Get Your FREE Ultimate Weekend Packing Cheat Sheet!

Sylvan Heights Bird Park Scotland Neck NC PullOverAndLetMeOut
Anna Marie

Anna Marie

Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, North Carolina

Travel with PullOverandLetMeOut to visit an amazing bird park in rural North Carolina dedicated to conservation, education, research and wholesome outdoor fun.
A woman sipping coffee outside
Hi, I’m Anna Marie. I’m a wife, mother, Irish dancer, and pug mom living in North Carolina. I also love to travel. Come along for the ride! If you see something you like, don’t be afraid to say, ‘Pull over and let me out.’

This place is for the birds!

No, really.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, North Carolina is devoted to birds. Beautiful, colorful, and majestic birds. 200 species to be precise. This incredible off-the-beaten-path park, located in a rural corner of eastern North Carolina, is a wonderful place to immerse yourself in nature while meeting stunning birds up close and learning about these magnificent creatures. It also turns out to be an excellent location for a homeschool field trip with my photography-obsessed teen. 

a fountain and some flamingos
American flamingos greet visitors at Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, NC

An unforgettable up-close visit with thousands of birds

We drove from Raleigh on a sunny April morning to see what turns out to be the most incredible bird park imaginable. We bought our tickets upon arrival and once inside, we were greeted by an awe-inspiring flock of American Flamingos. The happy pink birds were enjoying the bright spring morning playing in the water.

From this, we followed the map and hiked the trails, seeing birds from all over the world. Over 2,000 waterfowl, parrots, toucans, flamingos, and other exotic birds from every corner of the world call the 18-acre facility home.

The park is designed to make viewing these extraordinary birds simple and accessible. The exhibit areas are organized by continent, and there is plenty of information to educate and inform visitors about the birds at each viewing area.

There is also ample shade, benches, picnic areas, and even a playground. The park also boasts a 4,400 square foot event space open-air pavilion called Toad Hall that holds up to 200 guests. In other words, the park is extremely well-planned and designed for communing with nature in a variety of ways. 

a yellow and blue macaw
Beautiful colorful birds from around the world are on display.
SHOP ON AMAZON
a sign that says Toad Hall
Toad Hall event space
a boardwalk nature walk
The beautiful shaded Nature Walk

The Birds!

While Sylvan Heights Bird Park is an excellent educational field trip for people of all ages, spending time observing and admiring the birds is particularly enjoyable. To that end, it’s also a great place to photograph these magnificent feathered creatures. My son took so many spectacular pictures, I had a hard time choosing which ones to include in this post!

wood duck
bird with eyelashes
an emu
a red macaw

The birds are amazing! Sylvan Heights Bird Park is home to many rare and endangered species from around the world.

PullOver Pro Tip picture

Sylvan Heights, along with the International Wild Waterfowl Association (our partner organization), is dedicated to the conservation of waterfowl and wetlands through captive management of rare and endangered species, public education, and collaboration with other organizations working towards this common goal.

Planning your visit to Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Sylvan Heights Bird Park is about an hour and forty minutes northeast of Raleigh and a little over forty minutes from Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Once you depart the main highways, the drive is a beautiful scenic ride along pretty country roads.

The park is open year-round from 9:00-5:00 in the spring and summer and 9:00-4:00 in the fall and winter but is closed on Mondays. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Before going out, I always check the website to make sure there haven’t been any schedule changes. Likewise, a visit to the website is a good way to learn about special events and programs that are planned throughout the year.

It’s best to allow at least two to three hours to explore and enjoy the birds. While the tour is self-guided, the park also provides guided tours and guided golf cart tours for guests with mobility issues. All guided tours, however, require advance reservations. There’s also a wonderful gift shop you’ll want to check out!

Food & Dining

As I mentioned earlier, the park is well-designed, and great care has been taken to ensure that visitors have a positive experience. As a result, Sylvan Heights has plenty of picnic tables for guests who wish to bring their lunch and eat it in the shade of the trees. If you prefer to eat in town, we had a fantastic authentic Italian meal at La Casetta on Main Street in Scotland Neck. Friendly service and delicious New York-style pizza!

Oh, and if you want to feed the birds, you can purchase bird food in the visitors center. 

three birds of paradise on perches
A few of the birds in the Birds of Paradise aviary

Take Away

This extraordinary bird park left me speechless. Aside from the friendly staff and warm welcome, I was blown away by the number and variety of birds, the brilliant design of the park, and, most importantly, how all of the elements work so well with the natural setting to provide a memorable experience.

Best of all, this is the type of attraction that appeals to people of all ages. Even teenagers who want to be photographers!

Sylvan Heights Bird Park
500 Sylvan Heights Park Way
Scotland Neck, North Carolina  27874
(252) 826-3186

aphotographer taking pictures
My inspired photographer for the trip!

Hey, Pinners! Pin this for later!

► Plan Your Trip to Sylvan Heights Bird Park Now!

It makes it simple to plan your trip.   We’ve pre-filled the destination from the article and if there are multiple places mentioned in the article, we’ve put the one that is best used as your base to see all of the places mentioned.

Just select I’M STAYING and enter the travel dates and hit SEARCH.  It automatically uses the first place in the article.  

For a multi-day trip, if you stay near that location, you should be able to use it as your base.

Super simple.  Just click on the pencil and enter the name of any place mentioned in the story.  Or you can enter any address or even the name of a company if you are mixing business and pleasure.

Just click I’M DRIVING and you can see how long it will take, get driving directions and even rent a car if you need one.

Yes, we guarantee the best published rates on hotels.  Click on the link for BEST RATE 110% GUARANTEE for details.

Share your experiences  

Hey pinners, save this for pinning after your trip

After you get back from your trip, please use these images to post to social media or post your own photos.  Please tag us on your post #pulloverandletmeout
 
You can also use the social sharing links on the SmartTrip tool.
Paws for Purple Hearts logo

More travel stories you'll love reading!

Cover photo two pints of Guinness

What You Need to Know Before You Order That Pint of Guinness

Few beverages are as closely linked to a location as Guinness is to Ireland. Rich in heritage, the creamy dark stout is a daily staple at pubs and bars across Ireland and the world. Travel along with Pull Over and Let Me Out to the Emerald Isle and learn what you need to know before you order that pint of Guinness.

Read More »
a cover photo of a stone bed and breakfast

Seven Simple Steps For Selecting a Bed and Breakfast

The term B&B encompasses a wide variety of guest houses and is a form of lodging which provides a very different mood and atmosphere for an over night stay. Travel with PullOverandLetMeOut to discover 7 simple steps for selecting a bed and breakfast that is perfect for your next stay.

Read More »

Let’s Get Social!
Click below and join the conversation on social media

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top

FREE Access to Exclusive Travel Tips and Deals

Get the latest travel news, tips & information from PullOverandLetMeOut.com!

Save on Membership with

Coupon LIFECHANGER25

don't leave empty-handed

Get your FREE Ultimate Weekend Packing Cheat Sheet

Happy Travels