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Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary Expands

Editor — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:06:49 +0000

The Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary (referred to locally as “Governor’s Pond”), situated in Spots-Newlands, about three miles east of George Town in the Cayman Islands, is home to more than 60 species of land and water birds. Around twenty-five percent of the birds native to the Caymans are found in this small, but vital, fresh water wetland. In recognition of the value of the sanctuary, the National Trust for the Cayman Islands has recently extended its boundaries to incorporate an additional acre.

Frank Roulstone of the National Trust pointed out that, although the sanctuary is relatively small in size, it has enormous value as a fresh water wetlands area. This was confirmed by the discovery of a rare Grand Cayman Water Snake in the sanctuary pond. This seldom seen species preys on fish in fresh-water habitats. Visitors may get to see the Hickaee, a local fresh water turtle. Birders can look out for Moorhens, Herons, Grebes, Egrets, Ducks, Rails, Sandpipers, Plovers, Terns, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Warblers and Grassquits, as well as a few rare species such as the Least Bittern and Purple Gallinule. At different times of the year, clouds of colorful butterflies are found in the sanctuary.

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is planning to undertake the replacement of fencing in the sanctuary, as well as building a boardwalk and planting indigenous trees throughout the property. Funds need to be raised to obtain the necessary materials for the project, and the work will be done with the help of community organizations and corporate groups. Nature-loving members of the community are encouraged to get involved.

The bird sanctuary is open all day and as bird watching enthusiasts are no doubt aware, the best times to observe the feathered inhabitants of the sanctuary are at dusk and dawn, when they are most active. The sanctuary has an observation blind, which allows visitors a superb view of the pond and its inhabitants and criss-crossing walkways allow for easy access to the entire park. The plant life in the sanctuary is particularly beautiful during the months of April through to June, and this is also when there is the most bird activity; however, visiting at any time of the year is worthwhile.

The bird sanctuary is named in honor of Michael J. Gore, who served as governor of the Cayman Islands from 1992 to 1995. Throughout this period Governor Gore showed consistent commitment to the conservation of key natural habitat areas and supported the National Trust for the Cayman Islands by becoming the trust’s first patron.

Birders and nature-lovers who take the time to explore the Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary will soon agree that it really is a little piece of paradise.

Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary

Editor — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:42:42 +0000

The Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary, a non-profit organization which is situated at 43 Red Pond Road, Petersburgh, New York, was started in 1972 by Peter Dubacher largely as a labor of love. The sanctuary is a safe haven for disabled and injured birdsto rehabilitate to the extent that they are able, with about 40% of the birds living, and thriving, at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives, while others are released into their natural habitat once it has been established that they will benefit from this.

With over 1,000 birds representing close to 100 different species, the Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary has grown to be one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the U.S.A. The sanctuary custom designs each resident’s habitat, taking into account what their natural habitat would be and adapting that to suit the particular bird’s disability, while providing a challenge to encourage them to reach the full potential of their particular circumstances.

Captive breeding with the aim of releasing into the wild is being successfully carried out at the Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary. On 12 April 1999, two disabled Golden Eagles, Marilyn and Ross, hatched two eaglets. As would often be the case in their natural habitat, only the strongest eaglet survived – they named her Dotty. Dotty was successfully raised and released from the specialized release facility. The area includes a roosting tower which the disabled parents reached by means of a series of platforms and ropes. When she was ready, Dotty took off from the tower, stayed in the area for a number of months and then spread her wings to travel further afield, calling back from time to time to see her parents.

In 2003 two American Bald Eagles were hatched, raised and released from the Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary. Captive breeding of American Bald Eagles – the national symbol of the U.S.A. – is considered to be a near-impossible task, but one that Peter Dubacher and the staff at the sanctuary achieved.

The Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary has earned a reputation for never turning away an injured or disabled bird, which has resulted in all sorts of birds being brought in by concerned citizens and wildlife officials – from a pigeon crippled by a cruelly aimed stone in a New York suburb, to an eagle mauled by a bear in Alaska.

The Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary receives no government funding and, therefore, relies on donations and sanctuary entrance fees for the upkeep of the sanctuary. Their ongoing educational program brings to people’s attention the beauty of nature in the world around us, as well as the need to respect the fact that all life is precious and we, as humans, are an integral part of the amazing web of life.

Birds of Eden – A Little Piece of Avian Heaven

Editor — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:38:11 +0000

The lush Garden Route area along the coast of South Africa can readily be described as a piece of paradise. The world’s largest free flight bird sanctuary, Birds of Eden, is situated in the heart of this piece of paradise. A single birdcage spans two hectares of indigenous forest, including a gorge, and is home to more than 2,000 birds of 180 species from various continents. These include parrots, parakeets, toucans, hornbills, thrushes, conures, cranes, flamingoes, ibises, swans and many more.

This unique sanctuary has been designed to allow the birds to live as they would in the wild – but with no predators. The aviary was constructed with 27 masts of varying heights, linked by a series of cables to form a grid, which the wire mesh rests on. One hundred kilometers of cable and 3.2 hectares of bird mesh, all painted green, were used in the project. Special features incorporated into the sanctuary include an irrigation system that simulates rain together with sound-system thunder, a walkway behind a stunning waterfall, a 200-seater amphitheater and 1.2 kilometers of paraplegic-friendly walkways. Birds of Eden in South Africa incorporates several dams, with the largest featuring a floating bridge with seating for visitors to relax and enjoy refreshments. There are also two restaurants in the sanctuary, both strategically situated to allow visitors to enjoy the beauty around them to the greatest degree.

The Birds of Eden sanctuary was initiated and developed by Tony Blignaut who is the CEO of the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary situated nearby. Blignaut saw the need for a sanctuary to accommodate birds as well as smaller primates, such as marmosets and tamarins, which could not be safely incorporated into Monkeyland. Birds of Eden would also serve as a safe haven to release captive bred and ex-pet birds. A surprising number of birds from the parrot family are discarded after a year or two with an owner who no longer wants the responsibility of caring for them. These birds are carefully and gently rehabilitated, bearing in mind that many of them have come from small suspended aviaries or indoor cages. After a quarantine period, the new bird is exposed to other birds and then moved into an indoor aviary. From there they are moved to a larger free flight aviary to allow for development of its flight muscles. Only after a bird has successfully adapted to these various environments, will it be released into the sanctuary area.

The fact that many of the birds in the sanctuary were once pets means that they generally have no fear of humans. This allows visitors to get really close to the birds, but be warned that sometimes up close and personal comes with a friendly nip of the finger or ear and there are a couple of “thieves” who will try and get away with something shiny, such as an earring, if they are given half a chance. Visitors have expressed amazement at seeing different species of birds like macaws, starlings, toucans and doves sharing a communal dinner table, often in the company of a tamarin or two. Fresh food catering to each species’ needs is provided twice a day, so there is no need to squabble to establish a pecking order – there is plenty for all.

Clearly the people behind Birds of Eden are animal lovers in the superlative sense and this is what visitors to the sanctuary will come to appreciate. Most certainly all the ex-pets living in this piece of paradise have found a home like no other.

Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary in South Africa

Editor — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:17:35 +0000

Any bird watchers planning to travel to South Africa should definitely make the effort to visit the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary combines great food with a large habitat, which is simply brimming with birds and animals. It is the perfect place to enjoy a tasty meal while taking in the sights and sounds of nature.

The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary is named for J Austin Roberts: one of the greatest ornithologists and mammologists to have been born and raised in South Africa. Roberts was born in Pretoria in 1883 and he grew up a short distance away in Potchefstroom. Despite his father’s love for the cloth, Roberts was attracted to the wonders of nature from an early age. He received an early grounding in ornithology from Thomas Ayres before going on to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria for his reference books on mammals and birds. Unfortunately, Austin Roberts was killed in an automobile accident in 1948. During his lifetime he probably contributed more to the study of birds and mammals in his home country than any other person before or after him. Hence, it was only natural that when the 11.8 hectare sanctuary was being developed that it should be named after Roberts. Some 37 years after his death in 1985, the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary in Pretoria was opened to the public.

The South African bird sanctuary is fed by two streams which help to create a wetland basin and to feed the nine small perennial dams which attracts dozens of birds. Thus the dams attract a wide array of water bird species. In fact, there are roughly 170 species of bird living in the sanctuary and the average visitor will see as many as 40 different species during the course of one short morning visit. Most visitors enjoy spending time at the hide which is situated near the dam – an excellent place from which to observe birds. There are also patches of woodland and exotic trees which attract other bird species.

The sanctuary was fenced in 1970, to ensure the continued survival of the various birds, and has since become a valued educational and recreational public attraction. Unfortunately all visitors must observe the birds from beyond the perimeter fence which some may find disappointing. This is, however, a safety measure that has been taken to ensure that the birds remain undisturbed in their natural habitat. Visitors can take in a meal at the Blue Crane restaurant – which some birds enjoy visiting of their own accord – before visiting the bird hide or taking a guided walk around the bird sanctuary. There is also a recreational park nearby where children can find amusement for hours. So visit the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary and enjoy a day filled with beautiful birds.