Vogelpark Avifauna or Papegaaienpark NOP?
- Thread starter Ned
- Start date
Depends on what species/groups of bird you like. Veldhoven is quite large, and has a very very large number of parrots(species) and has a very large collection of toucan and hornbill species, as well as some seldom seen cotingas species. I haven't been to the papagaaienpark in a while, but they mostly have some interesting species in their rainforest hall. The cotinga's are very nice and good to see/spot. I have been to avifauna in december last year. It's very nice. They have a good mix of species groups. I think avifauna would be my choice now. They finished their phillipine hall(with coleto's now!!) and have a nice but small south american section with some nice tanagers. THey also have some seldom seen species. Both are nice, but my pick would be avifauna, they keep changing and adding species, while veldhoven stays primarily a sanctuary park.
I would join rupicola in the recommendation on Avifauna. With the black-billed storks, the coleto and the kiwi they have sufficient nice obscure species 
. NOP has been going down-hill. It is still a nice place, but a lot of the horn-bills and the cock-of-the-rock left when the old director passed away to a private collection. They still have sufficient gems in the collection but it is not what it used to be.
. NOP has been going down-hill. It is still a nice place, but a lot of the horn-bills and the cock-of-the-rock left when the old director passed away to a private collection. They still have sufficient gems in the collection but it is not what it used to be.
I would join rupicola in the recommendation on Avifauna. With the black-billed storks, the coleto and the kiwi they have sufficient nice obscure species
When did NOP's director change? The cocks-of-the-rock were still there (or had been replaced!) in May last year.
Thank you for your replies. From looking on the internet I get the impression that Veldhoven has the most unusual species but their accommodation is, perhaps, a little basic whereas Avifauna is more modern but with less unusual species (although from your replies it certainly has some rarely displayed species), would you agree with that? I suppose the collection with the most unique / unusual species would appeal to me most. Also would you say that both places warrant a full day’s visit? Thanks.
In my opinion, Avifauna is a "much" better park in all respects. Bigger collection, it usually has a very good flight show three times a day (in which they swap with species, so it's quite good to see two or even all three of them) and overall gives you a good feeling of a zoo day out. They have some relatively rare species (a hummer, coleto and kiwi among them) and a very nice lorikeet-landing (with feeding cups).
NOP is a bit old, tired, has sections with repetitive species and overall has a much shabbier look and feel to it then Avifauna. It also took me far less time to get through. But NOP offers two rare opportunities. First of all, it's on the brink of disappearing. As far as I understand it's already running on borrowed time as they seem to have lost their license to keep animals seized by customs and therefore a lot of their income. The plans to move in with "Dierenrijk" also seem to have bounced, so get there before it's gone.
Second: it also has some species that you will not find (almost) anywhere in Europe. Their Tropijoy rainforest building isn't all that big but gives you a chance to walk with some of Europe's rarest captive birds. For that, for me it felt like a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to walk in between a long-wattled umbrellabird, some calfbirds, purple-throated fruitcrows, spangled cotinga's, carmine bee-eaters and a few more utter rareties. Dotted among the park are a few more major rarities as well, like the only papuan cassowary on show in Europe. For me, it felt "special" to be able to see them, even if most of the park was as shabby as it was when we visited.
So if you're with a family on a day out, Avifauna hands down with it's hand behind it's back. Utter geek-factor, NOP inches nose first to Avifauna in my opinion...
NOP is a bit old, tired, has sections with repetitive species and overall has a much shabbier look and feel to it then Avifauna. It also took me far less time to get through. But NOP offers two rare opportunities. First of all, it's on the brink of disappearing. As far as I understand it's already running on borrowed time as they seem to have lost their license to keep animals seized by customs and therefore a lot of their income. The plans to move in with "Dierenrijk" also seem to have bounced, so get there before it's gone.
Second: it also has some species that you will not find (almost) anywhere in Europe. Their Tropijoy rainforest building isn't all that big but gives you a chance to walk with some of Europe's rarest captive birds. For that, for me it felt like a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to walk in between a long-wattled umbrellabird, some calfbirds, purple-throated fruitcrows, spangled cotinga's, carmine bee-eaters and a few more utter rareties. Dotted among the park are a few more major rarities as well, like the only papuan cassowary on show in Europe. For me, it felt "special" to be able to see them, even if most of the park was as shabby as it was when we visited.
So if you're with a family on a day out, Avifauna hands down with it's hand behind it's back. Utter geek-factor, NOP inches nose first to Avifauna in my opinion...