Artis – Vulture aviary

Name of Zoo: Artis
Name of respondent: Dionne slagter
E-mail address of respondent: N.A. 

Name of Exhibit: Vulture aviary

Opening Date/Year: 01-01-05

height in m: 10 m
area in m2: 1000
volume in m3: 9000

shape sides: rectangular

shape of top: slowly raising

Frame
1) placement main support structures: perimeter (e.g. corners)
2) materials main support: metal, Steel
3) special supports/protection for:
(a) interface net/mesh and main support: no interface
(b) protection from main supports rotting in ground: N.A.
4) secondary supporting structures: cables 
5) lowering or removal of top when snow or severe winds expected possible: No
6) constructor: External company, Dahlmann Munster

Material sides
1) solid (rock, brick wood etc): 2
2) glass: 0
3) piano wire: 0
4) netting/mesh: 4
a) material: stainless steel (single strand)
b) name manufacturer: N.A.
c) supplier: N.A.
d) product name: N.A.
e) opening size: 10×10
f) diameter: 14
g) color: green
h) configuration: welded
i) how is netting/meshing attached to aviary structure? with bolts
j) visibility through net/mesh: satisfactory
k) water resistance: excellent
l) UV resistance: excellent

  Material top
1) Same as sides: yes

walk through / walk in: no, please specify number of sides for visitor viewing: 6, all sides
barriers between public and birds: mesh
other special features to enhance viewing possibilities: windows, binocular

service:

i. double doors with area between: yes
ii. through attached building: yes
iii: please describe how you bring in large enclosure furnishings that are too large to be brought through the doors: cut the net open

visitor: N.A.
curtains: N.A.

% surface area water (versus land): 10
frequency of drainage and cleaning: 2-3 a week
type of water: still
filtration system: no
depth in cm:

i. minimum: 5
ii. maximum: 30
iii. % surface area < 20 cm: 70

sand: 10% area
grass: 50% area
dirt: 20% area
rocks: 10% area
visitor path: N.A. % area
other: N.A. % area

grass/other herbacious plants < 20 cm high cover: 90% area
herbacious plants/shrubs 20 cm- 1m high cover: 0% area
herbacious plants/shrubs/trees 1 m-3 m high cover: 10% area
number of coniferous trees > 3 m high: 3
number of deciduous trees > 3 m high: 4
are there any plants you would recommend for aviaries?: N.A. 
are there any plants that have been problematic in this aviary?: N.A.

electric fence inside: no
electric fence outside: no
different type meshing along bottom: no
plastic along perimeter: no
concrete under ground: yes, 30-50 cm deep 
other (specify): N.A.

supplemental lighting outside: no

Introduction and/or catching area present: no

attached to aviary: yes
dimensions:

i. length:N.A.
ii. width: N.A.
iii. Height: N.A.

average number of nights used per year: 60
average number of days used per year: 60
direct access to main outside enclosure: yes
direct access to alternative outdoor area: no
substrates (specify): wooden chips
usable water area present for bathing: no
possibility to subdivide area if need to: yes
keeper access area not shared by birds: yes
natural sunlight received: yes
number of hours of artifical light: 12
heating supplied: heat lamps
please describe ventilation system: no
visitor viewing: yes

Problems with:
Indigenous bird species entering enclosure: yes, specify: jackdaw and crows
Predation in enclosures: no
Aviary withstanding winds experienced: yes, specify: N.A.
Aviary withstanding snow experienced: yes, specify: N.A.
Excessive mortality and or accidents with one or more species: no
other health issues, e.g. foot lesions: no
frequent replacement or repair of materials: no
husbandry issues e.g. cleaning, heating, moving birds: no

Visitor: no
Keeper: yes, specify: crows should get rid off

Design: N.A. 
Materials and labor: N.A. 
Maintenance (e.g. replacement of netting etc.): N.A.
Were there any choices made/possibilities to reduce costs? aviary should be built as a circle put it was too expensive.

data submitted: 08-03-12