- Place
- Marijampolė Municipality
- Region
- Suvalkija
- Type
- educational pheasant and ornamental-bird centre
- Address
- beside Šunskai town park, Šunskai, Marijampolė Municipality
- Coordinates
- 54.64431, 23.33071
- Visit duration
- 45-75 minutes; longer with a booked educational programme
- Best time
- during the operating season after arranging the visit; a quieter time of day is best for observing bird behaviour
Šunskai Bird Pheasantry
Why a pheasant represents Šunskai
The Šunskai coat of arms, approved in 2008, carries three pheasants. They are interpreted as faith, hope, and love, while its black field represents wisdom, education, and fertile land.
The pheasantry turns this heraldry into an accessible local experience. Visitors can see the emblem alive and learn how pheasant species differ and behave.
A community idea opened in 2018
The pheasantry officially opened on 11 October 2018. Šunskai elder Rimantas Lekeckas initiated the idea, and the local authority and community developed an educational and recreational space.
The first seven birds arrived in 2017. Aviaries and species diversity later expanded, and the pheasantry joined Lithuania's association of ornamental and pedigree bird keepers.
Which animals visitors may see
The community website currently states 17 species and more than 100 birds. Alongside pheasants it lists peafowl, fancy pigeons, guinea fowl, and quail.
The venue also lists squirrels under the Lithuanian name Hiustono voverės and keeps alpacas. Numbers naturally change, so treat them as a current orientation rather than a permanent catalogue; observation and education are the central experience.
What the educational visit adds
The pheasantry offers more than a chance to photograph colourful birds. Prearranged groups hear about pheasant diversity, husbandry, and behaviour. Comparing neighbouring aviaries reveals differences in body size, tail shape, male plumage, and reactions to approaching visitors.
Brightly coloured males attract attention first, but quiet observation also reveals less conspicuous females and other ornamental birds. Do not touch the mesh, avoid close-range flash, and keep voices low; calmer conduct reduces stress and makes natural behaviour easier to observe.
Season, registration, and animal welfare
The community lists weekday access from 08:00 to 17:00 for prearranged groups of at least ten, while weekend visits require a phone call. Seasonal closure is also possible, so arriving without checking is risky.
Call the currently published number, +370 614 43086, before travelling to confirm season, price, and educational programme availability. Do not feed birds your own food, put hands through mesh, or ignore keeper instructions.
