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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Birds, Birds and More Birds

What else would you have for World Bird Wednesday?

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:

eileeninmd said...

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!

Anonymous said...

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.

Dave said...

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

Esther Joy said...

I live close to a duck pond, but haven't seen any wood ducks. Great shot!

Springman said...

Sounds like a wonderful place...Thanks for sharing!
;-)WBW!

Monica S Engell said...

Wonderful photos in your post here! Love the second shot of the American Wood duck or Drake Mandarin as Dave says it is!
:)

Adam Jones said...

Very nice photos Linda. I think Dave is right, you have a very photgenic Mandarin duck. Lovely colours.

mick said...

Great photos and it sounds like a very interesting place to visit.

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh my goodness! I would LOVE to go there!

jeanlivingsimple said...

I have heard of Mike's wonderful work.
Super sweet photos!:)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful captures!

Brian King said...

Beautiful! I love Wood Ducks. Their colors are gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

I need to find out where that is! Thanks for sharing.

abhinavr said...

Beautiful birds! The second one is very colorful..

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Great shots- these are beautiful birds!

Jenn Jilks said...

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

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Great shots, Linda!