We’re bringing our popular Tropical Bird Show back to South Shields
A popular Tropical Bird Show is set to return to South Shields.
Members of the public are invited to discover more about exotic birds as a popular show returns to South Shields.
The Tropical Bird Show will be held at the Temple Park Leisure Centre, on John Reid Road, on Sunday, August 16.
It will run from 9.30am until 4pm and will feature a wide variety of activities for people of all ages to get involved in.
There will be a free-flight display, talks with exotic bird experts, tropical bird exhibits, photo booths, shopping opportunities, and more.
A unique event for the North East
Billy Tate, of Boldon-based Garden Feathers and the show’s organiser, has revealed that previous years have brought people from all over the country to South Tyneside.
He said: “We tried to host the first show at our Boldon shop and we ended up with around 200 people turning up in one go so it was absolute chaos.
“So we decided we would try it at Temple Park last year and it was a good day, with around 600 people coming along.
“The show even brought people from places as far as Aberdeen and London to South Tyneside for just this event.
“There is nothing else like this type of event in the North East, which is a part of the world that is very big on exotic birds.
“You only have to go back as far as the mines being open when everyone would have a canary or a budgie, which has now progressed to people having parrots of all descriptions.”
Raising vital funds
The show also helps to raise vital funds for Feathers Together, which looks to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome exotic birds.
Billy added: “We want to open a park where we can put a lot of the exotic birds that come into the rescue that doesn’t necessarily need a home but would benefit from an aviary.
“So we’re looking to raise as much as we possibly can to go towards that - we’ve managed to raise £150,000 up to now so hopefully we can look to add to that.
“We’re very pleased with the amount of far but we still need more funding.”
Tickets for the event cost £12 for adults, with under 16s going free - you can get them at: https://www.tropicalbirdshow.co.uk/.