Sylvan Heights Bird Park

About a week ago I finally made it out to Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, NC, which is basically two hours or less east of the Triangle, depending on where you are. Compared to the zoo, aquarium, beaches, or even places in North Carolina like Old Salem - It seems to be one of those things very few people know about — I found out about it from the local PBS station some years ago.

I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are somewhat nearby, especially with the closure of the Aviary at the NC Zoo.

One enclosed but open-air exhibit was divided into three sections separated by gates. Here I met one of my favorite birds who I am naming “gate bird”, a Victorian Crowned pigeon (I think) that knew to wait right outside the gate and get someone to let it move between sections. It was pretty chilled out and would just stand there until you opened the door, and then it went through first, because of course, you were opening the door for it.

This same kind of bird was blocking the exit at the NC Zoo for about 10 minutes - probably trying to get out - when I was there once - so apparently this is the species that has figured out doors.

In the same area, there were a ton of parakeets (?) and I got basically swarmed by them flying before I saw they were there (and then they flew back and forth close quite a few times).

While the picture doesn’t do it justice, Toucans are also super awesome up close, their beaks are impossibly yellow and they have really interesting eyes. While I appreciate the Enchanted Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room at Disney World, it had characterized my impression of Toucans too much, and they are even cooler in person.

Lots of sections are fenced in where you close the gates behind you. Another favorite was the “pig goose” that makes grunting noises like a pig and was kind of curious about visitors. No picture of that one.

While a lot of photos here show birds that are behind fences and screens, much of them were not, and there were a lot of nice habitats.

If you go, fair warning, there isn’t much of anything along the way to and around Scotland Neck, and the nearest logical place for food - Rocky Mount - has some unbelievably badly run fast food options compared to what you may be used to with, say, RTP Bojangles typical excellence. Stay away from Rocky Mount as if there was a zombie outbreak. The bird park has lots of nice areas with picnic tables though and it’s easy to bring food in through the side gate once you pay for admission.