Welcome our new tenants

The Pointe at Kilpatrick received several new residents last month when a new aviary was installed and 11 beautifully colored birds were introduced to their new home. The residents had been waiting in anticipation for their arrival for weeks, once the decision was made to purchase the aviary. Operations Director, Nancy McCaffrey, had posed the question to the residents, wanting their feedback before making the decision to order one. “Everyone responded positively,” McCaffrey reports, “It was a pretty easy decision to make after that.”

When the day came for the birds to arrive, the residents were all gathered around the great room, vying for the best seats. The large wooden and glass cabinet was set up, including a water purification system to insure that the birds always have clean, bacteria free water to drink. Foliage, branches and nesting huts were also installed.

Five varieties of birds were added once the aviary was complete: 

1 Saffron Finch (from South America)

1 Orange Weaver (from Africa)

2 Diamond Doves (from Australia)

2 Blue Cap Waxbills (from Africa)

2 Shaft Tails (from Northwest Australia)

3 Society Finches (from China)

Four of the varieties came in male/female pairs with the intention that they mate and raise their young in the aviary. The 3 Society Finches came as 2 males and 1 female and are also expected to mate and raise their hatchlings. Several of the birds have already started building nests, so it looks as though there will most certainly be eggs soon. The prospect of watching eggs hatch and seeing the young birds develop has created another wave of excitement and anticipation among the residents. 

“This has been such a wonderful addition to our community”, says Zoe Espitia, Executive Director, “The residents love gathering around and watching the birds.” The aviary also serves more than entertainment purposes. The effects of watching the birds are similar to those of watching fish in an aquarium. They reduce stress and anxiety, as well as alleviate depression. Another benefit of the aviary is that it not only stimulates social interaction between residents, but between residents and staff as well. This in turn helps to maintain the strong bonds between caregivers and residents.

Overall, the aviary has been an overwhelming success. The large enclosure allows for the birds to fly around and be active. The soft chirping echoes throughout the great room and beyond, instilling a tranquil environment. 

For updates on the birds, check out our website and Facebook pages. Hopefully, we will be reporting on the arrival of eggs soon.