The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

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  • Brent Lubbock of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park shows Rotarians what an emu egg looks like. Jamicá C. Ashley

    Waterfowl
August 27, 2010

‘Cheaper than going to the movies’

JAMICÁ C. ASHLEY Staff Writer

TARBORO — Endangered and rare birds were the topic of choice Thursday for Tarboro Rotarians.

Brent Lubbock of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck paid the club a visit and informed them of the feathered friends that inhabit the park.

“You’ll see more birds than you’ll ever imagine,” Lubbock said. “We are the main supplier of ducks, geese and swan in the United States.”

Sylvan Heights got its name from Sylva in Jackson County, N.C., where the park originated. It was moved to Scotland Neck then partnered with the North Carolina Zoo in 1999 before opening in October 2006, Lubbock said.

Armed with a slide show of all of the exotic birds housed at Sylvan, Lubbock said that the park is a cost effective source of family entertainment.

“Coming to Sylvan Heights is cheaper than going to the movies,” he said. “You’ll really get your money’s worth.”

Children under two years old are free while adult tickets are $7.

Upon entering the visitors’ center, visitors can see what’s hatching and touch newly hatched birds.

Lubbock explained that the park is divided by continent with each exhibit containing fowl native to that region.

In some areas, the birds are able to roam freely, allowing visitors the chance to get up close and personal not to mention provide the opportunity for great pictures.

“We provide that connection,” Lubbock said.

Brightly colored or camouflaged feathers denote birds looking for mates and others who hide to protect the young.

The park contains a handicap accessible treehouse over looking a wetland, a playground and fossil dig for children, several picnic areas and a memorial garden.

Not limited to just birds, Sylvan Waterfowl Park also has a frog, bee and carnivorous plant exhibit and two alligators.

Regardless of the time of year, people can come and see birds at their best, Lubbock explained since some birds are at the peak of color in the winter and spring while others during summer and fall.

Along with educating and entertaining the public, the park also serves as a training center for people from all around the world who work closely with rare and endangered waterfowl.

“We’ve trained more than 100 zookeepers from all over,” Lubbock said, “and between 5(00) and 600 volunteers from around the world.”

The park has also been used for weddings and parties.

The 20-acre park provides habitats that are natural to the bird even though some have cement/concrete enforced parts.

Keeping the park as natural as possible while maintaining a level of cleanliness is a necessity for the park.

“We don’t want it to be nasty, but you don’t want it sterile,” Lubbock said.

Membership to Sylvan Heights provides discounts and a behind the scenes look at some of the park’s operations.

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