Welcome to Birdworld's new website! One of many exciting changes for 2025... New playgrounds are now being built in the Park... Naturally, there may be some construction noise. Please bear with us while we evolve. Welcome to Birdworld's new website! One of many exciting changes for 2025... New playgrounds are now being built in the Park... Naturally, there may be some construction noise. Please bear with us while we evolve. Welcome to Birdworld's new website! One of many exciting changes for 2025... New playgrounds are now being built in the Park... Naturally, there may be some construction noise. Please bear with us while we evolve. Welcome to Birdworld's new website! One of many exciting changes for 2025... New playgrounds are now being built in the Park... Naturally, there may be some construction noise. Please bear with us while we evolve. Welcome to Birdworld's new website! One of many exciting changes for 2025... New playgrounds are now being built in the Park... Naturally, there may be some construction noise. Please bear with us while we evolve.
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Conservation

Helping nature,
as we learn

The natural world, in all its intricate, diverse glory, is the best teacher. And there’s always more to discover, support and understand.

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Donate → What we do →What you can do → Conservation partners →
Owl
Conservation

Funding conservation projects in the UK and overseas

Since the idea hatched in 2008, the Birdworld Conservation Fund has raised over £90,000, helping initiatives that protect birdlife in the UK and across the world.

Owls, penguins and songbirds are close to all our hearts here at Birdworld. It is these and their fellow endangered species we work to support. As well as being actively involved in breeding programmes, we strive to make a difference conserving a diverse range of species and habitats in trouble. This conservation work crosses over into education, engaging and motivating the next generation of decision makers.

Birdworld’s 7
conservation goals

This is all about the long-term sustainability of bird species in captivity, particularly ones classified as threatened or endangered. Not only does this mean participating in global breeding programmes and collecting detailed genetic records, animal keepers around the world share knowledge to care for and meet each species’ individual needs.

In other words, helping to monitor and protect birds in their natural environments, as well as the habitats themselves. We collaborate with conservation organisations around the world, providing funds, expertise and ways to engage the local community. We also work to lessen threats such as habitat destruction, the illegal wildlife trade and climate change. Currently, we need to focus on reforestation and habitat restoration, as well as anti-poaching.

Birdworld has this fantastic opportunity to help raise awareness on conservation's critical importance to us all. Offering just a glimpse into the wonderful diversity of bird species, we also highlight the importance of their ecosystems through talks and workshops, as well as school and home-learning programmes. We can all make a difference, once inspired into positive change.

Local biodiversity is no less important, or interesting, than its exotic counterparts. By creating and looking after wildlife-nurturing zones within the Park, we encourage British species to thrive amongst pollinator-friendly planting, ponds and natural habitats. Off-site, we team up with local conservation projects and surveys to speed the recovery of native ecosystems.

Local communities play such a massive role in conserving biodiversity. By working closely with nearby villages and groups, a network of informed, engaged citizen scientists and active contributors is evolving. It’s a great way to share better ways to co-exist with nature and encourage its diversity. Education is empowering, and so are collaborative activities like planting native trees, creating wildlife corridors and collecting data on indigenous species.

It’s equally important to reduce Birdworld’s own environmental impact by adopting sustainable practices in all areas of operation. This includes reducing waste, lowering energy consumption, and encouraging staff and visitors to make simple, sustainable choices, like car-sharing. Solar panels and recycling points are just the start.

Much of the work we do at Birdworld is inherently conservation work, like looking after the endangered birds in our care, research and survey contributions. But you, the visitor, can’t help us there. That’s why we set up a Conservation Fund, so those who come can donate directly and make a difference on the day. Here are some of the initiatives you’ve made happen:
  • Supporting the World Parrot Trust by rounding up pennies to donate at the till
  • Raising £5000 to support Ukraine’s zoos as a part of an EAZA/BIAZA initiative
  • Funding £4,700 of equipment for the RSPB to conduct research at nearby Farnham Heath
  • Financing a more accessible video for a wider audience, all about helping Ground hornbills
What we do
Conservation

What we do

Birdworld is all about families having fun, but we also have a serious purpose. It is our responsibility to lead conservation efforts, and ensure a future where birds flourish both in the wild and under our care. We do this through captive breeding, habitat preservation, education and community engagement.

What’s happening?

While the work of conservation is continuous, some projects naturally end as aims are met or funds expire. Take a look into the projects we have live at the moment, or read more about past projects and successes.


Read our blog →

Cape Cormorants, South Africa

A mass chick abandonment occurred at the start of 2021. Potentially, this was due to overfishing and the parents being unable to feed themselves and their hatchlings. We immediately sent funds to support SANCCOB’s emergency relief project, providing critical and longterm care of 17,000 young chicks. The biggest seabird rescue in the region for 20 years happily resulted in the fledged cormorants’ re-release. Come and visit our related Bank Cormorant at Penguin Beach.

Santa Cruz Ground Dove, South Pacific

The island homes of this rotund little bird have been ravaged by volcanic activity and hurricanes. Human impact had taken its toll too, due to invasive plants and animals, domestic pet predation and the live bird export trade. With only an estimated 15 of these endangered birds remaining in the wild in 2017, we tackled the people issues first. Helping to fund the compensation of legal wildlife traders for 113 trapped birds, we also funded medical treatment and the raising of 23 chicks, hatched safely under care. The hope is that they will bolster wild populations in the future.

Cockatoos, European Endangered Species Breeding Programme

Yellow crested cockatoos, including the distinct Citron crested, are very close to our hearts at Birdworld. (You may remember our old logo?) As a priority species on Birdworld’s breeding programmes, we built four new aviaries in 2018 and 2019 to provide more enriching habitats for pairs to live and breed in. Past youngsters raised here have been sent to Dublin and Paignton Zoo in the UK and to Chorzow Zoo in Poland. Managing the bloodlines of different subspecies in captivity is vital to maintaining genetic diversity, and the health of future populations, as would happen in the wild.

African Penguins, South Africa

Methods of wildlife conservation out in the field need to be continually evaluated to ensure they are the most efficient. Research by Stellenbosch University in South Africa funded by Birdworld has been looking into whether artificial nest box materials increase or reduce biting insect populations. If manmade nests do encourage higher numbers of mosquitos, midges and ticks, this would have a negative impact on mortality rates in African penguin chicks, due to increased exposure to blood borne diseases. This is essential research to ensure that providing artificial nest sites has a positive impact on the population.

The EAZA Silent Forest Campaign, Southeast Asia

Thousands of passerines (perching, sparrow-shaped songbirds and wrens) are taken from the wild to be used in singing competitions, for which large cash prizes incentivise the poaching. As well as breeding birds in captivity, it’s vital to raise awareness of the threats these glorious birds face. In 2018, Birdworld built 7 new aviaries specifically to house species commonly impacted by the illegal trade, such as Bali Myna, Laughing Thrushes and White-Rumped Shama. So far, we have had fledglings every year and hope to continue our successes. With every new chick, the safety net population is strengthened for potential future release once poaching and habitat loss threats are lessened.

Hill Mynahs, rescued from the illegal pet trade in Europe

At the beginning of May 2020, 20 Hill Mynahs were brought to Birdworld after being confiscated from black market pet traders across Europe. The species is popular for its glossy black plumage and outstanding ability to mimic human speech. On arrival, our keepers took various measurements including head, beak, tail, leg and wing lengths, plus feather samples for DNA analysis. This will help us discover potential differences in subspecies, as their exact origins are unknown and there are many different types of Hill Myna. These birds have since been relocated to other zoos around the UK and have been breeding successfully every year.

Pink Pigeons, The European Zoo Association captive breeding programme

Still very rare, this forest bird was on the brink of extinction before the turn of the century. Habitat destruction of its island home of Mauritius, combined with introduced predators, had reduced the population to only 10 in 1991. There are now over 100 pink pigeons in European zoos, and the success of captive breeding has led to the species being downlisted to Vulnerable in 2018. Birdworld is very proud to have bred a number of chicks so far that will go on to increase the population, with the hope that future chicks reared will be released into its native forests.

Breeding is succeeding

One of the most important roles of any zoo is their captive breeding programmes. These provide a safety net population for species that are currently facing a range of environmental and manmade threats. The idea is that if we can create large enough populations with adequate genetic diversity, these birds can be reintroduced into the wild. Birdworld’s endangered species success stories include:

  • Black-cheeked Lovebird
  • Mitchell's Lorikeet
  • African Penguin
  • Humboldt Penguin
  • Pink Pigeon
  • Yellow-crested Cockatoo
  • Luzon bleeding-heart Dove
  • Waldrapp Ibis
What you can do
Conservation

What you can do

At Birdworld we work hard to reduce the Park’s negative environmental impacts while enhancing its habitats for native flora and fauna. As part of the Green Tourism programme since 2004, we continually research and introduce more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

Reuse, recycle and compost it

Reducing plastic use - especially single-use plastics - is a business priority. We encourage staff and visitors to choose alternatives, minimising waste sent to landfill by reusing or recycling paper, card, plastics, batteries, scrap metals, ink cartridges and cooking oil. We’ve moved from plastic sauce sachets to paper pots. Your hot takeaway food is now served in compostable packaging, including the cutlery and straws. Any leftovers, from your meals or the birds’, are taken off site for composting. We also compost garden cuttings on site or reuse them in enclosures for the birds to enjoy.

You’ll find recycling bins dotted around the Park, so please do use them. We have plans to install more.

BW logo green
buildnig

Cut down on fossil fuels

We love it when visitors use public transport to get to the Park, and make it as easy as possible with a bus stop outside the main car park and cycle racks at the entrance. Solar panelling has been installed both at Birdworld and our neighbouring garden centre, which supply the energy to heat and light our buildings and reduce energy consumption.

Think about how you’ll travel here, how can you make your journey as green as possible?

buildnig

Eat with a clear conscience

You’ll find plenty of organic, local and seasonal options in our shops and cafes. Vegan ice creams and organic, gluten free soup are not only to cater to dietary requirements, but to give you choices for conscious eating. Only using sustainable palm oil in food for visitors, animal feed and cleaning products is a must, and we are working towards this by ensuring no ingredients conflict with our conservation policies. For example, “Walls” ice cream uses sustainable products, hot dogs produced locally by Dingley Dell promote high standards of animal welfare and we only buy MSC certified fish.

You’ll find recycling bins dotted around the Park, so please do use them. We have plans to install more.

Duck
Conservation

Conservation partners

There is always so much to do to support birds in the wild, at home and overseas.

At Birdworld we take great care over which conservation projects to support and achieve the most positive impact and the most urgent response.

Find out more in our blogs and articles here.