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 

Height in m: N.A.
Area in m2: 854
Volume in m3: N.A.

Shape sides: rectangular

Shape of top: domed, part is flat

Frame
1) placement main support structures: inside (e.g. tent-like)
2) materials main support: metal, specify type: Steel
3) special supports/protection for: None
(a) interface net/mesh and main support: N.A.
(b) protection from main supports rotting in ground: N.A.
4) secondary supporting structures: None
5) lowering or removal of top when snow or severe winds expected possible:
6) constructor:

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: N.A.
c) supplier: N.A.
d) product name: N.A.
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

Walk through / walk in: yes 
Barriers between public and birds: rails
Other special features to enhance viewing possibilities: no

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

Visitor: double swing door with space in between
Curtains: none

% surface area water (versus land): 20
Frequency of drainage and cleaning: weekly
Type of water: running
Filtration system: no continu nieuw water
Depth in cm:

i. minimum: 10
ii. maximum: 30
iii. % surface area < 20 cm: 80

Sand: 
Grass:
Dirt: 50
Rocks: 10
Visitor path: 20
Other:

Grass/other herbacious plants < 20 cm high cover:  0
Herbacious plants/shrubs 20 cm- 1m high cover:  10
Herbacious plants/shrubs/trees 1 m-3 m high cover: 20
Number of coniferous trees > 3 m high: 0
Number of deciduous trees > 3 m high:  12
Are there any plants you would recommend for aviaries?:  Nesting trees
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

Electric fence inside: no
Electric fence outside: no
Different type meshing along bottom: yes 100 cm
Plastic along perimeter: no
Concrete under ground: no
Other (specify): N.A.

Supplemental lighting outside: no

Introduction and/or catching area present: yes

Attached to aviary: yes 6x
Dimensions:

i. length: 2.7
ii. width: 2.5
iii. Height: 2.5

Average number of nights used per year: all year round possible
Average number of days used per year: some 4-5 months others less
Direct access to main outside enclosure: yes
Direct access to alternative outdoor area: yes
Substrates (specify): concrete, rubber coating
Usable water area present for bathing: no abdim en rode ibis worden naar andere plaats gebracht
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: in normal indoor none, in winter exhibit 10 hours because no natural sunlight
Heating supplied: heat lamps
Please describe ventilation system: doors can open
Visitor viewing: no

Species currently held (if possible also historically) list: N.A.
Species not held successfully: N.A.
Reason per species (please list species below)
i. escape: N.A.
ii. incompatibility: N.A.
iii. health issues: N.A.
iv. stress: N.A.
v. accidents (e.g. collisions): N.A.
vi. other: N.A.

Problems with:
Indigenous bird species entering enclosure: yes, sparrows, blackbirds
Predation in enclosures: yes, rats
Aviary withstanding winds experienced: yes 
Aviary withstanding snow experienced:  yes 
Excessive mortality and or accidents with one or more species: yes, specify unexperienced when catching animals for winter.
other health issues, e.g. foot lesions yes, specify winter coldness on steal
Other health issues, e.g. foot lesions:
Frequent replacement or repair of materials: no 
Husbandry issues e.g. cleaning, heating, moving birds: yes, specify: moving birds

Visitor: No
Keeper: Yes, 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

Contact person: Steven van den Heuvel
Data submitted: 21-Feb-2012