A proposal to knock down Balclutha's public bird aviary has ruffled feathers.
The South Otago Bird Club, which looks after the birds at the Naish Park aviary, is angry after hearing through the media that the Clutha District Council is considering demolishing the aviary because it is becoming too costly to maintain.
Club secretary Margaret Healy said in a email to the Otago Daily Times the club was disappointed to hear about the proposal through the newspaper.
It was calling for any individuals or groups to offer their help so the club can continue looking after the birds there.
The club took over as custodian of the aviary in 1990 and had looked after the facility since then, Mrs Healy said.
"The understanding with the council was that they supply the seed and give the club a small annual grant to help with purchase of birds, medicines etc, and would give the club any assistance needed.
We are a small club and all the many hours' work has been voluntary by our members for almost 20 years.
"Many hours of labour have gone into feeding the birds, cleaning and painting the aviaries to keep them in a clean and good environment for the birds."
As its members were getting older and the cleaning was getting harder to manage, the club last year asked the council to help with the cleaning but was told that would be too costly.
"We approached them again and were told that if the club couldn't get help and had to give up looking after the birds, that the onus would be on the bird club as to the fate of the birds and aviaries."
Mrs Healy said the club was disappointed to learn the aviaries may be demolished.
"The council have not even had the courtesy to write to the bird club and inform them of their plans . . . shame on them."
The aviaries were an asset to the town and enjoyed by bird lovers, school groups, pre-schoolers and the general public, she said.
Anyone wanting to help the club maintain the aviaries is asked to contact Mrs Healy on (03) 4859 448 or email her at Bigseal@xtra.co.nz.