What was the purpose of such a large, mixed-species parrot aviary? As in, was this created to house all the remaining psittacine residents of the old bird walk when it closed, or were many new species/individuals brought in purposely in order to stock this aviary?
Primarily the former really although new birds have been brought in, plus it has housed various odds and ends including a Patagonian Conure belonging to a keeper and a Roseate Cockatoo that is owned by the company that does the Bird Show (it is still in there and is very popular with visitors). One winter a few years ago a number of macaws were donated, but I cannot remember if that was just before the aviary was set up (it used to be a cinema attraction of course and was moved across the park then transformed) or whether it had been open for a season or two. Somewhere I shall have it noted. A number of additional macaws were brought in last year, but some have had to be removed as they were causing trouble ( a Scarlet and both Militaries I think - they are in the Keepers' Yard; I am sure the Military still in there is one of those winter donations from the other year). Two Eastern Crowned Cranes (siblings) were in there as well until recently but they have left the collection.
