Our Aviaries

We have aviaries of various sizes and layouts, each one has a specific use.

The set of aviaries at the top of the hospital are used for Seabirds.

These consist of the 'Main Run', which is used to house the resident Herring Gulls and Greater Black-Backed Gulls. They are here owing to various injuries which would hinder their survival in the wild. This pen has various areas included, comprising of 3 large shelters, 2 ponds ~ a large, deep one, and a smaller shallower one, various sized steps and rocks and some ramps ~ for those unable to manage the steps. It is a particularly high, spacious enclosure ~ making it well-suited for youngsters to practice their flying skills prior to their release into the big wide world.

There are 2 aviaries at the bottom of the 'Main Run' are mainly used during the 'Baby Season' for young Herring and Greater Black-Backed Gulls. The right-hand side contains a large, deep pond with steep sides, sheltered area and a large ramp. The left-hand pen has a smaller, shallower pond with graduated sides, sheltered area and steps. There is a connecting door between the two, which provides the option to create a large double run which can be used for mixed size birds, or can be used to seperate the larger from the smaller babies, depending on the numbers and sizes of the birds involved.

The aviary to the left of the 'Main Run' has 2 areas. The smaller is used for visiting seabirds, such as Guillemots, Gannets, Black-Headed Gulls, Cormorants, Shags etc. It contains sheltered areas, rocks and a large pond. This pond has graduated sides leading down to a deep center, which enables the aviary to accomodate birds with varying sizes and needs. The second area is a much larger run with a large deep pond with graduated sides, rocks, steps and sheltered area, and is used to house the resident Gulls when their run is allocated, during the 'Baby Season', to the largest juvenile birds prior to their release.

To the right of the 'Main Run' area, is a row of 4 aviaries of various size and features.

The top pen has an inner and outer section with higher and lower opening sections to allow access between the two. There is no pond to this pen as it used during the 'Baby Season' for the young Rooks, Crows, Jackdaws etc. They start off in the inner section, and as their flight improves, they are encouraged into the outer section to 'stretch their wings', although they are kept inside during the night. Provision of various perches and ledges are made and of small baths and water bowls ensure they have the necessary water facilities, without running the risk of accidents in a pond.

The second pen also has and inner and outer section, again connected with hatches, and is slightly larger in both sections than the top pen. Both sections contain ledges and perches of various heights, and the outer also has a small, shallow pond. This is usually used during the 'Baby Season' to house young Pigeons, Collared Doves and Woodpigeons.

The third pen has a large outer section with steps, rocks and a pond of medium size and depth. It is connected to the smaller inner section by a full sized door. It is used during the 'Baby Season' for small Gulls and out of season for visiting birds such as Ducks, Cormorants, Razorbills, Guillemots etc.

The bottom pen has inner and outer sections connected by a small hatch. The outer section has a very small, shallow pond, steps, rocks and ramped area. The inner area has an access door and a connecting door to the inner section of pen 3. This pen is used for the smallest baby Gulls during the season, and they are put to bed at night in the inner section on a towel with their supper.

There are facilities available for deep-diving birds, to the side of the hospital building, if required.

The lower set of aviaries underneath the hospital are used to house Garden and Carrion birds. They are set out in two split-level blocks.

The first of these blocks consists of three seperate aviaries connected by a series of fullsize doors.

The first pen is used by our troop of Budgies. They have been brought into the Hospital, having managed to escape their owners and native birds hostile to their presence. They have a large wooden shelf where their food and drinking / bathing water bowls are placed, two large shelters at different levels and various fresh branches and perches.

The second aviary is for Garden Birds and consists of two small, shallow ponds, branches and shelves of various heights, ramp leading to a higher area and many rocks. There are hiding places and nooks and crannies, and some foilage and greenery. It houses our resident Garden Birds throughout the year, and the numbers are increased during the 'Baby season', as it provided a training ground for their eventual release into the wild.

The third aviary constists of a large, shallow pond, build up area with ramps and various perches, shelves and greenery. It provides ideal accomodation for our resident Pigeons. They are mainly ferral birds who are unable to survive in the wild owing to injury, although we do have some failed racing pigeons who were unwanted by their owners.

The lower of these two blocks consists of four seperate aviaries, connected by a long corridor running the length of the block.

The first pen, as you enter the corridor, is mainly used in the Summer months for that seasons releasable Carrion birds. This is owing to the fact that the aviary contains specific release hatches, to provide the birds with an easy, stress-free release at the appropriate times. It also comprises of a large grassed area, wooden spiral sections, shelters, feeding stations, two small ponds ~ one shallow & one slightly deeper, branches, foilage and small trees. It is a high, spacious enclosure to encourage flight practice, and as natural an evironment as possible, to replicate intended release areas.

The second aviary is the home of our resident cockerel, and contains a large shallow pond, shelter, feeding station, wooden spirals, branches, foilage etc..

The third aviary is a large, high, spacious enclosure well suited to the resident Carrion birds that occupy it. The large relatively shallow pond is ideal for these birds that would be unable to sustain themselves in the wild. It has many wooden spiral sections, feeding stations, shelters, steps, rocks, wooden sleepers, perches and potted trees.

The last pen is used by our resident Duck and Pheasant and consists of a large deep pond, feeding area, shelter, steps, dirt box, ramp and potted trees. The doors to this aviary and to the Cockerel's pen are left open, allowing access to the corridor, and each other's enclosures. This is owing to the excellent relationship between the three, who are inseperable.