This is one of my favourite features at TWPZ. This wild Australian White Ibis rookery has always been on this site, and was integrated into the new Lion Pride Lands exhibit. I have no idea if the lions would ever venture onto the island, but the threat doesn't seem to bother the ibis who are breeding at the moment. It's a fun and unique way to integrate wild animals into a zoo exhibit and it seems to be working out for everyone so far.
@akasha I wish they were African Sacred Ibis instead. I do like when wild animals add something to zoo exhibits e.g. wild Cattle Egrets often stand on the rhinos at Australia Zoo adding an interesting display element.
In all seriousness, does Dubbo really only have guineafowl, ostrich and emu as their only on-display bird species? Searching this gallery, they used to have a mallee walkthrough aviary but it seemed to have been closed down years ago. I can't help but think an aviary with Regent Honeyeaters as you mentioned would be a greatly appreciated addition - a bit like how Werribee displays their Orange-bellied Parrots or Monarto with their Malleefowl.
@WhistlingKite24 Yes, those are the only on-display birds. Up until the 00's the area at the end of the loop was the 'Children's Zoo'. It had exhibits for Echidna, Common Wombat, Meerkat, a macropod walk-through, a hoofed stock walk-through and a walk-through aviary with Malleefowl. There was also a small 'hospital' for raising orphaned macropod and treating injured birds etc. Attached to that building they displayed Mala. All that is gone now, it was removed and replaced by a playground and service buildings when they redeveloped the main entrance to make the cafe, gift shop and primate islands free to access. The new wildlife hospital is being constructed near that area now, and I wonder if they plan to have a few small exhibits attached to it.
