SINGAPORE - Jurong Bird Park - which opened on Jan 3, 1971 - celebrated its 45th "bird-day" on Sunday by giving Singapore residents who visited, a 45 per cent discount on admission tickets.

The park also gave away goodie bags to 45 "early bird" visitors to mark its 45th anniversary, Wild Life Reserves Singapore said in a press release on Sunday.

Guests enjoyed a special edition of the park's bird show - the High Flyers Show.

Amigo, a yellow-naped Amazon that sings in three languages, performed a birthday song for the park.

The park's pioneer show birds - Big John the cockatoo and Rod Stewart the Egyptian vulture - returned to the stage as part of the anniversary show.

Both were part of the first flock when the park launched its shows in 1982.

There will be a series of celebratory events in 2016 for the park's 45th anniversary.

Jurong Bird Park was Asia's first bird park.

It was conceived by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee who was the architect behind the development of Jurong town.

Today, the 20.2ha park attracts approximately 800,000 visitors each year.

The park has about 5,000 birds representing 400 world species - of which 15 per cent are threatened.

Besides being a tourist attraction, Jurong Bird Park is a leading institution for the conservation of avian biodiversity.

It has successfully bred threatened species such as the Bali mynah, blue-throated macaw and other significant species.

It is also the only park with an avian hospital in the Asia-Pacific.

The festivities on Sunday kick off a series of year-long celebratory events for Jurong Bird Park's 45th anniversary.

Visitors can look forward to interactive June holiday activities that create opportunities for multi-generational bonding while learning about the avian world. Details will be announced at a later date.