Bournemouth aviary criticised as you can't see the birds

The large dome which is home to 200 exotic rescue birds is supposed to offer a '360 degree viewing experience'.

But it has been built using a double layered metal grill to stop people feeding the birds and to protect their fingers from being nipped.

Bournemouth's new aviary. Picture BNPS

And as the top of the dome is made of solid metal hardly any light passes through the aviary. As a result, the facility is too dark for people to see most of the birds.

The much-anticipated conservatory, predominantly funded by public donations, has been 20 years in the making and took several months to build.

Yet after its grand-unveiling in Bournemouth, Dorset, visitors have been left underwhelmed.

Read more: Letter: 'Very disappointed by new aviary in Bournemouth'

Dozens of squinting observers leaned in close to the aviary to catch a glance of one of its many inhabitants which includes zebra finch, love birds, cockatiels and parrots.

Paul Rice, from Marlborough, Wilts, who frequently visits Bournemouth with partner, Karron Fitchett, said: "The majority of people just walk past now because they can't see inside.

Bournemouth's new aviary. Picture BNPS

"£400,000 is a lot of money for that, isn't it? You can't see a thing - all you can see is shadow.

"All those people who have put money into it can't even look at the birds".

Ms Fitchett described herself as a "bird lover" but that she was disappointed by the aviary. She added: "You'd think they'd have had experts looking at the design who would realise".

John Holmes, 70, and wife Nina, were also struggling to see. He said: "It's very hard to see the birds. You can see the utility of the double grill but you need some light coming in from the top of the cage".

Read more: Bournemouth Aviary delays opening due to bird flu

Giran Bhardwas, 65, from London, said: "I was trying to take some pictures on my phone to show my granddaughter but I couldn't see anything.

"I don't think it was worth £400,000 - they should have spent the money on more public toilets.

Bournemouth's new aviary. Picture BNPS

"It's the double caging - the narrow holes make it difficult. If they were a little bigger with a see-through top to let light in, it would have been better".

Tripadviser reviews of the new aviary have been equally unflattering, with one visitor writing it is "not worth looking at".

They said: "The gardens are always lovely but we were so disappointed in the new aviary, although a safe haven for the birds it's certainly not an attraction, you cannot see the birds properly as the cages around them obscure view.

Read more: New Bournemouth Aviary reopens in Lower Gardens

"Such a shame the architect could not have come up with something better. Always on our visits we would go see the birds but its not worth looking at anymore".

Others urged the architects who designed it to "put it right". One wrote: "The new aviary is very poor - the birds are very hard to see through the two layers of mesh. This really needs a redesign".

Another review said: "Very disappointed - could not see the birds. Let's hope the designers put it right".

Bournemouth's new bird aviary

Comments on Facebook have been even more scathing with some decrying it as a 'poorly designed eyesore' reminiscent of the 'thunder dome' in the post-apocalyptic film, Mad Max.

Chris Grant said it was a "great idea but an awful design" while Bev Lloyd described it as a "total eye sore".

Moni Chai said: "The extra cage ruins the view and nobody seems to want to fix it - what a shame. Not enough thought has gone into it but I bet lots of money was so we're stuck with this c**p view".

Named the Coopper Thompson Rescue Aviary, it was funded by £266,255 in public donations - as well as a £150,000 community infrastructure levy from the BCP Council and the Parks Foundation, a local charity.

The Parks Foundation described it as a "landmark structure" offering more room for the birds to fly and a "360 degree viewing experience".

They said it was built to "higher welfare standards" using "sustainable" materials.

Derek Heritage from Bournemouth Aviary, the volunteer-led organisation which manages it, said: "It was over 20 years ago that plans were made to remove the old aviary for good.

"Now we are celebrating the working relationship between the council, the Parks Foundation and a group of volunteers and the on-going support from United Taxis who’ve helped us raise the much-needed funds to rebuild the aviary".

Responding to concerns by visitors that they cannot see inside the aviary, a council spokesman said they would be trialing various "options" to improve visibility.

Birds in Bournemouth's aviary. Picture BNPS

Councillor Mark Anderson, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place, said: "The new Bournemouth Aviary has been designed to keep the birds safe, which is why we have a double mesh layer on the outside.

"This prevents people from feeding the birds which can be harmful to them, and helps keep fingers safe from being pecked. It also provides variable shade for the birds.

"We want everyone who visits it to enjoy 360-degree views of the birds and we recommend standing close to the mesh to see the birds, however, we are aware that not everyone can see through the double mesh layer.

"Taking on board this feedback, will be trialling various options in the coming weeks that will allow better visibility from outside the aviary looking in.

"The aviary is an important part of Bournemouth’s history having been in this location in one form or another since the 1930s. This new structure provides more flight space for the birds and we’re delighted that they’ve settled in to their new surroundings remarkable quickly, making the morning chirp of birdsong that little bit louder – and we hope that all residents and visitors to Bournemouth will once again enjoy seeing the birds in their new, improved habitat."