One of the most enjoyable day trips we took last year was to Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. Sylvan Heights is an 18-acre facility that features walk-in aviaries with birds from North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.
The park opened in 2006 under the leadership of Mike Lubbock. He is considered by many avian biologists to be the most intuitive and prolific waterfowl aviculturalist in the world. He started his work in England at the Wildfowl Trust before moving to America where he founded the center in 1989. His mission is to unlock the mysteries of breeding birds.
He has won 17 World First Breeding Awards, and 15 for first breedings in North America. His primary focus is in breeding waterfowl to assure the survival of those species that are disappearing in the wild and those endangered in managed collections around the world.
 |
| Black-bellied Whistling Ducks |
 |
| American Wood Duck |
 |
| Greater Scaup |
It will take you all day to fully appreciate the center - and I am looking forward to a return trip there this summer. Unfortunately, I was remiss in naming each of these birds as I went along, so identifying them has become a difficult task! I promise to do a better job when I return!
Linking to World Bird Wednesday.
17 comments:
I just love the whistling ducks and you got a great shot of the Scaup. I would love to visit this Waterfowl Park. Thanks for sharing the info, have a wonderful day!
All delightful photos. How nice that you live close enough for this to be a day trip!
I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite.
Hi Linda
You have a Drake Mandarin here not the Wood duck.
Check out my blog and a post or two back as I have put up a post for the Mandarins
Regards
Dave
I live close to a duck pond, but haven't seen any wood ducks. Great shot!
Sounds like a wonderful place...Thanks for sharing!
;-)WBW!
Wonderful photos in your post here! Love the second shot of the American Wood duck or Drake Mandarin as Dave says it is!
:)
Very nice photos Linda. I think Dave is right, you have a very photgenic Mandarin duck. Lovely colours.
Great photos and it sounds like a very interesting place to visit.
Oh my goodness! I would LOVE to go there!
I have heard of Mike's wonderful work.
Super sweet photos!:)
Beautiful captures!
Beautiful! I love Wood Ducks. Their colors are gorgeous!
I need to find out where that is! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful birds! The second one is very colorful..
Great shots- these are beautiful birds!
Striking colours, aren't they?
I'm always amazed.
Our wood ducks are not cooperative, and I cannot get a close-up, but I'd love to!!!!
cheers
Great shots, Linda!
Post a Comment