The Kupittaa bird pond area is owned by the City of Turku and consists of two separate enclosure areas. It is part of the Kupittaa Park recreational area. The park was opened to the public in 1905. The Urban Environment service area is responsible for the park.
Please do not touch or feed the animals
Sheep in particular are sensitive to changes in feeding. To safeguard the animals’ health, they must not be offered any treats. Food is available in the animal shelters, where the food and water dishes are filled daily.
Wellbeing is monitored daily
The animal keeper checks the animals’ wellbeing every morning and evening when filling the food and water dishes. In the mornings, the doors to the animal shelters are opened so that the animals can walk around the area. In the evenings, the area is cleared of extra food remains and waste to prevent rodent problems.
The residents of the bird ponds are early sleepers, and it is not possible to influence the animals’ daily rhythm. With the exception of ducks, the birds are locked in the animal shelters for the night to give them peace and because of small predators moving around in the area. The doors close in the evening between 19.00 and 20.30 and open in the morning between 5.00 and 8.00, depending on the rhythm the birds have adopted.
On the side facing Veritas Stadium, an electric fence wire has been installed at the top of the enclosure because of foxes moving around in the area.
Intelligent jackdaws
Sharp-eyed visitors may spot jackdaws in the enclosure. As intelligent birds, they know how to slip in and out through gaps in the fence. If jackdaws have managed to get in, they can also get out on their own.
The animal keeper uses a van for maintenance work
The animal keeper apologises for using a vehicle in the park and hopes that people cycling and walking in the park will be understanding of the workers and be careful near the vehicle.
The workers wear black shirts with the text “Kupittaan lintulammikko” or “Eläintenhoitaja”. The animal keeper’s contact details for emergencies can be found on the noticeboard and at the gate of the sheep enclosure.
To the home farm for the winter
The animals are in the park according to the agreement from 1 June to 30 October. For the winter, the animals return to their home farm in Rusko.
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