We will be filming and sharing lots more videos from now on so ...]]> Our ‘Looking Good’ event this February Half Term was a great success! For those of you who may have missed out, here’s a video showing some of the highlights from the ‘Free-Flying Bird Show Off’ – a catwalk style bird show.

We will be filming and sharing lots more videos from now on so subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up to date with them and if you have suggestions or requests for things you would like to see, let us know on our Facebook page!

We are very excited to announce the arrival of 17 year old ‘Vernon’ the Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture who joined our ever-expanding menagerie this weekend!

This species is native to Central Africa and Vernon now shares a large enclosure with Alfie, our 4 year old Turkey Vulture – a species native to Central and South America. ...]]>

We are very excited to announce the arrival of 17 year old ‘Vernon’ the Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture who joined our ever-expanding menagerie this weekend!

This species is native to Central Africa and Vernon now shares a large enclosure with Alfie, our 4 year old Turkey Vulture – a species native to Central and South America. Alfie is considerable smaller than his new companion, with a wing span of around 4 ft, but despite their differences, the two have settled in very well together.

There are mighty slides to descend, and the high towers bridge and sleeping dragon will only ...]]> Our amazing new addition to the Play Park is now open to visitors! The Realm of Camelot offers completely unique adventure play for children as they discover the three towers; Rapunzel’s Tower and the Towers of the Crown.

There are mighty slides to descend, and the high towers bridge and sleeping dragon will only be passed by the bravest youngsters! This will surely be an experience to remember and the children will want to return time after time. The Realm of Camelot is one of many exciting new developments to the centre; to keep up to date with all the latest, find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Wild parrots spend much of their time foraging for food, so it’s important that our parrots are provided with enrichment (mentally ...]]> The parrots have been in a very excitable mood today so Animal Presenters, Ben Coulson and Heather Scott, who work with the birds, decided to entertain the flock with a new, challenging toy!

Wild parrots spend much of their time foraging for food, so it’s important that our parrots are provided with enrichment (mentally stimulating activities) to keep them challenged and happy outside of the displays as well.

This foraging toy combines the joy of chewing things to bits (a favourite parrot hobby) as well as working to retrieve food, it’s simply a large piece of wood which was previously a perch from the aviary that fell down, with some holes drilled into it – the keepers then put walnuts, pieces of fruit and chunky bits of vegetables in the holes and hung it up in their aviary.

The flock was baffled at first but once they spotted the food, were literally ‘all over it’! This photo shows Green-winged Macaws, Ruby (top) and Alfie (bottom).

Birdtricks.com is a resource for parrot and other bird owners providing useful information on care, as well as training courses and advice. Also, if you’re just a fan ...]]> Our flock of parrots will now often be featured in the Birdtricks.com blog as our Animal Presenter, Heather Scott, has just become their newest blog writer.

Birdtricks.com is a resource for parrot and other bird owners providing useful information on care, as well as training courses and advice. Also, if you’re just a fan of parrots, there are lots of  photos and fun stories on their Facebook page.

Heather got to know Jamie and Dave Womach from Birdtricks through Facebook when she first began working with the parrots at the Tropical Butterfly House and is thrilled to have been asked by them to start writing articles for the Birdtricks blog.

CLICK HERE for Heather’s first blog post to introduce herself; if you wish to follow the blog, go to:

http://www.birdtricks.com/blog/author/heather/

Heather with Ruby, Green-winged Macaw

Beauty the goat gave birth to 2 babies covered in black and white spots who have been named Perdy and Pongo, after the famous 101 Dalmations couple; and ...]]> It might still feel like Winter outside, but Spring has come early for us at the centre with the arrival of 4 goat kids last week!

Beauty the goat gave birth to 2 babies covered in black and white spots who have been named Perdy and Pongo, after the famous 101 Dalmations couple; and Pumpkin’s babies are called Curbie and Pepo – these names were suggested on our Facebook page by the staff at Cresswell Crags and are were inspired by the Latin for ‘Pumpkin’, Cucurbita and Pepo (a particular species of pumpkin).

The new arrivals are adorable and very lively! It’s all hands on deck for bottle feeding them throughout the day and if you come along to the special Animal Encounter – you can watch the hungry kids guzzle down their milk and maybe even get the chance to help out! Please check the Timetable of Events you will receive on arrival to the centre for when this will take place.

Parrot Aviary

As part of our continuing improvement of the centre, a brand new Parrot Aviary is being built in the garden Display Arena. There are plans to include a waterfall feature in place of a simple water bowl for the parrots to ...]]> We currently have lots of exciting developments underway at the centre!

Parrot Aviary

As part of our continuing improvement of the centre, a brand new Parrot Aviary is being built in the garden Display Arena. There are plans to include a waterfall feature in place of a simple water bowl for the parrots to drink from and bathe in, along with a glass-panelled front for better viewing and photograph opportunities! Our popular Parrot Displays will take place daily in this new enclosure once completed within the next 4-6 weeks, and will continue until then in the current aviary.

Realm of Camelot

This incredible new addition to the Play Park area is purpose-built and unique to the UK!

It will offer amazing play adventure for children as they discover the three towers; Rapunzel’s Tower and the Towers of the Crown. Youngsters will also be able to descend mighty slides, and dare to cross the high towers bridge and pass the sleeping dragon.

This will surely be an experience to remember that children will want to return to time after time. We expect this to be completed Spring 2012.

To keep up to date with all the latest from the Tropical Butterfly House, find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Become an adoptive parent to one of our fantastic animals (sadly you cannot take the animal home for the weekend!) Adopt your favourite resident of the Tropical Butterfly House, or give an adoption to someone special as a unique gift!

You will receive:

Eugene, Jules, Mia and Vincent- are four very fitting names for our elegant new arrivals, the Little Egrets. Little Egrets small white herons found throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa. Their diet consists mainly of fish with an occasional side of amphibians, small mammals or insects. We ...]]>

Eugene, Jules, Mia and Vincent- are four very fitting names
for our elegant new arrivals, the Little Egrets. Little Egrets small white
herons found throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa. Their diet
consists mainly of fish with an occasional side of amphibians, small mammals or
insects. We hope that in the near future they might roam free around the Centre
but for now will be housed in temporary accommodation near the Farm Barn.

]]> http://www.butterflyhouse.co.uk/little-egrets/feed/ 0 http://www.butterflyhouse.co.uk/tenrecs/ http://www.butterflyhouse.co.uk/tenrecs/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:53:37 +0000 butterflyhouse http://www.butterflyhouse.co.uk/?p=933 If you would like to see something really cute, and I mean really cute come see our four new Tenrecs! They inhabit a special enclosure in the Nocturnal Room and you might even get to see them during the Exotic Animal Encounter. Tenrecs come from Madagascar and some parts of Africa. They are omnivorous, ...]]> If you would like to see something really cute, and I mean really cute come see our four new Tenrecs! They inhabit a special enclosure in the Nocturnal Room and you might even get to see them during the Exotic Animal Encounter. Tenrecs come from Madagascar and some parts of Africa. They are omnivorous, with a particular taste for insects and very similar to our native hedgehogs but a lot smaller. They live in forests and are quite nifty at climbing!