With extensive plans to rejuvenate the Ashburton Domain now signed off, Ashburton District Council is beginning work to remove the aviary and replace it with an expanded wildlife garden.

A new home has already been found for the birds, who will move to the Caroline Bay aviary in Timaru at the end of March while expressions of interest to purchase and remove the aviary will open this month.

The future of the aviary was consulted on last year as part of the 30 year Ashburton Domain Development Plan, which proposed to replace the aviary with a more modern wildlife garden designed to entice birds, butterflies and lizards to the area.

The Domain already features a butterfly garden next to the aviary and the Council intends to expand this environment to create the wildlife garden.

It is envisaged that a modern walkthrough aviary could be incorporated into the garden at a later date.

Council Community Services Group Manager, Steve Fabish says the consultation process revealed that many residents were unhappy with the aviary's condition, which had become dated.

"Questions were asked about the place of traditional aviaries in today's world. Given that many people were dissatisfied with the facility's overall condition, it was decided that a wildlife garden would be a much better option for the Domain moving forward.

"Once the birds are re-homed and the aviary removed, we will begin landscaping the area with native plants and some exotic species to attract wild birds, butterflies and other insects to the garden.

"Informal 'nature play' and sensory garden elements may also be incorporated to add interest and offer an educational experience for visitors."

The Council has opted to keep the birds from being separated by re-homing them to another public aviary. Captive birds are typically unsuitable to be released into the wild as they cannot fend for themselves and are vulnerable to starvation and predators.

Read the full Ashburton Domain Development Plan.