Home to the skylark - The Velux Foundations

Photo and graphics by Michael Petersen
Flamingos on the wing
The opening of the large aviary on 21 June 2011 saw the
realisation of a long-held wish. In fact, the idea of a large
aviary close to the entrance was presented back in 1999,
when the plan for Copenhagen Zoo Towards 2010 was
launched. The aviary has provided greatly improved liv-
ing conditions for the flamingos and other flighted birds as
they no longer need to have their wings clipped. Through
the entrance locks, visitors have access to the birds in their
new habitat. Along a hanging plank bridge, the visitors pass
through the ‘forest’ at the western end of the enclosure.
From the ‘forest edge’, there is a view of the ‘wetlands’,
where the flamingos and other waders are forever foraging
for food in a hive of activity. From a hideout at the western
end of the aviary, zoo-goers can watch the birds in peace
and quiet. This is also where the visitor information facility
explains about the behaviour of the flamingo and red ibis
through the year – courtship, nest-building and rearing.
Lars Lunding Andersen, MSc, Director of Copenhagen Zoo:
In 2010,”Aviary for flamingos and other wading birds” re-
ceived a donation of DKK 8,000,000 from the VILLUM
FOUNDATION.
34 POSTCARDS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION
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