Two cockatoos and a corella that were adopted following the closure of the Queens Gardens aviary three years ago will be among the major attractions when the new-look aviary re-opens this weekend.
Local Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said she is pleased the birds are returning to Queens Gardens.
“Cockatoos are an iconic bird in Australia and it will be wonderful to have these two on show at the new aviary,” Cr Greaney said.
“We have wild cockatoos in Townsville but the aviary will give tourists a chance to see the cockatoos and corella up close.
“The new aviary is an exciting project and these birds will bring more people to the park.”
Bird breeder Murray Greenslade has been looking after the birds at his Mount Low property.
“The oldest one in the group is about 57 years old and it had been a pet bird for many years and is happy to talk and chat and we sort of grew attached to them,” Mr Greenslade said.
Mr Greenslade said he’s cutting back his commitments at his own aviary and he’s happy for the birds to return to Queens Gardens.
“We received a request from the Council in the last few months with regard to what we’d like to do, whether we’d like to let them go back to the aviary,” Mr Greenslade said.
“When Council showed us their plan to build a nice, new aviary complex we just made the decision that we could let them go back.”
Cr Greaney said birds have a rich history at the park
“Queens Gardens first had a bird aviary in the 1930’s and the old aviary went through a number of rebuilds,” Cr Greaney said.
“The last major upgrade to the old aviary was believed to have been in the 1960’s.
“It will be great to have a new attraction at Queens Gardens and I’m sure it will be popular with locals and tourists.”
The opening ceremony for the aviary will begin at 3pm Sunday 16 February.
