BIRDWORLD has offered a new home to a colony of parrots and pelicans made homeless by the closure of a wildlife park on the Isle of Wight.

Seaview Wildlife Encounter closed its doors after 44 years on November 1 due to a decline in visitor numbers and has worked hard to rehouse its many birds and animals at other wildlife centres around the country.

Its parrots were used to a free-flying aviary, similar to the one at Birdworld, so the owners of Seaview contacted Birdworld curator Duncan Bolton to ask if its parrots could move in.

Before rehousing the birds, Birdworld had to be sure they were healthy and would fit in at the park. Duncan said: “Parrots are characters, every character is important - we make sure the parrots would mix in.”

More than 20 parrots were brought over from the Isle of Wight to Birdworld at the end of November and Duncan added initially the parrots were “like the new kids at a school playground” but since moving in they have been “getting on remarkably well”.

Birdworld has also taken in two pink-backed pelicans from Seaview to add to its growing colony.

The Birdworld curator first met the Seaview owner around 20 years ago and said on the closure of the park: “The desire of Seaview has been to place their birds in the best possible home.”