WALSRODE BIRDPARK AND THE VOGELPARK WALSRODE FONDS e.V.
Located in the middle of the Lüneburger heath lands in Northern Germany, the Birdpark maintains one of the largest and certainly most diverse live bird collections in the world. It has received several prestigious awards for its beautiful garden exhibits and has been setting new standards for breeding birds in Europe for the past four decades.
High standards in animal welfare are a minimum requirement for successful breeding results when reproducing birds in captivity. We prioritise the reproduction of endangered bird species and see it as our mission to increase awareness, support science and co-ordinate conservation efforts.
We increase awareness by bringing the birds and their lives closer to our visitors, helping the public to understand the functions of ecosystems by appreciating the role that birds play. In the ‘flying classroom’ school children are introduced to birds in a fun and educative manner.
Originally founded in 1962 as a natural development of the private pheasant and waterfowl collection of Mr Geschke, the Walsrode Birdpark has since grown into one of the largest zoos in Europe. Specialising in birds, the park is responsible for numerous world-first breeding successes. The bio-diversity and sheer bio-mass of birds in the park is a unique biological resource and the subject of numerous scientific studies and academic promotions.
The park contains birds from all continents and all climate zones of the planet and it is possible to make a virtual world voyage learning about birds, cultures and history while, at the same time, enjoying the shapes and colours of the birds and flowers. The park is particularly well known for the groomed flowerbeds and clean exhibits.
Although particularly beautiful in the summer, in the winter the large tropical houses have an ambience of their own. In winter the admission prices are lowered and a special ‘Twilight Tour’ is offered every evening for groups. These bring the secretive lives of nocturnal animals closer to the visitor. There is a guided tour; a flight demonstration; a movie about bats all rounded up with a three-course meal in front of the fireplace at the Rose Café, all inclusive. The Twilight Tour also presents the only opportunity to see the elusive Kiwi, which is a new addition to our stock, a rarely seen and truly nocturnal bird.
Conservation work is carried out by the Vogelpark Walsrode Fonds e.V.. This is an Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that works closely with the Birdpark. This organisation is a registered charity that accepts donations from the public but also benefits from the vast experience of the Birdpark staff. With this combination, the Vogelpark Walsrode Fonds is in a unique position to support small but urgent projects in bird conservation, financially and with know-how. Currently, the organisation supports eight major conservation projects in Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, New Caledonia and Germany, co-operating closely with other NGOs from around the world pursuing the common goal of protecting birds in the wild.
