Butterfly World (And Birds Too)

AFA VISITS ... exotic tropical flora. Tourists, local res idents, and thousands of children on school field trips, enjoy the kaleido Butterfly World scope of colors provided by butterflies representative of 80 different species from five continents. Park visitors of all (and Birds too) ages are fascinated by the many cater pillars that can be observed in various Coconut Creek, Florida stages of metamorphosis. Some visitors are lucky enough to witness the by Carolyn Swicegood, Hollywood, FL release of newly hatched butterflies. Nature's "winged flowers" are not the only flying creatures of the tropical utterfly World at 3600 West Florida. It was the first exhibit of its gardens. Visitors often are surprised to Sample Road, Coconut kind in the Western Hemisphere and find 150 birds in a park that is dedicat B Creek, Florida opened its remains the largest butterfly house in ed to butterflies. Beautiful humming doors in 1988 about 10 miles north of the United States. Five thousand but birds, finches, and honeycreepers are Fort Lauderdale in sunny South terflies dwell among three acres of right at home in this tropical setting. Lories and Lorikeets were a natural choice for Butterfly World because they thrive on pollen and nectar, the same diet that the butterfly and hum mingbird residents enjoy. These huge enclosures are designed and planted to replicate patches of tropical forest. Of course the birds and butteiflies have to be fed. You can see a feeder hanging in the photo on the right. 16 Marchi April 2000 the walkways of the aviaries." Paradise Adventure and Tropical Aviary These two aviaries are connected to form 8,000 square feet of screened jun gle that rises to a height of 27 feet. The enclosure is home to thousands of but terflies in a natural rain forest setting complete with flowers, trees, waterfall, cave, and cool tropical mist. Six hum mingbird species thrive in this natural setting. The four species native to South America are the Sparkling Violet Ear Colilbri coruscans, Amazilia Emerald Amazilia amazilia, Peruvian Sheartail Tbaumastura cora, and the Violet Euphonia Euphonia violacea. The Broad-billed Hummingbird Cynanthus iatirostis comes from Arizona, while the Japanese White-Eyes Zosteropes jafoni- ca is from Asia. Two Hummingbird species, the Many wild birds visit this uXJnde1jullake. One may see herons, Snakebirds, buntings, ducks, Colibri coruscans and the Amazilia hu:"';mingbirds, and others stopping by to check out the lake. amazilia, presented Butterfly World Realizing a Dream awareness of the details of their daily with its first successful fledglings in Butterfly World was built by part- lives is quite amazing. the early part of 1999. These young ners, Ronald Boender of the United As we toured the park, Stoppelmoor sters fly freely within the enclosure. States and Clive P. Farrell of England. provided tnany interesting facts and Stoppelmoor said that they hope for Ronald Boender grew up in Illinois personal observations about the birds. more additions since the Colibri corus with his Dutch-born parents and had a His awareness of the interactions can has started construction on ner lifelong fascination with butterflies. between various birds, including the first nest of this breeding season. The When he moved to Florida in 1968 after pairs of tiny hummingbirds, was amaz South American Hummingbirds' a successful career as an electrical engi- ing. He knew just who was courting breeding season starts in November neer, he' decided to pursue his earlier whom in the hummingbird community and continues through March. interest. The butterfly farm, aviary, and he knew all the areas likely to be Another inhabitant of this enclosure, museum, and gardens of Butterfly frequented by individual pairs. Besides the Euphonia vioiacea, is a very prolif World located inside the 600-acre pointing out current nest sites and new ic breeder and usually nests in the Tradewinds Park are the culmination of nests recently started, he could accu spring and summer. They are great a long-term dream of Boender. rately predict many of the birds' move nest builders and weave their oval Butterfly World is not only a living but- ments. I got the distinct impression that shaped nests in the crooks of trees. terfly farm that took years of work to Butterfly World's Bird Curator was The nests are made from long dried perfect, it is a center for research and right at home in the rain forest with his leave strands and coconut fibers education. The lush tropical park, but- feathered charges. gleaned from the fibrous coconut terfly hatchery, aviaries, and all the crea- The plant life at Butterfly World is as shells hung in the trees for them. They tures in residence are diligently tended eclectic as the bird population. Many of lay up to five eggs but Stoppelmoor by Boender and his lovely wife, Grace, the hundreds of flowering plants were reports that no more than two babies as well as an accomplished staff includ- planted specifically for the butterflies. have fledged from a single nest. ing Bird Curator, Greg Stoppel moor. Stoppelmoor explained, "The birds are The most recent bird introduced Stoppelmoor and his young family housed in walk-through aviaries in nat- into the aviaries of Butterfly World is migrated from Iowa to enjoy the trop- ural settings of trees and flora from the Japanese White-eye Zosteropes ical elimate of South Florida where he around the world. Most of the birds at japonica, named for the white ring has worked with various large collec Butterfly World live off nectar and/or a around its eyes. It is hard to locate this tions of exotic birds. He has busied fruit diet. We feed Nekton products as bird within the aviary since it spends himself for the last few years studying well as a wide array of fresh fruits. most of its time darting from limb to and managing the birds of Butterfly Along with the diet we provide, the limb high in the trees searching for World. His working knowledge of the birds also have their choice of nectar small insects that live under leaves. birds in the park is extensive, and his from the many flowering plants that line This bird provides a beneficial service the afa \\1 ATCHBIRD 17 to the park by eating aphids and mealy wrestle with each other on the ground, personal encounter with tropical birds bugs from the flora. and check out their human visitors. is a new and exciting adventure. When Founder Ronald Boender was captivat the birds spot a visitor holding a cup of Lakeside Garden Walk ed by these colorful birds while visiting their favorite food, they immediately Continuing our tour of the park, we the San Diego Zoo. He says of the flock to them. Any number of birds are exited the Tropical Rainforest Aviary largest avian species in the park, "It's suddenly eager to light on a hand and and entered the Lakeside Garden Walk something that people can see and drink from the cup while others make where local and migrating birds stop in touch. We have signs saying don't good use of arms, shoulders and some throughout the year. Green Herons, touch the butterflies and don't touch times heads to await their chance at a Snakebirds, Ibis, Mallards, White the hummingbirds but here people sip of the sweet nectar. There are dou Edged Orioles, Ovenbirds, Buntings, can come in, hold the birds, and feed ble entrances to prevent escapes but as and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are them. Friendliness is their biggest trait the attendant explained, even if a bird but a few of the visitors that stop by - they love people." hitches an undetected ride out of the the inviting park. The birds have full flight and free enclosure on someone's clothing, it range of the aviary during the day. won't go far. The birds obviously have The Lorikeet Encounter Aviary Their diet consists mainly of Nekton no desire to leave their happy home. The Lorikeet Encounter was our Lory. An attendant is always nearby to The lories and lorikeets are placed next stop. This popular interactive keep a well-trained eye on the birds in a sectioned night house late every exhibit that was added in early 1998 is and to give small cups of liquid nectar afternoon, explained Stoppelmoor. occupied by six species of lories and to visitors who enjoy feeding them. For "This is done for their safety and for lorikeets. They fly, play in the trees, many of the guests, this up-close and the advantage of feeding them a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in a controlled environment. The aviary and night house are kept meticulous ly clean because of the birds' liquid diet. We feel that we cannot do too much cleaning in this exhibit." Jewels of the Sky Aviary To get to the hummingbird aviary, we crossed a lake full of beautiful lily pads on a naturally shaky, suspension bridge made of wooden planks and rope. This quaint replica of a real bridge admired by the owners in an Ecuadorian rain ' forest leads to the Jewels of the Sky Aviary which was named for the sparkling kaleidoscope of colors sported by its feathered resi dents. This is where the largest num ber of the park's birds are housed. The species of birds in this aviary are comprised of North American hummingbirds, Anna's Calypte anna, Broad-billed Cynanthus latirostris, Broad-tailed Selasphorus platycercus, Costa's Calypte costae, and Rufous Selasphorus rufus as well as South American hummingbirds, Amazilia Emerald Amazilia amazilia and Oasis Rhodopis vesper. The Tanagers present are Paradise Tanager Tangara chilensis, Violaceous Euphonia Euphonia violacea, Red legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cya neus, and Yellow-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeru!eus.

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