We Are Open Again!

The park is now open once again. Our South America exhibit will remain closed until all the repairs have been made, but all other areas of the park are now accessible to the public. Hope to see you all here soon!

Closed For The Year...

All photos by K. Gipple

Sylvan Heights will be closed until the end of the week while we assess the extent of the damage and begin repairs to the Park and the Breeding Center, which resulted from this past weekend's heavy snow storm.

While the majority of the damage occurred at the Breeding Center, all the staff from both the Park and the Center have been working throughout the daylight hours to save birds and salvage the aviaries which collapsed under the tremendous weight of snow. A few birds were injured by the collapsing pens and some were buried under the snow that ranged from 12 to over 15 inches in depth.

Thank you to all our friends who have quickly responded to our call for help. We are most grateful for your generosity. And we are also extremely appreciative to those zoos who have responded to our request by sending crews over to help rebuild pens and aviaries.

For the moment, birds have been relocated into unaffected aviaries and temporary pens have been built while repairs are being made. If you would like to help, the park could use live Christmas trees as cover and sight barriers to help these relocated birds adjust to their new surroundings and provide shelter. So rather than leave your trees by the curbside this year, please consider donating them to us. To donate your tree, please call 252-826-3186.

Unique Gifts for Your Friends and Family

If you are still looking for some unique gift ideas this holiday season, here are some that the park has to offer...

• Gift Passes:  Next year our price of admission will be going up a wee bit. But if you buy a gift pass to the park now, you'll lock in this year's rate!

• A Year's Membership: Members receive free admission to the park all year long, a 10% discount in the gift shop, and a subscription to our Park newsletter. In addition, your membership also grants you free admission to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, the NC Aquariums, and the Nature Center in Asheville. Members are also invited to a special program, Waterfowl Reunion, once a year in the spring, where members enjoy complimentary refreshments and can get up close and personal with the park's new hatchlings.

• Feed a Duck for a Year: This special program helps to care for the birds in the park. Your donation of $100 enables you to be the proud sponsor of one of the amazing birds in our collection for a year. Comes with a sponsorship certificate that you can display at home or at work.

• Visit the Park's Gift Shop: Our store has many beautiful gifts in a wide ranges of prices to please anyone on your list. From books to clothing, puzzles to jewelry, we have some excellent products that people of any age can enjoy.

• Gift Certificate to the Park's Shop: Take the guess work out of your holiday and give a gift certificate which allows the recipient to choose their own favorite item!

With warmest holiday wishes to you all...

Celebrate the 12 Birds of Christmas at Sylvan Heights!

Now through January 2nd, stop by the park and celebrate the 12 Birds of Christmas! From french hens to calling birds, geese a-laying to swans a-swimming, test your skill by participating in our scavenger hunt and see if you can answer all the questions we've put together for you. A fun activity for young and old, bring your family and friends with you this holiday season!

Check out this video with our director, Mike Lubbock, for more information about the 12 Birds of Christmas...

Snapshots of Moonlight in the Park

Thank you to all who attended our Moonlight in the Park fundraiser. It was a smashing success, raising over 14,000 for the Park. Attendees enjoyed a meal provided by On the Square in Tarboro and live music.

But the highlight of the evening was definitely the live auction - thanks to our wonderful auctioneer, Phil Stanton. Some of the most popular items of the evening included the large globe made of semi-precious stones, a wine and cheese tasting for 12, a pet portrait by portrait artist Dorothy McLennan, and a pair of hand-carved harlequin duck decoys.

Sylvan Heights would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the individuals and companies who donated items for the evening's auction, as well as all those who attended the evening's festivities and who gave so generously.

The First Birds of the Roanoke Valley Symposium

photo by Katie Gipple

On Saturday, September 18th, Sylvan Heights will be hosting the first Birds of the Roanoke Valley symposium. Co-sponsored by the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Medoc Mountain State Park and Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, the symposium is being held to teach the public more about birding opportunities here and across the state. The Roanoke River region is one of the premier birding destinations in North Carolina.

The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a symposium of birding, wildlife and habitat experts from across North Carolina, including such representatives as The Nature Conservancy-Roanoke River Project, Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge, Carolina Bird Club, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, Medoc Mountain State Park, Roanoke Canal Trail, and featuring the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte, NC.

Following the symposium Q & A session, lunch will be provided in the Sylvan Heights Golden Leaf Room, sponsored by the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Birds of the Roanoke Valley attendees will then be invited for a complimentary guided tour of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park with paid park admission.

That evening Medoc Mountain State Park will host a Hike into the Night, as part of the Birds of the Roanoke Valley celebration. Check out the sights and sounds of the wildlife that come out at night in Medoc Mountain State Park’s pine and hardwood forest and learn a little bit about identifying who is making those sounds. A park ranger will meet the group for a guided trip leaving from the picnic shelter at 9 p.m. Bring a flashlight with fresh batteries and walking shoes.

On Sunday morning an optional one-hour Roanoke River cruise by pontoon boat with Roanoke River Rentals & Guides will be available at 10 a.m. for an additional charge - $10 for adults, $5 ages 10 & up, free to those 10 & younger.

There are only 50 spots available for the Birds of the Roanoke Valley symposium and fewer than that for the hike and river cruise. Please RSVP with your plans for the symposium, guided tour, hike and/or river cruise by Monday, September 13, to Christina Gordon, Halifax County CVB, at 800-522-4282, 252-519-2603 or cgordon@visithalifax.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 
We hope to see you all here!

Moonlight in the Park

Our fall fundraiser is only a few months away, and if you are a fan of the famous On the Square restaurant in Tarboro, North Carolina, you are in luck!

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park cordially invites you to join us for an evening of cocktails, gourmet dining, entertainment, and live/silent auctions.

Owned by husband and wife team, Inez and Stephen Ribustello, On the Square is a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence-winning restaurant. Their mutable menu celebrates seasonal, sustainable ingredients and is complemented by their eclectic and classical wine selection. In their quest to create a unique dining experience for their customers, the Ribustellos  continually seek to expand their knowledge and are currently the only couple to hold the Court of Master Sommeliers' advanced certificate. (Read their intriguing story here.) We are thrilled to have them cater Moonlight in the Park!

Items for the live and silent auction are currently being collected. If you'd like to donate a special item for the event, please contact us at the number below.

Tickets must be reserved and are available for purchase at the Park's gift shop, or by calling (252) 826-3186. All proceeds will support Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park.

Hope to see you all there!