Birds at the zoo. File picture

April 7: Bird lovers can now see eye-to-eye with avians at close quarters.

The state zoo will build a walk-in aviary to facilitate the watching of the birds at close quarters.

“This would be a good move for photographers and wildlife researchers who would like to see the movements of the aquatic birds at close quarters,” said zoo divisional forest officer Narayan Mahanta. At present, visitors have to be satisfied with distant glimpses of the birds at waterbodies.

The zoo will construct a cage with a height of 15 metres and a length and breadth of 72 and 36 metres respectively, for the walk-in aviary, where the current aviary is situated.

At present, the aviary is inhabited by the white ibis, painted stork, adjutant stork, whistling teal, purple moorhen and others.

Visitors will first pass through a block where they will receive information on the birds and then proceed to a raised platform to see the birds.

Mahanta said there would be adequate space for the birds to live without hindrance. “They would be able to breed freely as well,” he said. “The visibility will be very good and people will love to visit it again and again.”

He said there would be more birds in the walk-in aviary, as it would have more space.

There would be trees and shrubs to create a perfect habitat and environment for the birds. Researchers would be the most benefited, as they can watch the birds far more freely, Mahanta said.

On the time required to complete the job, Mahanta said the work would be completed as soon as possible.

“The concept has been designed and the work will be of high standard,” Mahanta said.

He said details of the birds would be posted at the entry and the exit points of the aviary.

The zoo will require nearly Rs 1 crore to construct the aviary and has thought of tapping the corporate sector.

“We have already got the support of the corporate sector in different activities at the zoo and hope that the trend continues,” he said.