Volodymyr Saveliiovych Perekhodovych has been working in Feldman Ecopark for three years. He is entrusted with the most numerous units here with over one and a half thousand clamorous pets. He knows each of the heads of sector of birds by sight. The latter also recognize their chief, as they immediately run or fly towards as soon as they see him. Many of them were reared ‘ab ovo’ and ‘set on the wings,’ some of them were rescued from death and nursed by him. Nevertheless, the strict “bird’s father” has no favourites.
“To me, they are all very dear and favourite. It is impossible to single out or to offend one of them, as each of them needs care and attention. There are a lot of them here, and they are different. Only 90 species here are from the Red List. The number of birds increases every year, because we are developing,” Volodymyr Saveliiovych tells.
His work he describes with the following words: “This is my business, and this is my life.” There are a lot of things to take care of, as it is necessary to look after the birds from morning till night, practically without weekends and vacations.
“I stay with them all the year round. Sometimes it so happens that I take a holiday in summer, and something surely happens: for example, nestlings hatch out,” the head of the birds’ sector complains. “It is just impossible to leave them, it is necessary to control the process, to rear nestlings, to set them on the feet.”
There are 11 workers in the sector of birds. As a rule, the workday starts with the breakfast cooking for numerous pets with the excellent appetite. The workers on duty obtain all the necessary products from the storehouse according to the diets. Then, they feed the birds, clean the enclosures and wash the bird baths.
“It is the most important thing – the birds must be fed and must have fresh water. Regardless of the weather. If it is freezing, we add warm water. We always keep an eye on the birds for them not to be hungry, to be clean and healthy,” Volodymyr Saveliiovych shares the rudiments. “They are examined by veterinarians every day, when they make the round in the morning. In case of any behavior deviations or any malaise (as it becomes evident immediately when a bird feels bad), the workers consult the specialists immediately.”
Despite the fact that Volodymyr Saveliiovych has no special ornithological education, he has been working with birds for 35 years. He loves these wonderful creatures from childhood.
“I like this, because they are all alive and beautiful. My grandfather had pigeons, and my father kept them as well. Apparently, I’ve inherited this interest. When I was young, I reared budgerigars before the enlistment. Later, I started to keep other species. I studied birds on my own, I studied their behaviour, their psychology; I read a lot. I gained my experience and knowledge over the years.” Volodymyr Saveliiovych tells about his passion. “My hobby gradually turned into profession and lifework. I cannot imagine myself without them. In addition to my work, I have a lot of birds at home.”
The skilled poultry keeper didn’t manage to indicate his favourite representative of the feathered friends. According to his words, all of them – including peacocks or mandarin ducks, or for example Cayuga ducks – are wonderful and interesting their own way. But if Volodymyr Saveliiovych had an opportunity to choose what bird to be, he would like to become an eagle owl. “There is no time to sleep and it is necessary to be wise. It is necessary to think, know and understand a lot,” he jokes. The Feldman Ecopark’s chief specialist in birds understands a lot of things in their life, and knows many interesting stories about this. But we will tell you these stories next time.
