The Edward Youde Aviary of Hong Kong Park

The aviary has a raised walkway that allows visitors to walk through the tree canopy, from which they can watch the birds, trees and plants at various elevations and the whole valley from different angles.  The walkway is wheelchair accessible.

The valley floor of the aviary is a streambed full of trees and shrubs, and adorned with shallow pools and small waterfalls.  Water goes down the valley and flows into a large pool, which is contiguous with a small lake outside the exit of the aviary and offers a nice place for watching waterfowl.

Display panels with graphic and textual illustrations are erected at the entrance of the aviary to explain the structure and ecology of a tropical rain forest, with particular reference to the bird communities in the aviary. 

To avoid the presence of unsightly supporting poles inside the aviary, the suspending stainless steel mesh spanning the entire valley are supported by four giant arches.  The area enclosed by the mesh is approximately 3 000 square metres, with its highest point 30 metres above the valley floor.

Apart from preserving the trees on site, additional planting has been carried out both inside and outside the aviary.  The trees and plants help conceal the steel mesh from view and make the aviary resemble a natural environment.

The birds are indigenous to the Malesian rain forests.  Malesia is a botanical region covering a vast area extending from the Malaya Peninsula and Great Sundas (Sumatra, Borneo and Java), the Philippines, the Indonesian islands to New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago.

These rain forests are home to the tallest rain forest trees on earth and a large number of animal species including some of the world’s most beautiful birds.

Sadly, these forests have been subject to destruction on a massive scale and are under constant and serious threat.  As a result, many bird species are threatened with extinction.

Although it is not possible to recreate a rain forest, we have created a similar habitat to allow visitors to enjoy the sights and sounds of spectacular birds in a natural environment. 

The aviary also houses Barbets, which are characteristic birds of the forests in the western part of Malesia and their repetitive calls are common in that region.  Songbirds like Shamas and Yellow-crowned Bulbuls often sing loud, melodious songs against a background of various bird calls, making the aviary resemble a rain forest.  There are also other passerine birds such as brightly coloured Fairy Bluebirds, bulbuls and leafbirds.

The aviary is home to variety of endangered bird species including Bali Mynas, which have beautiful snow-white plumage with bare skin in bright blue around the eyes and a long backward-sweeping crest.  They often fly between the trees and the raised walkway in the aviary, singing and chattering delightfully.

Although many arboreal doves and pigeons have brightly coloured plumage, they can be difficult to pick out when perching in the tree foliage.  On the contrary, Rainbow Lorikeets, Black-capped Lories and Alexandrine Parakeets are attractive to visitors and easy to trace as they often fly around the aviary. 

The Waterfowl Lake is landscaped to form a swamp to accommodate different species of waterfowl.  Common Shelducks, an especially attractive species, are often found swimming in the lake leisurely.  

It is a pity that not all spectacular species can be housed in the aviary.  For example, large hornbills have to be kept separately in the display cages as they prey on smaller birds.