LETTER OF THE WEEK

TO JULES, JAKE, TARA AND FERN

Thank you for the kind and thoughtful way in which you made our son Matthew's visit special.

He really enjoyed interacting with the animals and looks forward to his next visit.

It is a really nice thing to know that people will put themselves out to make something special happen for children and the disabled.

Kind regards,

Kym and Cheryl Wadey.

Tara's South African adventure begins!

The Time has come to bid farewell (for now) to all the animals and keepers at the park as I prepare to leave for my South African adventure!

I'm feeling very excited if not a little nervous as I'm sure the wild African Penguins I will be looking after won't be as friendly as 'Dippy', one of our favourite Humboldt Penguins at the park!

Well I have my passport and tickets ready to go, all I have to do is pack my bags, not forgetting the sun cream, and prepare myself for the 12 hour flight to Cape Town where I will be met by a member from the volunteer team!

I will try to keep everyone updated about my penguin and other wildlife encounters (including all the bites and bruises anticipated) during my stay in Cape Town via the blog, so please keep in touch!

I would just like to thank all the Keepers at the park and members of public who have shown a great deal of support and genorosity towards myself and SANCCOB, so THANKYOU to all and will see you in six weeks!!!

Quotes of the Week from our Visitors Book

"Amazing Park, best attraction on the Island. Loved being able to interact with the animals." Joe, Seaview.

"Really glad we came on a grey October day. Brilliant animals, great fun feeding them and hearing Boris the Cockatoo speak! Excellent experience". Helen, London.

"About the 7th time we have been and it's still great! Penguins always good value". Allison & Val, Surrey.

"Had a very good time. Great fun in the Wallaby enclosure! Had great fun feeding the ducks & geese! Great day!!! Darren, Laura, John from Southampton

"Lola enjoyed talking to the ducks which Mummy fed by hand! Lovely timex"
Benn, Victoria and Lola, Norfolk.

"ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS" Dawn, Chichester, West Sussex.

AFRICAN SACRED IBIS CHICKS!

At Seaview Wildlife Encounter we currently have four adult African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) in our collection – and we’re delighted to have expanded our flock with the recent hatching and successful fledging of two healthy chicks!

Sacred Ibis are a species of wading bird that breeds in sub-Saharan Africa and south eastern Iraq. They previously bred in Egypt where they were a symbol of one of the gods. This species of Ibis has been successfully introduced into the temperate climates of southern Europe as well as southern Florida in the United States.

Sacred Ibis prefer nesting in baobab tree colonies but here at the Park they’ve built their nest on a mound of dried mud, crowned with sticks. The female usually lays and incubates 2-3 eggs. In the wild they’re often found with other large wading birds such as Herons and Egrets; here at the Park they co-habit with our Lesser Flamingos who naturally occur in similarly marshy wetlands and mud flats.

Sacred Ibis are large predators measuring approximately 65 – 70cm in length; they have large, thick curved bills. Usually silent, the Sacred Ibis occasionally make croaking noises (especially the youngsters when they’re hungry!). In the wild their diet comprises of fish, amphibians, reptiles, smaller birds and insects. At the Park they enjoy fish, chicken and a balanced pellet produced specifically for waders.

The African Sacred Ibis is one of the avian species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

The two newly-fledged Sacred Ibis chicks are now regularly out and about at the Park. Interested visitors are encouraged view the youngsters before we close to the public for the winter season on 1st November.

Quotes of the week from our Visitors Book

"Best Park of its type we have been to in the UK & very well kept and imaginatively laid out" Borrett Family, London

"What a great day out, found the Park in Whats On Mag, excellent attraction. A wonderful day was had by the whole family!" Steve, Jill & Family ~ East Sussex.

"Grrrt Great! Amazing work guys ~ trying to beat last years record of 50 bags of duck food!" Lou & Rob, Bristol.

"Last visited 6 years ago...WOW changes are amazing. Fabulous day, will certainly be back!" Pearl & Dell ~ Surrey.

Focus on Lesser Flamingos

Seaview Wildlife Encounter is proud to be one of the most successful breeders of Caribbean and Chilean Flamingos in the United Kingdom. The focus is now shifting to the equally rare and endangered Lesser Flamingos, the only species yet to raise chicks at the Park. These birds are extremely difficult to raise in captivity and very few have ever been bred in the UK.

This week's project for the Animal Care Team has been to overhaul and enhance the Lessers' indoor nesting area at the Park in the hope that the Lessers may be enticed to consider breeding! Other species that previously shared the enclosure (Red-Breasted Geese and White Faced Whistling Ducks) have been re-sited so that interference (real or perceived) is minimised.

The old mud and clay floor in the indoor area has been power-hosed and removed. New soil was brought in to form the base of a re-vamped nesting area for the birds (who build their 'nests' out of mounds of damp mud). The area is being consistently warmed by a heat lamp and disturbance minimised by keeping the area as quiet as possible - away from public view and with limited keeper access.

The Lesser Flamingos will be closely monitored by the Team in the weeks ahead and any future happenings will be eagerly shared in our Blog!