Zoo Antwerpen – Swampaviary

Name of Zoo Zoo Antwerpen
Name of respondent Marleen Huyghe
E-mail address of respondent Marleen.huyghe@kmda.org

Name of Exhibit Swampaviary
Opening Date/Year 01-01-02-

  1. DIMENSIONS
    a) height in m
    b) area in m2 854
    c) volume in m3
  2. SHAPE
    a) shape sides rectangular
    b) shape of top domed part is flat
  3. CONSTRUCTION
    Frame
    1) placement main support structures inside (e.g. tent-like)
    2) materials main support metal, specify type Steel
    3) special supports/protection for (a) interface net/mesh and main support (specify) None
    (b) protection from main supports rotting in ground (specify ) n.a.
    4) secondary supporting structures other (specify) None
    5) lowering or removal of top when snow or severe winds expected possible No
    6) constructor External company, please specify Roegiers
    Material sides
    1) solid (rock, brick wood etc) 0
    2) glass 1
    3) piano wire 0
    4) netting/mesh 3
    a) material nylon
    b) name manufacturer
    c) supplier
    d) product name
    e) opening size 2×2
    f) diameter 2.8
    g) color black
    h) configuration knotted
    i) how is netting/meshing attached to aviary structure? Iron wire and rings that are placed on the poles
    j) visibility through net/mesh satisfactory
    k) water resistance excellent
    l) UV resistance excellent
    Material top
    1) Same as sides yes If yes, continue to 4. Visibility
    2) Not same as sides a) name manufacturer
    b) supplier
    c) name product
    d) material material – please choose one
    e) configuration configuration – please choose one
    f) opening size
    g) diameter
    h) color
    i) water resistance water resistance – please choose one
    j) UV resistance UV resistance – please choose one
  4. VISITOR VIEWING
    a) walk through / walk in yes
    b) barriers between public and birds rails
    c) other special features to enhance viewing possibilities, specify no
  5. ENTRANCES AND EXITS
    a) 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 nothing has brought in
    b) visitor double swing door with space in between
    c) curtains none
  6. WATER AREA
    a) % surface area water (versus land) 20
    b) frequency of drainage and cleaning weekly
    c) type of water running
    d) filtration system no continu nieuw water
    e) depth in cm i. minimum 10
    ii. maximum 30
    iii. % surface area < 20 cm 80
  7. SUBSTRATES
    a) sand % area
    b) grass % area
    c) dirt 50
    d) rocks 10
    e) visitor path 20
    f) other % area
  8. VEGETATION
    a) grass/other herbacious plants < 20 cm high cover 0 b) herbacious plants/shrubs 20 cm- 1m high cover 10 c) herbacious plants/shrubs/trees 1 m-3 m high cover 20 d) number of coniferous trees > 3 m high 0
    e) number of deciduous trees > 3 m high 12
    f) are there any plants you would recommend for aviaries? Nesting trees
    g) are there any plants that have been problematic in this aviary? Plane-tree is to big, this causes lose of light and other plants can’t grow
  9. PREDATOR PROTECTION
    a) electric fence inside no cm high
    b) electric fence outside no cm high
    c) different type meshing along bottom yes 100 cm
    d) plastic along perimeter no cm high
    e) concrete under ground no cm deep
    f) other (specify)
  10. SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHTING
    supplemental lighting outside no
  11. PERMANENT INTRODUCTION/CATCHING AREA PRESENT
    Introduction and/or catching area present yes
  12. INDOOR ENCLOSURE
    a) attached to aviary yes 6x
    b) dimensions i. length 2.7
    ii. width 2.5
    iii. Height 2.5
    c) average number of nights used per year all year round possible
    d) average number of days used per year some 4-5 months others less
    e) direct access to main outside enclosure yes
    f) direct access to alternative outdoor area yes
    g) substrates (specify) concrete, rubber coating
    h) usable water area present for bathing no abdim en rode ibis worden naar andere plaats gebracht
    i) possibility to subdivide area if need to yes
    j) keeper access area not shared by birds yes
    k) natural sunlight received yes
    l) number of hours of artifical light in normal indoor none, in winter exhibit 10 hours because no natural sunlight
    m) heating supplied heat lamps
    n) please describe ventilation system doors can open
    o) visitor viewing no
  13. SPECIES
    a) species currently held (if possible also historically) list
    b) species not held successfully none
    c) reason per species (please list species below) i. escape
    ii. incompatibility
    iii. health issues
    iv. stress
    v. accidents (e.g. collisions)
    vi. other
  14. PROBLEMS
    Problems with:
    a) Indigenous bird species entering enclosure yes, specify sparrows, blackbirds
    b) Predation in enclosures yes, specify rats
    c) Aviary withstanding winds experienced yes, specify
    d) Aviary withstanding snow experienced yes, specify
    e) Excessive mortality and or accidents with one or more species yes, specify unexperienced when catching animals for winter. Scholekster en purperkoet op de grond zijn probleem samen. Lepelaar bij bruggetje tussen planken.
    f) other health issues, e.g. foot lesions yes, specify winter coldness on steal
    g) frequent replacement or repair of materials no
    h) husbandry issues e.g. cleaning, heating, moving birds yes, specify moving birds
  15. DISSATISFACTION
    a) Visitor no
    b) Keeper yes, specify It is difficult to take the abdimstokrs out the aviary to bring them to their winterenclosure. Further it is difficult to let plants grow in the aviary
  16. COSTS (in EUR)
    a) Design
    b) Materials and labor
    c) Maintenance (e.g. replacement of netting etc.)
    d) Were there any choices made/possibilities to reduce costs?
  17. ENCLOSURE DATA SUBMISSION
    a) Contact person Steven van den Heuvel
    b) data submitted 21-Feb