Birds

Exhibiting Birds

Birds in zoos have perhaps had the most opportunities to move about meeting their own needs, often in mixed species aviaries.  Yet providing a surplus of critical resources for them to avoid excessive competition can still be a challenge.

Bird management is a serious challenge and curators tell me species kept in separate enclosures are much easier to manage, while large mixed-species aviaries are much more realistic. One successful adaptation is to condition each species to uses a smaller side enclosure as their home area and feeding and nesting station while all normally have free access to a large mixed-species aviary. Each group is conditioned to return to their home base whenever food is provided. Using this management method, the entire Louisville Islands Aviary was cleared of birds during emergency training within thirty minutes.

Penguins are a special and popular type of birds with greatly enhanced exhibits over the last few decades. A particular improvement has been the development of large hydraulic “wave machines”, providing penguins opportunities to “surf” to the delight of viewers and enrichment of these highly aquatic birds. Jon has suggested plans for penguins to circle buildings and travel farther than single pools, but such opportunities have not yet been implemented.

Penguins benefit from chilled water and Antarctic species require chilled air as well, making maintenance costs very high over the long-term. Excellent penguin exhibits include those at Woodland Park Zoo, Minnesota State Zoo, and the New York Aquarium.

Penguin Entry Concept

 Birds, including penguins, offer unique presentation opportunities.  This concept sketch shows a penguin except in an entrance lobby.

Paper on waterfowl exhibit

Coe, Jon C. , 1980. “The Waterfowl Exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle” in International Zoo Yearbook, 20:282-286.

Aviary and other bird exhibits

  • Marsh and Swamp Exhibit, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington, 1978, CLR
Sea Cliff Exhibit

Sea Cliffs

Highly realistic penguin exhibit at the New York Aquarium (Left) and indoor penguin exhibit with an active wave generator at Riverbanks Zoo (right and below). Photos: J. Coe

Sea Cliff Exhibit

Interior Sea Cliff Exhibit

Penguin exhibits at Riverbanks Zoo by Jon and CLRdesign team uses a powerful wave machine, allowing penguins to surf of large, realistic waves.

  • Sea Cliffs, New York Aquarium, New York, 1986, CLR 
  • Bald Eagle Exhibit, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington, 1995, CLR
  • Island (mixed species exhibit), Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Kentucky, 1996, CLR
  • Aviary, Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, South Carolina, 2000, CLR
  • Penguin Exhibit, Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, South Carolina, 1986, CLR
  • Historic Aviary Renovation, Toledo Zoo, Toledo, Ohio, 2003, CLR
  • Great Aviary, Thrissur Zoo, Karola, India, 2011, JCD