Society against aviary closure
"If we take them away then what do we do – get kids to view them on Youtube?" Richard Dodunski, Manawatu Avicultural Society president
Native and exotic birds on show at Feilding’s Kowhai Park could soon be rehomed around the country and have their nests demolished.
The Manawatu District Council has proposed closing two aviaries at Kowhai Park, irking the Manawatu Avicultural Society.
President Richard Dodunski believes the council’s estimate of $570,000 to bring the aviaries up to the minimum Department of Conservation standard is excessive.
In its draft Annual Plan, the Manawatu District Council said it did not hold a permit to house the native birds and would not be granted one until an upgrade was completed. The estimate to complete the work was $350,000 over the council’s 2017/2018 budget.
While the native aviaries at the back of Kowhai Park needed significant repairs, Dodunski said the exotic cages nearest to South St were in good condition.
‘‘The pipes are not rusted and will live forever. The cage wire is thick and shows no sign of wear and tear,’’ he said.
‘‘There is nothing here that I can see that suggests they need to be rebuilt. The nest boxes could do with a tidy-up but they don’t need a lot of work.’’
The council’s general manager of community and strategy Brent Limmer said there were several areas that needed upgrading.
‘‘The native birds will require a minimum area of 510 square metres, while the exotic birds will require 200sqm. There are also specific requirements for internal landscaping.
‘‘There is also cost associated with the exterior landscaping, footpaths and area reinstatement. There will need to be an upgrade for the utility connections and costs for the demolition of the existing aviary.’’
The park hosts birds including tui, kakariki, java sparrows, bareeyed corella and the crowd favourite – the talking cockatoo.
‘‘People will always like birds because the interaction is like no other animal. The cockatoo will talk to you and it’s like having a 3-year-old child with you all day,’’ Dodunski said.
‘‘If we take them away then what do we do – get kids to view them on Youtube?’’