Edward Youde Aviary is a haven of beautiful birds
A rainforest of birds in Hong Kong Park Edward Youde Aviary
A pair of Rainbow lorikeets
Edward Youde Aviary created in memory of a birdwatcher
In the Edward Youde Aviary, visitors can step into a beautiful world of Lady Youde’s creation, honouring her husband’s memory by creating a space to memorialise Edward Youde’s long-time interest in birdwatching.
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A talented multi-linguist and born politician, the late Edward Youde was admired by many for his erudition and kind demeanour.
Bali mynah
Beginning as a student of Oriental and African studies, Youde’s interest and knowledge of other cultures and their languages made him a valuable figure for Britain’s Foreign Office.
His last post, serving as one of Hong Kong’s last governors, involved the negotiation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
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Praised by the Chinese community and his British colleagues for his diligent work ethic, it is no wonder that, given the stresses of such a public role, Youde would gravitate towards tranquil hobbies.
Crested Pigeon
At first glance, the Edward Youde Aviary is in likeness of a night-themed snow globe. Stainless steel mesh is supported by four giant arches, creating a grand dome-like effect.
This structure provides glimpses into the aviary. To view the full extent of its beauty, one must head inside.
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Covering a space of approximately 3,000 square metres, at its highest point the ceiling reaches thirty metres off the floor.
A raised walkway snakes through the Edward Youde Aviary, allowing views at many different vantage points.
The giant dome is a ideal space for birds
The width of the walkway can comfortably accommodate an entire family, which is fortunate, as many wandered about with their excited children leading the way.
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Circular ends and benches allow people to take a moment to rest and admire the view. The floor is dotted with trees and shrubs.
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An artificial stream flows down the valley and into a large pool that connects with the miniature lake in the aviary’s exterior.
Red-collared lorikeet
Imitations of grand trees are easily mistaken for the real deal – with the detail provided in the form of thick stilt roots and buttresses.
Both root systems provide different levels of support to gigantic trees, and the variety of root structure provides the exotic birds with a fair replica of their natural habitats. And there are quite a few.
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No less than 550 birds – from seventy different species – reside in the aviary. While Hong Kong is now their home, this was not where they began.
The birds are from the Malesian botanical region
All the aviary’s birds originated from the Malesian region, a botanical region that includes New Guinea, the Greater Sunda Islands (Borneo, Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra) and the Philippines.
The plumage and colours of these Malesian birds differ greatly from Hong Kong’s local birds. The amazing diversity in forest life of the Malesian regions led to a stunning variety in species.
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New Guinea and its satellite islands alone boast 725 out of 9,000 of the world’s bird species.
Pied Imperial Pigeon
The structure within the aviary is beautiful in its diversity and precision. Set up to resemble a Malesian rainforest, all levels of the aviary contribute to its appearance and health.
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On the floor, clusters of stems, ferns, and root systems take hold. Shrubs and young canopy trees, including rubber plants, figs and a plethora of palms, sit on higher ground.
Silver-eared Mesia
Display panels are scattered throughout the aviary, providing educational facts about the flora and fauna.
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The main canopy, crowning over to form a continuous cover, is layered from fifteen to thirty metres above the forest floor.
Here, visitors can catch sight of trees, such as the pond spice, cotton, kapok and candlenut.
Yellow-faced mynah
These trees, both breath-taking and necessary for the birds to rest and gather food, help conceal the mesh structure in a way that helps the aviary appear like a natural environment.
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In the wild, a forest’s main canopy can grow up to forty-five metres above a valley. And the giant trees, of which the aviary holds false buttresses and stilt roots, can often reach up to sixty metres high in natural rainforests.
Zebra Dove
But the sight is becoming dangerously rare. As rainforests are under constant and serious threat due to fires and industrialization, many birds are threatened with extinction.
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The development of aviaries such as Edward Youde’s ensures the continuation of exotic species in living styles that are to their liking.
Golden-fronted Leafbird
If their energetic chirps are anything to go by, the Malesian birds are certainly quite taken with their overseas residence. A chorus of tweeting welcomes visitors into the aviary.
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Even on chilly winter days, the atmosphere in the Edward Youde Aviary is warm and welcoming. From families spending a day out together to serious birdwatchers with long-lens cameras, the aviary offers something for everyone.
The aviary is warm and welcoming for all visitors
Children let out eager cries as they catch sight of a particularly vibrant bird. Veteran birdwatchers earnestly discuss the species they just photographed and share stories amongst themselves.
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Everyone has some form of camera out, eager to capture a photo of a beautiful bird or two.
A pair of Red Lories
Though many of the birds prefer to congregate in the high canopies and chat amongst themselves, or fly away before that perfect image can be taken, the sheer number of birds means that all it takes to photograph the fowl is patience.
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One of the aviary’s endangered birds is the Bali mynah. As we observed one of the enchanting creatures, with eyes lined in blue and feathers the colour of pure snow with its tips dipped in black ink, one perched on a branch as it rested between flights.
A pair of Bali mynahs
Lush green Alexandrine Parakeets cocked their heads to the side as they considered the visitors down below. How odd we must look, constantly walking about and without a single feather on our bodies!
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Two Rainbow Lorikeets, absolutely gorgeous with their red breasts, green and yellow feathers, and blue heads, nuzzled their heads together in an intimate display of affection.
Rainbow lorikeet
At the exit, we were greeted by the sight of two strutting Silver Pheasants – the male’s grand appearance certainly holding true to its name, and the female’s more common brown hue still lovely, the feathers seeming soft and her small eyes framed in a distinct maroon tone.
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Our eyes swept from the stunning trees, decorated in cauliflory – the state when flowers grow around a tree trunk as opposed to among the branches – towards the small, rolling hillsides that marked the exit point.
Silver Pheasant
Other ground dwellers, such as partridges and thrushes, were in a skittish mood and bolted from the camera’s eye.
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Across from the main entrance of the Edward Youde Aviary lies the caged display area. Here, visitors find large birds that prey on smaller ones, feeding on eggs and nestlings – the very reason for the separation between these larger birds and the more docile ones in the main aviary.
A pair of Green Imperial-Pigeons and a Pied imperial pigeon
Here, we were fortunate to catch sight of a Great Pied Hornbill. Its beak and neck were brilliant shades of yellow and orange, a stark contrast to their black-and-white bodies.
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The White-crested Hornbill, its entire body white except for its feathers, calmly took in the view of passers-by as it perched at the back of its enclosure.
Black-capped Lory
Beautiful as they were, the design of their cages made it impossible to capture their appearance on camera.
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We left the Edward Youde Aviary, our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between land and life all the richer for the experience.
Text Victoria Mae Martyn / Photos Cammy Yiu
