Like everyone else in Victoria, the birds in the aviary at the Bendigo Botanic Garden in White Hills are in lockdown and missing human interaction.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Visitors to the gardens are still able to see the variety of birds in the aviary and may be treated to a show with the birds often hanging at the edge of the enclosure to interact with visitors.
Bendigo Botanic Gardens team leader Kirsty Patterson said the aviary has been shut to the public since March because of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to the birds' loneliness.
Related
"Pretty much since we went into stage 3 restrictions (the first time) it has been closed," she said.
"We can't have people social distancing correctly in there, so it's best to close. There are still a number of viewing access points around the aviary.
"We are finding the birds approach the wire more now. They're missing people in aviary, so they come more to the outside."
We are finding the birds approach the wire more now. They're missing people in aviary, so they come more to the outside.
- Bendigo Botanic Gardens team leader Kirsty Patterson
There are currently 18 parrots and one pheasant in the aviary. Each morning, Ms Patterson feeds and cares for the birds.
"I hold the wildlife license and we're in there every day to make sure the birds are healthy and handling (their lockdown) okay," she said.
""They are normally more active in the morning. We try to keep their routine fairly similar.
"We feed them and clean up and they are usually happy to see us. The other day our apprentice was in there and a bird landed on her shoulder. They are normally not that friendly.
"It will be interesting to see what they are like when the public are allowed back in."
More news
Ms Patterson said the aviary will remain closed while stage 3 restrictions are in place.
"I think it will stay closed and we will assess how the state government are easing restrictions and how that fits in with our aviary," she said.
"If people are (still) in masks, we might be able to open but it is something we will have to assess (in the future)."
Ms Patterson said the aviary was established in the 1980s when the gardens still had a monkey enclosure and kangaroos in the area.
"We'd like to hold on to the aviary)," she said. "It's part of the heritage of the garden and it's nice to keep a link to the heritage."
The Bendigo Botanic Gardens team have been kept busy during the pandemic with only small changes to their jobs.
"Obviously we are working in masks," Ms Patterson said. "That's a big change for us but, generally, it's work as usual but with social distancing in places. For us, a normal day out in the field.
"We are seeing more visitors to the park areas wit, everyone exercising in the gardens and with spring starting, we are seeing all the blossom on the trees and wattles flowering."