Willawong Station Fact Sheet

 

Woodland Park Zoo's newest interactive experience, Willawong Station, vicariously transports visitors to the world of the Australian parrot. Willawong Station offers visitors a fun opportunity to feed more than 150 free-flying colorful birds - they'll literally have them eating right out of their hands! Visitors will be charged an additional admission of $1, which includes a seed stick to feed the birds; free for kids 2 and under; $1 for additional seed sticks.

 

Willawong is an Aboriginal word meaning "the junction of two streams" - such places are often filled with trees and, therefore, birds. Willawong Station encourages visitors to not only discover more about the birds they are interacting with, but to learn about responsible care and conservation for birds both in the wild and at home. Upon exit from the free-flight aviary is a display where handouts are available about pet bird ownership, how to feed birds in your own back yard, and what is being done to save endangered birds around the world and how WPZ is helping.

 

Willawong Station's bird collection will include: budgerigars (known to some as parakeets or budgies), cockatiels (actually the smallest member of the cockatoo family) and rosellas. Although these species are abundant, some of Australia's other parrot species are at risk.

 

Opening:                   May 28, 2005

 

Location:                    Willawong Station is located in the former tree kangaroo exhibit in the Australasia bioclimatic zone, which includes wallaroos, keas and kookaburras. It is near the zoo's North Gate at N. 59^th St. & Phinney Ave.N.

 

Size:                           Total square feet: 1,200 

 

Project Cost:              $150,000

 

Designer:                   Woodland Park Zoo    

 

General Contractor: Woodland Park Zoo

 

Project Manager:      General Curator Dr. Nancy Hawkes, Woodland Park Zoo