Bristol Zoo (Closed) Changes to Bird House/Wallace Aviary.

P

Pertinax

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
On their website Bristol have announced major alterations to the Bird House area. It will become three areas, a children's 'wet splash zone', an 'explorer's bird forest' with Asian, African and South American birds, and finally a walk-thru Rainbow Lorikeet aviary/feeding zone. Presumably this will see major changes to the existing layout of the interiors of the Bird House & Wallace Aviary(now no more?) and reflects the continuing trend for this sort of interpretive exhibit.

See their website for details, proposed opening date etc.
 
Am I the only one thinking not another Lorikeet feeding aviary? It's not that there's anything wrong with them, just wondering where's the variety?
 
^Chris^ said:
Am I the only one thinking not another Lorikeet feeding aviary? It's not that there's anything wrong with them, just wondering where's the variety?
Click to expand...

I tend to agree but for the zoos its all about the trend for giving children opportunity to interact with the animal exhibits-like all the walkthru lemur and squirrel monkey setups. Of course kids in one city e.g. Bristol won't have ever experienced one elsewhere e.g. at Edinburgh so it will be new for them. My guess is that the walkthru Wallace Aviary will now be divided up to include both the 'bird forest' and the Lorikeet display.

Bristol is a Zoo which is geared very much toward Children nowadays, everything there, including ancillary entertainment, is geared toward them. Because its largely the children who bring in the most revenue, by wanting to visit the zoo in the first place and bringing the adults with them..
 
'splash!' zone sounds like it's going to be very much the same as one of the area's in London's new Children's zoo.
 
^Chris^ said:
Am I the only one thinking not another Lorikeet feeding aviary? It's not that there's anything wrong with them, just wondering where's the variety?
Click to expand...

I made that point about edinburghs one but everyone seemed to think differently, it sounds a good idea and alot more interactive

obviously a good credit crunch beater using an already built aviary ;)
 
Yes it's in the plans. I'm guessing that's where Bristol got the idea/name from.

From what is written on the website it sounds like a paddling pool with fountains etc. Not sure how they could link it with the explorer theme but I imagine children would enjoy it.
 
The interior of the Wallace aviary will be fairly similar to how it is now, although the ravine has already been filled in to provide more ground space for the birds and a new walkway be made. The aviaries within the birdhouse will be re-meshed with zoo mesh to allow better visability and the opportunity to keep smaller birds in them. The birds indoors will be restricted to the indoor aviary and outside will be the lorikeets and the existing whistling duck and some marbled teal, with possibly the Masked plovers going back out there and maybe some other species depending on compatability with the lorikeets.
I'm not entirely sure of the lay-out of the new wet play area but I know they have one at Slimbridge WWT and believe that was probably the root of the idea.

Kate
 
KateA said:
I'm not entirely sure of the lay-out of the new wet play area but I know they have one at Slimbridge WWT and believe that was probably the root of the idea.

Kate
Click to expand...

I saw 'Wellie boot land' at Slimbridge a few weeks ago. It reminded me of a crazy golf course with an small artificial stream meandering through it. I've no problem with that sort of thing for the kiddies, and I agree with Pertinax about the importance of children to Bristol.
I think that keeping the lorikeets outdoors will probably work better than Edinburgh's house, which I find rather unsatisfying, and keeping the ponds with some ducks is probably a good idea too.

Alan
 
The area of Bristol Zoo is only 12 acres/5ha so it seems a shame that precious space is being used for a kids' playground.
 
KateA said:
The birds indoors will be restricted to the indoor aviary and outside will be the lorikeets and the existing whistling duck and some marbled teal, with possibly the Masked plovers going back out there and maybe some other species depending on compatability with the lorikeets.
a.

Kate
Click to expand...

Thanks for describing the changes clearly for us.:).
 
KateA said:
The interior of the Wallace aviary will be fairly similar to how it is now, although the ravine has already been filled in to provide more ground space for the birds and a new walkway be made. The aviaries within the birdhouse will be re-meshed with zoo mesh to allow better visability and the opportunity to keep smaller birds in them. The birds indoors will be restricted to the indoor aviary and outside will be the lorikeets and the existing whistling duck and some marbled teal, with possibly the Masked plovers going back out there and maybe some other species depending on compatability with the lorikeets.
I'm not entirely sure of the lay-out of the new wet play area but I know they have one at Slimbridge WWT and believe that was probably the root of the idea.

Kate
Click to expand...


Kate, how are they going to make the aviary more "family friendly" exactly?

and is there any chance you could post some pictures once it is finished?

Thanks
 
I think they jut mean by being more interactive, i.e lorikeet feeding and the play area part.May be having a raised walkway or bridge across one area although I'm not sure of the details. It will also have more visual things such as a "crashed plane" so the kiddies will like that I suppose! I agree I don't see the need for another play area especially as many visitors said they avoided the area because of it's proximity to the play area when asked why they didn't enter the wallace aviary. They're trying to get more people going through there as we find many people don't. However I get so many people asking where the entrance is and others saying they follow the circular route around the edge of the zoo that I'm not sure if it will help personally.

I'll definately post some pics. In fact I'll put a few on now of the current state inside!

Kate
 
I agree the playground may scare off keen birdwatchers with the noise, but then most zoos have playgrounds in unsuitable places!
 
If I had my way there would not be any play areas in any zoo at all. A new one has opened at Chester on the lawn by the RoRA. It's only for small children but it's another example of the erosion of grassy picnic areas at Chester. Do they want no one to bring their own food into the zoo?

I always made a point of visitng the Wallace Aviary at Bristol, but on reflection I do think the entrance was hard to spot. I knew how to get in so I haven't really thought about it before. I'm looking forward to seeing how the refurbishment comes out. I always thought the previous indoor area was uninspiring.
 
bongorob said:
If I had my way there would not be any play areas in any zoo at all. A new one has opened at Chester on the lawn by the RoRA. It's only for small children but it's another example of the erosion of grassy picnic areas at Chester. Do they want no one to bring their own food into the zoo?
......well, what would make them the most money?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top