I know I am probably known as “that crazy bird lady”, but I’m not the only bird nerd here at Wingham Wildlife Park. For my blog this week, I’d love to introduce you to my fantastic bird team and give a little insight into what we do every day, and how we ended up doing what we do for a living. For starters, we all have an interest in birds. Not everyone gets the fascination with birds, but to spend all day with these cheeky characters, it really is important to have enthusiasm for them. Afterall, we spend more time with our animals and fellow team members than we do with our own families!
A day in the life of a Bird Keeper
Our morning routine
First job for the morning when we get to work is to give all our birds a health check. This is easy first thing as they usually all come down for their breakfast when we make sure everyone is fed and watered. Feeding our animals is the fun bit, however it is only a small part of our day. We’ll also take the opportunity in the morning to spot clean each enclosure, cleaning up any poo. At least birds are a bit easier to clean than some of the larger animals at the zoo. I don’t miss picking up Tapir poo, that’s for sure!
Anyway, all this feeding produces A LOT of washing up, which one of us gets to plough through after a morning brew. Whilst that keeper is busy scrubbing up the bowls ready for food prep, another member of the team gets the lovely job of scrubbing up the penguin enclosure. One lucky team member gets the best job of taking our keeper for the day to meet some of the birds and feeding out our bird’s lunch time feeds.
Our afternoon routine
After lunch, you’ve guessed it, it’s more cleaning and then we meticulously prep the bird’s food for the next day. After an afternoon tea break, it’s time to feed the birds again, leaving the last part of the day to clean up of any spilt food and mess… and my gosh can birds make a lot of mess!
Each of us brings something different to the team, and I think our favourite conversations are ones that involve the antics of our birds. I really appreciate the hard work that my team put in every day, so I thought it would be fun for each of us to have a picture with one of our favourite birds on the section. So, get ready to meet the team as we answer some questions that we sometimes get asked whilst working at the park…
Meet our bird nerds
Becky Birds (head of section for Team Bird)
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
I’ve been a zookeeper since 2009 and have been at Wingham since 2010. I started a month before the Penguins first came to the park! I got into Zookeeping by accident really, as I started volunteering at my previous zoo the Rare Species Conservation Centre during summer breaks from university. Once I finished my Marine Biology/Zoology degree, they offered me a job and I’ve been in this career ever since. Sadly, RSCC closed so I was delighted when I was offered the opportunity to work up the road here at WWP and to work with the Penguins. Back then we didn’t have sections so I did a bit of everything, but as the park grew I gradually branched out to just managing the birds section.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
I love working outside, there are wild birds EVERYWHERE so I’m always birding as I walk round the park. It’s also great that I can work with just birds because that seems to be quite rare in zoos. A lot of the birds on the section are quite shy, so we don’t have a very hands-on relationship with them, but for me I just love watching them interact with each other. Especially the birds that have had tough backgrounds, I’m proud of the rescue work that the park does. From our Lion which was previously at a circus to Chimps that came from a laboratory, even one of our Tapirs used to be someone’s pet!
It’s a similar story with our birds as a lot of our parrots are ex-pets and some confiscated. When these birds with tough backgrounds finally start to interact with other birds and start behaving more naturally it’s a real feel-good moment for me. Birds are the craziest animals to hang around with and it does test your sanity when some of them can talk back to you. I spend a lot of mornings getting screeched “PEEK A BOO” at by Jack our African Grey. He loves to play peekaboo.
What’s your favourite animal?
I love Kestrels. They were the first bird that I noticed that was different to the garden birds and the first one I ever asked my parents “what type of bird is that?”. Their classic hovering by the roadside just takes me back to my childhood whenever I see one.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
Making enrichment! I love giving our animals a challenge every day and especially coming up with new ideas to keep our parrots busy. They are SO clever and often work out puzzles really quickly, so it’s a constant game of who can outwit who and coming up with new things for them to interact with.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Cleaning out the Penguin nest boxes. I normally can’t smell penguins as I’ve become nose-blind over the years, but I can definitely still smell penguin nest boxes. It burns.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
I would say how physical it is, I feel it after deep cleaning the Penguins now. But the most challenging birds on section for me are the Parrots. They are like five-year-olds armed with a knife on their face when they have a tantrum! I adore them though, I think I’ve always been drawn to the naughty characters.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
I always try and steer conversation away from myself and towards birds! However, I spend a lot of my time volunteering, not just with wild bird ringing but with anything conservation related. I love Bats and do some ecology work from time to time, and I’m just starting my training to monitor wild Dormice with the Kent Mammal Group.
Tell us your favourite random animal fact…
Those of you who have listened to my Penguin talk will have already heard my favourite animal fact! Humboldt Penguins build a nest out of their own faeces! Although, I also love the fact that baby penguins have a great defence against predatory seabirds that try to eat them. Their excrement is very projectile. So when they see a gull or skua at the entrance to the nest burrow their aim a jet of poo at the bird… this is quite a good deterrent as the predatory seabirds don’t want to soil their own waterproof feathers. Baby penguins are surprisingly accurate when they fire that jet of poop at us too!
Megan
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
I’ve been in the animal industry for four years. I wanted to be a zookeeper when I was little and have always wanted to be into animal work. At college I did my work experience at a bird of prey centre which is where I really got interested in birds, and then they brought me on as a volunteer three days a week. Then I got a job in Scotland as a falconer, primarily working with Eagles before moving back down here to work at Wingham. I’ve been working here now for almost nine months.
What’s your favourite animal?
My favourite animal is a tough one because I like lots of them! Favourite would have to be a Bearded Vulture! They are so unique and adapted to survive in such an unusual way. Here at the park I love the Emu so much and Jo-Jo our African Grey. He loves to ding his beak on his water bath, and if you do it he does it back to you. He’s so naughty, in an endearing way.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
I’m really enjoying the range of species that I work with and how no two days are the same. I also like the educational side of things and sharing my love of birds with the public.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
I like doing the enrichment because I like thinking of new ways to keep the birds entertained and spend time putting effort into things, which they will destroy in five seconds, especially the parrots.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
The bins. They’re nasty.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Probably adjusting to working in such a large team after working in a very small team. Suddenly having so many people on hand to give me a hand. I need to get used to asking for help. It’s nice to know I’m not completely on my own, I’m learning it’s more efficient to work as a team.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
Everything about me is bird related! Outside of work I enjoy playing rugby, gaming and reading.
Tell us your favourite animal fact…
When turkey vultures get too warm in the summer months, they may defecate on their legs. This is called urohidrosis, and it accomplishes two things: It cools the skin on the legs and, because the pH is so acidic, it “sterilizes” the skin against bacteria.
Sam
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
I’ve been a keeper for just over two years as I was a cover keeper before working here whilst doing my masters. I’ve been at Wingham for just over three months now.
What’s your favourite animal?
Red-crowned Crane. Because they were one of the first animals I got to work with and get really involved with enclosure design, behaviour and training. They were my babies.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
I love the variety of new species I get to work with that I haven’t before, especially the parrots!
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
Oooooh. I like doing the parrot deep cleans if I’m honest. Parrot cleans and taking our Keeper for the Day I quite enjoy. I just love watching the parrots doing their different behaviours when you try to navigate them. And with Keeper for the Day I like to teach people what I’m passionate about and hopefully foster their love for birds.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Probably cleaning out baby Lorikeets because they’re quite mucky and a bit bitey. But I like going up the ladder and getting to see the babies and their development makes it all worthwhile, especially when you see the newly hatched chicks for the first time, they are quite cute.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
The responsibility of these animals being dependent on you and currently I have to get up at 5am to get to work because I don’t drive! But I am leaning and hopefully by December I’ll be ready to take my test.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
That’s hard because what I do in my spare time is take pictures of birds! When I’m not paddleboarding or wanting to go skiing.
Tell us a random animal fact…
I did tell Becky the first animal fact that came to mind, but it was a bit rude for this blog. I think I’d have to go with the fact that Turacos have their own unique copper pigment, Turacoverdin, which gives them their green colour, unlike other bird.
Ryan
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
I’ve been a zookeeper for seven years now pretty much. I got into it by an apprenticeship to begin with, I dropped out of public services and saw the apprentice opportunity at the Isle of Wight Zoo and never looked back really. I’ve been here at WWP for 8 months now. I started out as a bug and reptile man to begin with, but let me say I do prefer birds to bugs.
What’s your favourite animal?
Crows crows crows. Corvids in general. I just love the crow family. I just love them so much I’ve got two corvid feathers tattooed on my chest.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
I’d say the bird team. We all get along and I enjoy getting to know them all and forming an effective working team.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
Probably feeding Waldo. He’s our African Goose. If you call his name, he comes paddling over to you.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Probably anything involving a ladder because I’m scared of hights. Unfortunately we have to go up ladders a lot. It’s a good job we have a muck bucket when cleaning out the Lorikeet boxes as I mess my pants a little bit. I’ll get used to it eventually.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
To be honest, see above that’s probably it.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
I’m a massive ancient history nerd. I really love ancient Rome and again I have a Roman Legion tattoo on my arm, that’s how much I love them. I play games and read lots of books. I’ve read “Eagle in the Snow” a hundred times. The film “Gladiator” is very loosely based on it.
Tell us your favourite animal fact…
I’ll probably go with the process of parthenogenesis where a female can asexually reproduce to form a genetically exact clone of herself. Some reptiles and most invertebrates can do this. And in fact, there’s one species of Lizard, the New Mexican Whip-tail Lizard, that only has females as they only reproduce in this way. And I love it when women say it sounds perfect. But because they only produce genetic clones of themselves they are very limited with genetic variation which essentially means they don’t really evolve and get stuck in time really. That is the point in males, to spice up the genetic diversity from time to time.
Dani (cover keeper over several sections)
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
I’ve been a Zookeeper for fours years. Started off as a work experience at Fenn Bell Conservation Project and then started volunteering. I then started working there part time through college and then full time afterwards. I’ve been at WWP for a year now.
What’s your favourite animal?
I do have a soft spot for Lemurs. Any Lemur. Lemurs are just great.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
The variety of animals I get to work with. I’m really excited to start work with more sections. You really get to know the different personalities of all the animals.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
I love the training aspect of it.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Bins.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
It’s very tiring. Physically and mentally Zookeeping is hard. But I love it still.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
I love photographing animals in my spare time.
Tell us a random animal fact…
Lemurs have two tongues! Their main tongue is pretty much used the same as any other primate and aids with eating and tasting food. But they also have a second tongue underneath called the “sublingual” that is used to remove debris from the tooth comb.
Hollie (cover keeper between all sections)
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
Nearly three years. Three years at the end of this month! I got into it through volunteering and work experience. I was volunteering at WWP for about eight months, and then I got offered the interview for Sandwich Wildlife Park and since SWP closed I’ve moved back to WWP as a cover keeper.
What’s your favourite animal?
My favourite animal in the whole world are Dolphins and Tigers. Very different! But I definitely can’t pick a favourite at Wingham, I’ve got my favourites on each section of course.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
Working with all the different animals. It’s nice working with all the different animals on all the different sections. I really enjoy my Primates and Mammals.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
Oooh. Probably the experiences because you get to spend more time with your animals and I also like training as well.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Poo picking. Just joking! That’s pretty much the job of a Zookeepers. I don’t really have a least favourite job.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Probably remembering every round on every section. Especially keeping up with all the changes when you’ve not been on a section for a while.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
I don’t know because I’m always going places to look at animals in my down time.
Tell us a random animal fact…
That’s a hard one. We always get asked how many teeth a Giraffe has. And it’s 32 teeth!
Danny (cover keeper between all sections)
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
I’ve been a Zookeeper for just over a year. I liked animals at a kid and started volunteering at Howletts. I was there for three years and applied here for my first paid job.
What’s your favourite animal?
Hyenas! Favourites here are probably the Bears and Red Panda.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
That it’s physical and outdoors. I don’t think I’d get on well working in an office.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
Ooh. It’s a bit weird, but I like wood chipping. It’s quite satisfying. Especially when we have nice fresh woodchip. Most keepers don’t like doing that job.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Probably deep cleaning the carnivore kitchen after prepping the meat.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
For me personally, now I’m doing a bit of everything learning every section, it’s remembering everything keeping up to date with all the changes on each section.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
Before I got a proper job, I was a semi professional Rugby player, but then I got injured. I was never good enough to be a professional anyway, but I don’t usually tell people that!
Tell us a random animal fact…
When Tigers are born, after about 10 days they open their eyes but their vision is quite hazy. They do not have their full vision for a couple of weeks afterwards.
Georgia (Head of Training)
Jumping onto the bird section, Georgia starts off any training that we’d like to do for the birds. From scale training to target training, Georgia’s our go to girl. She also helps out on birds occasionally and has been dubbed “queen of the geese”.
How long have you been a zookeeper and how did you get into it?
I’ve been zookeeping for nine years. I started volunteering whilst I was at university with the Rhinos at Port Lympne. When I finished Uni I was lucky enough to be offered a position there. Then I wanted to work with cats, so I went from there to Rare Species Conservation Centre until the park was taken over by Wingham Wildlife Park.
What’s your favourite animal?
Black Rhinos were my first love, but now I’ve worked with lots of different species I actually can’t pick one. On Team Birds Barry the Pink-backed Pelican is my favourite, I just love his hair do! Oh! Or maybe the African Goose, I just love how noisy he is!
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
I love my job because I get to work with pretty much everything here and I love the challenges I get presented with.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
Giraffe training! On the Bird Team I do like target training the Macaws, they’re so funny.
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Strimming, give a mower any day.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
When you’ve got an animal that’s not the brightest and trying to work out what works for them in terms of reaching their training goal. For example the Giraffes have taken a really long time but it’s so rewarding when finally get the hang of something.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
I have an awesome Whippet called Hank. He has pearly white toofers and the best grin.
Tell us a random animal fact…
The fingerprints of a Koala are so indistinguishable from humans that they have on occasion been confused at a crime scene!
Felicity (apprentice on team birds)
How long have you been an apprentice and how did you get into it?
Almost two months now! I’ve always loved animals, and I really liked doing work experience at WWP when I was at college, so I thought why not apply?
What’s your favourite animal?
Honestly, it’s probably between Hyacinth Macaws… and Capybaras! They’re just adorable giant rodents and so chill with other animals.
What do you enjoy most about working at WWP?
Seeing all the animals and getting to look after them and feed them. It’s like my dream job. I also like seeing all their different personalities as well.
What’s your favourite job to do at work?
Probably when I get to give out enrichment to the parrots, as they just go nuts for it!
What’s your least favourite job to do at work?
Whilst I love seeing the Penguins, probably the Penguin clean is my least favourite job as it’s just a very smelly job and takes a lot of our time each day.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Maybe time management. I’ve gotten used to it now, but when I first started it was a little difficult to keep on top of things.
Tell us something about yourself that isn’t bird related!
I love listening to music, gaming and watching horror movies.
Tell us your favourite animal fact…
Oooh, I dunno if it’s my favourite but it’s just popped into my head, but Tigers don’t know that they’re orange as they are dichromat so can’t see that colour!
