An Aviary Opens at Leesburg Animal Park

By Rachael Dickson (Contact)

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Sinatra and Astaire spread their wings to fly around their new home, squawking and swerving as they explored the free-flight aviary.

The two lorikeets and their other four colorful friends will make their debut at the new aviary this Saturday at the Leesburg Animal Park.

The 16,000 cubic feet aviary - positioned right near the pony rides, the petting stalls and the giant tortoises of the privately owned park - is filled with flowers, trees and perch areas for the birds. Benches provide a place for visitors to rest.

Photo: Rachael Dickson

A red lorikeet perches on a visitor's hand at the new free-flight aviary at Leesburg Animal Park.

“We try with everything here to have something for the kids to do,” said Shirley Johnson, the owner of the Leesburg Animal Park, adding that she prefers to allow children the opportunity to interact with animals directly.

The new aviary is the brainchild of Dale and Aaron Johnson, Shirley’s sons. The two men were inspired by interactive walk-in aviaries they had seen at other zoos and wanted to create a similar exhibit themselves. Dale and Aaron built the aviary and worked with their mother to hand-raise the birds in their home.

The birds, known popularly as lories, hail from the Australian region and come in a variety of colors. The tongues of the feisty parrots are tipped with hairs that make it easier for them to eat special treats such as blueberries and cantaloupe.

But these birds subsist mainly on nectar, which visitors on Saturday will be able to feed them. The six lories in the aviary are not shy around humans, especially when those humans are holding nectar-filled cups.

Photo: Rachael Dickson

An ornate lorikeet looks out over his new home in the free-flight aviary at Leesburg Animal Park.

Later this summer, the lories will be joined by four other birds, currently being raised by the Johnsons.

“It leaves lasting memories for the kids,” Johnson said. “I read a study, years back, that what kids remembered about the experience at a zoo are things that they touched or activities that they did.

“That’s what we try to do here - make it a pleasant place for kids to experience animals and a nice place for families to visit.”

Tagged: Leesburg

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