NEWPORT NEWS — The Peninsula SPCA recently opened its new parakeet enclosure here.
The 200 parakeets were added to the nonprofit organization’s outdoor petting zoo, which includes multiple animals like chickens, goats, sheep, alpacas and more.
The birds arrived six weeks ago from Georgia and moved into the cage that once held the shelter’s black leopard, Shadow, who died last year.
The 25-foot-by-55-foot enclosure is now filled with multiple perches, a water feature, and even various plants and trees donated by Anderson’s, the local garden center and nursery, said Jodi Dean, marketing and communications manager for the Peninsula SPCA.
The shelter decided to have a ‘soft opening’ for the new aviary, so the birds could become acclimated to the environment and get used to being around people, Dean said.
Visitors can go into the bird sanctuary and feed the parakeets with special ‘popsicle’ sticks covered in bird food that the shelter sells for a $1. The birds sing, too.
“It’s like your little zen moment,” Dean said.
The Peninsula SPCA will be closed on Labor Day and the official ribbon cutting will happen later this month.
The Peninsula SPCA is open Monday- Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
Admission is $3 per person and kids under 2 years old get in free. For information, visit the Peninsula SPCA website or call the shelter at 757-595-1399. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
