A R C H I T E C T U R E 7'

Temperate bird house at Chester Zoo G . S . M O T T E R S H E A D Director-Secretary, North of England Zoological Society, Zoological Gardens, Chester, England

In 1965 an experimental bird house was opened at Chester Zoo. It measures 4 2 . 6 ~ 14'3x48 m high and is constructed mainly of a wooden frame- work, covered completely with one of the new plastics (S-Lon) obtainable in various colours. The bottom half of the building is coloured blue and the top half is milky-white. It is double- sheeted throughout for insulation.

The interior of the building has been planted with vegetation and a path winds the whole length, passing over rivulets and pools of water from a waterfall which cascades from natural rockwork at one end of the house. The new house is entered from the old bird house; at the other end there are large doors, also made of S-Lon, which can be opened to allow fresh air to enter freely. The doors are opposite a long free-flight area, running along the western side of the house. The birds can fly in and out as they wish. The house is also well ventilated with controlled ventilators in the roof, so that the temperature can be kept down on a hot day.

On either side of the house there are a series of large flight cages for birds that tend to be pug-

Tropical bird bui R. W. M A U R I C E and R

nacious; other species are allowed their freedom in the building.

The birds seem to thrive and we have had several breeding successes, including kiskadees Pitangus sulphuratus, hybrid mynahs and Fairy blue birds Irma puella.

It is kept as a temperate aviary and the following birds are at present (July 1966) in the collection: Glossy starling, Chestnut-bellied starling, Spreo starling, Violet-backed starling, Pagoda mynah, Hill mynah, Grey-headed mynah, Papuan mynah, Boat-billed heron, Fairy bluebird, White-cheeked turaco, Purple-crested turaco, Red-crested turaco, Kiskadee flycatcher, Rosy pastor, Victoria crowned pigeon, Green imperial fruit pigeon, Grey fruit pigeon, Brown pigeon, Pacific fruit pigeon, Blue roller, Louisiide lorikeet, Laughing king- fisher, Hunting cissa, White-crested jay thrush, White-browed coucal, Swainson's toucan, Cuvier's toucan, Wreathed hornbill, Great Indian hornbill, Snowy egret, Scarlet ibis, Grey-necked wood rail, avocet, Variegated bittern, Double-striped thicknee and Sclater's crested curassow.

ding at Houston Zoo S. W I L K I N S

Architect and Planning Consultants, 3222 Mercer Street, Houston

J . W E R L E R Director, Houston Zoological Garden, USA

Once our museums were lined with cases of stuffed birds, looking very dead, often displayed completely without reference to their natural environment, and because of the poor way they were displayed, and their dreary surroundings, appealing only to the most diligent student of ornithology. Museums have, for the most part, learned how to display their exhibits in a way that captures the interest and imagination of visitors,

particularly young people. Throughout the United States, fine museums have installed attractive exhibits showing birds and mammals in simulated natural habitats. Various leading zoos are now starting to use similar display methods, instead of exhibiting their animals in square wire- fronted boxes of varying sizes, making them difficult to see and unattractive to look at. Animals, and particularly richly coloured tropical birds,