Paradise Park is home to 'Operation Chough' a conservation project established here in 1987.

The Red-Billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is a member of the crow family, distinguished by its glossy black plumage and the red of its legs and elegantly curved bill. Once widespread in Britain, this mainly coastal species had always been associated with Cornwall but declined severely, then died out altogether in 1973.

We are breeding Red-billed Choughs as part of our long-term project to conserve and expand the species, which has been pushed to the fringes of its former distribution.

KENT PROJECT
Last year was an important year as chicks bred were included in the project to restore the species to the coast of Kent. More information available at Kent Wildlife Trust. We thank Paradise Park’s partners, Wildwood Trust and the Kent Wildlife Trust who raised funds so that we could increase the number of aviaries available for chough breeding.

JERSEY PROJECT
Choughs bred here at Paradise Park are now living free in Jersey after an absence of 100 years. More information available at Birds on the Edge project page. There are now about 40 choughs flying free in Jersey, most of them having fledged in the wild with thanks to our partners at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Each year during the breeding season (April/May) we broadcast a live webcam on our website of our seclusion aviaries, so people can see and hear the birds breeding. It's fascinating to watch.

We have two friendly choughs at the Park which act as ambassadors, and take part in our flying displays to help raise awareness of this species and the successful re-introduction projects. They are called Cece and Melza.

Lots more information available at Operation Chough.

With heartfelt thanks from all of us at Paradise Park xx