have been provided for insect-eating birds. The authorities have also set up a mud bath for the birds.
In order to facilitate natural breeding of parakeets, the authorities have planted palm trees with holes and heaps of stones to help ground-nesting birds.
Fountains and waterbodies too have been created inside the aviary to make the winged creatures feel at home, say zoo authorities.
