Close Encounters over May Bank Holiday

Get up close and personal with the feathered residents at Bourton-on-the-Water's Birdland this May Bank Holiday weekend, 2-4 May. Become a perch for a parrot or a landing pad for an owl. Climb inside the tortoise pen and come face to face with a snake. Exciting encounters for all the family await over the long weekend.

There are plenty of ways to get involved at Birdland over the bank holiday with interactive experiences, specialist talks and bird feeding. With fantastic family experiences like 'Meet a Keeper', Penguin Feeding and the Discovery Zone there are more ways than ever to encounter the birds.

Watching the Penguin Feeding is a very special experience and an extremely close encounter! Watch Keepers feed the two species of Penguins at Birdland their nutritious fish supper at 11am & 2.30pm daily. They are fed buckets of Herring and Sprats, both the King Penguins and Humboldt's favourites respectively. Whilst watching the feeding hear lots of exciting facts, be introduced to each of the penguins – some of whom are famous film stars! The engaging and informative talks offer the opportunity to find out more than ever about the residents.

See eye to eye with a chick at the new Hatchery, currently housing eggs from ducks, quails and chickens as well as newly hatched chicks needing to keep warm in the incubator. The Hatchery allows children and adults to see up close the rare eggs needing special care and watch the chicks hatching and playing.

The Discovery Zone tells the story of the egg with exciting critters like lizards and snakes close enough to spy on. Enjoying their special house the five tortoises are a must-see as they enjoy the bank holiday sunshine.

All the family will enjoy the Bank Holiday quiz trail taking place around the park. With plenty to do, see and get involved with at Birdland this May Bank Holiday you're spoilt for choice!

ENDS

Birdland is open daily from 10am

Find us at: Birdland, Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, GL54 2BN

Contact: Tel: 01451 820480  Email: info@birdland.co.uk

Admission:  £8.95 Adults / £5.95 Child (3-15) / Senior £7.95 / Family £28.00 (2+2)

• 11am Penguin Mini-Feed
• 11.30am Flamingo Feed
• 12.15 Meet the Keeper
• 2.30pm Penguin Feed
• 3.15pm Pelican Feed

Special Experiences to Book:

• Feed the Penguins is £45 and children must be 10yrs and over. Booking is necessary.
• Become a Keeper is £85, lasting 7hrs and children must be 14yrs or over. Booking is necessary.

For more information call:

•         Alistair Keen, Head Keeper on 07772 971287 or 01451 820480

•         Simon Blackwell, Manager on 01451 820480 / 07850 929 828

For more: www.birdland.co.uk 

Editors Notes:

• Birdland opened in 1957 and was one of the first bird encounters to open in the UK.
• Birdland Park is a 9.5-acre site situated on and around the River Windrush in Bourton-on-the-Water.  7 acres are dedicated to the Bird Gardens featuring over 500 birds, 140 species in 50 aviaries.  The 2.5-acre Nature Reserve is home to many indigenous species from kingfishers to otters.
• Birdland has the only breeding group of King Penguins in the country.  Spike the King Penguin, who was hand-reared, is a popular resident with his own Facebook and Twitter following.
• There are a number of rare species at Birdland and the team are actively involved with global breeding programmes.