Auckland: Butterfly Creek the real macaw

About 40 birds, from parrots to cockatoos, have taken up residence in Butterfly Creek.

Everyone's in fine feather at Butterfly Creek's new exotic aviary, says Dionne Christian.

It's not every day you get your hair done by a blue and gold macaw, but that's what happened during our most recent visit to Butterfly Creek.

Maya is a long-tailed and brightly-coloured macaw, a South-American parrot, and a relative of the fictional hyacinth macaws Blue and Jewel made famous in the animated movies Rio and Rio 2.

She's more like Jewel -- outgoing, feisty but friendly and very curious -- than the more shy and retiring Blue. If Maya likes you, she'll play with your hair, so I made a new friend. She's one of the 40 or so birds that have found a home in Butterfly Creek's newly opened exotic bird aviary.

As well as Maya, there's Indian ringneck parrots Benji and his girlfriend, Princess Leia; a barraband called Luke; several Bourke's parrots and grass parakeets; a Major Mitchell cockatoo named Colonel, and Luna, an African grey parrot. African greys are regarded as one of the world's most intelligent birds and although she doesn't say much, Luna clearly takes in everything going on around her. As well as the parrots, ground-dwelling pheasants (golden, silver and Lady Amherst) and guinea fowl have taken up residence.

The public can't wander through the aviary so being allowed in to meet Maya was an unexpected bonus. However, keepers would one day like to offer the chance for some visitors, perhaps Junior Keepers for a Day, to be able to get nearer to the birds. Not that Maya shows any concerns about getting familiar. She hopped all over me, groomed my hair and, when I exited, was back in position at the front of the enclosure inspecting those watching her and having a good old chinwag with them.

The aviary is the latest addition to Buttermilk Farm, which is also where you find Charlie, a sulfur-crested cockatoo, and a collection of rosella. There are no plans to move these birds into the aviary; I am told that it would be likely Charlie would try to take over and scrap with the others, and I can't see Miss Maya putting up with that.

As well as the birds adding a splash of colour to Buttermilk Farm, some newer arrivals are keeping the cute quota high. Baby guinea pigs and a family of tiny juvenile (and jumping) mice have joined the farm's regular residents: angora rabbits, chinchillas, goats, pigs, alpaca, sheep, chickens and Mila, the resident labrador farm dog.

As Miss Five pointed out, having more birds at Butterfly Creek makes sense, particularly since the opening of Dinosaur Kingdom this year. Why? Because, as she informs anyone who'll listen, birds are thought to be the direct descendants of dinosaurs and if you spend enough time looking at them, you'll spot the similarities.

So Maya or Luna or indeed the farmyard chickens may share more than we think with the hulking great diplodocus or spine-tingling spinosaurus found in the neighbouring Dinosaur Kingdom. Opened in January, Dinosaur Kingdom -- with its life-sized static and animatronic dinosaurs -- continues to draw in the crowds.

The indoor and purpose-built display and education centre, which includes a birthday party room, is now finished and there's an impressive range of fossils, bones, eggs and skeletal replicas to look at.

With feathers being added to some dinosaur displays, you do get a clearer idea of just how much your average chicken shares with T. rex. It's certainly thought-provoking to compare and contrast the birds next door with these long-extinct beasts and wonder.

Need to know

Butterfly Creek, at 12 Tom Pierce Drive, Auckland Airport opens every day except Christmas and Boxing Days, with summer and winter hours. See butterflycreek.co.nz for full details.