I was wondering if people on here can remember when the Hide over looking the pool was built and can people help me find out which species have been seen in this area please?
The so called pelican aviary which held pelicans only for a short time was built in the early 1960s, and was roofed over in the 2010s. To the west of this enclosure were two smaller enclosures, the middle one also housing Red-necked Wallabies and later Axis Deer as well as birds.
The hide was opened in 2007. Originally the windows opened out towards the pool, but they were later fastened closed.
In 2025 this aviary is expected to re-open housing African waterfowl and Greater Flamingos.
Species which I remember seeing in this enclosure. There may be more that I have forgotten about. Not all these species were held at the same time.
Waterfowl
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Carolina Duck (Aix sponsa)
Cape Teal (Anas capensis)
Red-billed Pintail (Anas erythorhyncha)
Meller's Duck (Anas melleri)
Grelyag Goose (Anser anser)
Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)
White-winged Wood Duck (Asacornis scutulata)
Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fulgida)
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandviciensis)
Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae novaehollandiae)
Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera)
Blue-winged Goose (Cyanopochen cyanoptera)
Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
Black-headed Swan (Cygnus melanocoryphus)
White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Chiloe Wigeon (Mareca sibilatrix)
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucecephala)
North American Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
African Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
Hottentot Teal (Spatula hottentotta)
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
African White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus leuconotus)
Pelicans
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
Storks
European White Stork (Ciconia coconia)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
Pheasants
Blue Peafowl Pavo cristatus)
Domestic Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)
Cranes
White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio)
Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone)
West African Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina pavonina)
East African Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps)
Lilford's Crane (Grus grus lilfordi)
Rails
Western Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio)
Turacos
Schalow's Turaco (Tauraco schalowi)
Wild coots and moorhens were resident in the exhibit, along with short-term wild residents, green-winged teal and water rail.
The first UK breeding of Dalmatian Pelican was achieved in this aviary, the zoo then went out of the species, which puzzles me to this day.
