Ouwehands Dierenpark – Free-flight aviary

Name of Zoo: Ouwehands Dierenpark
Name of respondent: G. Meijer
E-mail address of respondent: gerard.meijer@ouwehand.nl

Name of Exhibit: Free-flight aviary

Opening Date/Year: 01-01-77-

Height in m: 17
Area in m2: 1500
Volume in m3: 25500

Shape sides: rectangular

Shape of top: peak

Frame
1) placement main support structures: perimeter (e.g. corners)
2) materials main support: metal, specify type: Steel with powder coating
3) special supports/protection for:
(a) interface net/mesh and main support: None
(b) protection from main supports rotting in ground: N.a.
4) secondary supporting structures: beams (e.g. across top)
5) lowering or removal of top when snow or severe winds expected possible: No
6) constructor: External company, please specify:N.A.

Material sides
1) solid (rock, brick wood etc): 0
2) glass: 0
3) piano wire: 0
4) netting/mesh: 4
a) material: PVC coated wire
b) name manufacturer: Staalbouw Mook B.V.
c) supplier: N.A.
d) product name: N.A.
e) opening size: 4×4
f) diameter: 5.7
g) color: Green
h) configuration: chain link
i) how is netting/meshing attached to aviary structure? Iron wire
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:   , please specify number of sides for visitor viewing: yes
Barriers between public and birds: rails and rocks
Other special features to enhance viewing possibilities: yes, specify: Levelling landscape

Service:

i. double doors with area between: no
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: N.A.

Visitor: single sliding door
Curtains: none

% surface area water (versus land): 30
Frequency of drainage and cleaning: Once a year
Type of water: running
Filtration system: yes
Depth in cm:

i. minimum: 10
ii. maximum: 40
iii. % surface area < 20 cm: 70

Sand:  0% area
Grass: 0% area
Dirt: 40% area
Rocks: 0% area
Visitor path: 30% area
Other: 20% area

Grass/other herbacious plants < 20 cm high cover:  0 % area
Herbacious plants/shrubs 20 cm- 1m high cover:  10 % area
Herbacious plants/shrubs/trees 1 m-3 m high cover: 30 % area
Number of coniferous trees > 3 m high: 3
Number of deciduous trees > 3 m high: 11
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: no
Other (specify): N.A.

Supplemental lighting outside: no

Introduction and/or catching area present: yes

Attached to aviary: N.A. 
Dimensions:

i. length: N.A.
ii. width: N.A.
iii. Height: 3-5 m

Average number of nights used per year: 365
Average number of days used per year: 150
Direct access to main outside enclosure: yes
Direct access to alternative outdoor area: yes
Substrates (specify): Concrete
Usable water area present for bathing:  yes
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: 0
Heating supplied: no
Please describe ventilation system: N.A.
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, specify: sparrows and blackbirds
Predation in enclosures:  Beech marten
Aviary withstanding winds experienced: no
Aviary withstanding snow experienced:  no
Excessive mortality and or accidents with one or more species: yes, specify: N.A.
Other health issues, e.g. foot lesions: no
Frequent replacement or repair of materials:  yes, specify: Ground is dirty because of the feaces, which is hard to clean
Husbandry issues e.g. cleaning, heating, moving birds: no

Visitor: yes, specify: During winter there is not much to see, it is not possible for visitors to have a look inside
Keeper: yes, specify: Overview of the birds is bad and cleaning of the ground is difficult

Contact person: Steven van den Heuvel and Kitty Ludwig
Data submitted: 24-01-12