New owners of Flying High Bird Sanctuary are cock-a-hoop

A WARWICK dairy farming couple has swapped goats and cows for cockatoos and macaws after purchasing the popular Flying High Bird Sanctuary.

COLOURFUL CHARACTERS: New owner of the Flying High Bird Sanctuary Des Watts feeds three Macaws at the Apple Tree Creek aviary. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail. Picture: Mike Knott

A WARWICK dairy farming couple has swapped goats and cows for cockatoos and macaws after purchasing the popular Flying High Bird Sanctuary.

The Apple Tree Creek aviary, near Childers, went on sale in 2014, with former owners David and Anne Tocknell eager to sell the facility due to ill health.

It took a while but it was eventually snapped up by Des and Cathryn Watts who took over the bird sanctuary on December 18 anticipating an exciting new adventure. But according to Mr Watts, 69, the love affair with the bird farm began more than 12 months ago when the couple visited the region.

"We came up here on holidays, saw the place and enjoyed the walk through it," he said.

"I liked the place - the rainforest look to it. It wasn't just a cage filled with birds.

"We had no intentions at that time of buying it but a cousin in Gin Gin mentioned it was for sale."

Just as the thought of owning the property solidified in their minds, tragedy struck the family.

Cathryn's mother fell seriously ill so the plans were shelved, at least for a while.

Months rolled by, but the desire to own the sanctuary never subsided and when Cathryn's mother died, the couple knew it was time for a change.

"We've been dairy farmers all our lives," Mr Watts said.

"I gave that up because I had a bad knee.

"Since then I've had an operation and now I'm ready for a challenge."

While the couple has some poultry experience, taking ownership of the large bird sanctuary will be no small feat.

However, Mr Watts believed with a lot of hard work the sanctuary could become a prime tourist hot spot for the region, for locals and travellers.

"We want to set up an animal nursery here for kids," he said. "As time goes on we will add things, maybe fix the areas where the roos are and bring in different birds.

"We've got plans but they are changing every day."

Mr Watts said the sanctuary will open every day except Saturday. On that day of the week he will only open by appointment for groups with special needs.