The survival of the world’s waterfowl is highly dependent on the activities conducted at an eight-acre avian breeding preserve in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Breeding Center is home to over 170 species of birds-- more than half of the known species of ducks, geese and swans--along with cranes, parrots and other many birds.

Founded in 1989 by internationally renowned aviculturalists Mike and Ali Lubbock, the avian breeding center cares for more than 2,500 individual birds, including over 1,000 hatchlings reared each year. Adjacent to breeding center is Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, which together forms the world’s largest waterfowl collection and the second largest bird collection in the United States.

Incredibly, with only a small staff and a few dedicated volunteers at the avian breeding center, a watchful eye is maintained on the world population status of many of the rarest and most critically endangered waterfowl species. Located here are the White-winged Wood Duck of Sumatra, Meller’s Duck of Madagascar, along with the Hawaiian Duck, the Swan Goose and the Madagascar Teal. All of these species waver on the brink of extinction in the wild and in managed preserves as well. The breeding projects initiated at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Breeding Center represent the best hope of survival for these and many other bird species.

The avian breeding center is also the avicultural training site for conservation-oriented avian biologists. Every year, wildlife professionals from the nation’s zoos and nature centers come to here to learn advanced techniques through the Sylvan Heights Avian Husbandry & Management Program. University students from around the world also compete for entrance into the Sylvan Heights Avian Husbandry Internship Program. Both of these programs are vital avenues for training the next generation of waterfowl conservationists.

Due to the fragile nature of the work conducted here, the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Breeding Center is not open to the public. However, tours of the facility are given periodically to upper level members of the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Society. The annual Duckling Day celebration is the ideal opportunity for receiving a guided tour of the Avian Breeding Center. Invitations are sent to those with a current membership at or above the Aviculturalist Level.