![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01Pyf9-YQgc2ZnElhx34lW40q4OdRAIUBlVvUScAOmwnz7PMJgtG9FyBapVDL4XjvyhTJX_14hZ07lKCYBnzIaSuKZZFGzRdUV3JaLGAfr0F3iLxPxPYBn_Bqmu7_FRnW3XhTyA/s400/PhiladelphiaZoo00map.jpg)
I have to admit that I do love a good Aviary. It feeds my fascination with birds and
my patience. When you love birds,
you have to have patience--because they don't. There are reasons that poets use words like flit when
speaking of birds. They are
hyper-industrious and vigilant 9 species out of 10. I've been the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Eeyh? (Shoulders raised in a gesture
indicating "nothing special").
Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo had more than I've ever seen at a single zoo
spread out in 5 locations and they were all fine, with the exception of the
open portion of the one attached to the Jaguar exhibit--it was excellent! Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has two--I
really like their African themed aviary.
Both are completely outside, and so the birds are only displayed in the
warmer seasons of the year. The
Smithsonian Zoo in DC has a very old aviary that is in the process of being
redesigned. I look forward to
seeing what they do with it--the plans sound wonderful. I've seen a lot of aviaries, and the
McNeil Avian Center at the Philadelphia Zoo is one of my favorites! It is home to a nice selection of
species in ample and generous spaces.
Two of these habitats allow you be with the birds without any barriers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGJVhbWn28EEC19BvlSJbs8y1FUMRjHcarbfBH8Hy1O0OC8jzG-QgeWfmhYrz5fzx8yLoZj8kMUxGEnIFsGWWENZTRgSZbtlHRGKyrdXd8xKQm8yjlzTu0eHOpzvZJRYeNnSgiw/s400/McNeilAvianCenter.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOSgO8f2tHyEYUalhdwZRY4O0Ro6e4XMQO-KphJU4OXLF4Lz47pBHar1VaexdQvnGTp0bvuZ1h1sy4JqsRNTIodY9Y2F1Xf_GRSLdjjbD22xKex5R19BON6wqXhw0Zre789SguQ/s400/PhiladelphiaZoo40.png) |
The larger facade of the McNeil Avian Center's front |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7Hq3ux3L6LMbaKCQaJgwnYEpXwIchAG_wzsgJOduXBMtsfD3bNnLUvElOPJfY_oJ_KBMnbWap0e0Ds8j8ACke1nPKfBHpRkZfu8VJBULEK0JOALVZfWJmBXa3hNV-AR2wF7A3A/s400/PhiladelphiaZoo41.png) |
A statue depicting Penguins |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisNgZ5Ke3XcF-a45sYl6BsYc3jVLj8N2hPHEj2rUB6aVL2zT8Mig_7r7J98Yq9BchdWq-qGQGcsrqPmGewMCz46-GpslGjbsifcHheoTpnzVSX3Qw2GMQOqESXGTrtmIfhRff4g/s400/PhiladelphiaZoo42.png) |
The entrance |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubR6Fa_CochRw9wByLee3nZMaKRlddxoEIFJELDJuU8hcvY9XoMGLB1BOg0u2q_3dqDFcsom2od74eWuf-gRyOueVgg2RYuHTx52ZVuFfEkjSiuLvYfLVPxmXM7C83HToLu8unw/s320/PhiladelphiaZoo43.png) |
Entering the main lobby, you see the larger Aviary in front of you. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0C4UTEMuC9BuYc3vIFMtCh7crSazoFouxOPSs6yvrhnXzg8hycp3JIt1e05_gSHj5mY8ytUzeM24T1qxD15Llzuvy_gm91p7PLC2T5fBoMGEZlElyZkuwQxwOroy5-Gds5pgZg/s320/PhiladelphiaZoo4PhiladelphiaZoo44.png) |
An interim habitat is the home of a pair of Rhinoceros Hornbill |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGj2Fhl7UddsR_-PPlsVw7oxoi48aE2PZZjZFN8M3eZ-Ya97VxUfwxHR0KeI8ULMa8_51TNA18xnTXhemSTaZ-w5Q88rGeTMWixQ03DOc_aTcN0987Q_i5IwmSCSe2RxgprH7JQ/s320/PhiladelphiaZoo45.png) |
Rhinoceros Hornbill, Buckeroos rhinoceros |
The first room to the right is home to birds from the African savannah. It's the first space where the birds are not kept from the public.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYZTXSuEcuQ5xUSWv_LRILs4xNDpzooshJZZ3GhDfSqZMhXnTPWSUWb4oycTCvlwaqA9Vao5rtD13ABm2JUoq8H3FeI9FzZWiJG2hNE-hzM8ha9CjZx2ayeN-RZyvAis9FUgyzg/s320/PhiladelphiaZoo46.png) |
Buff-breasted Bustard, Euphodotis gindiana |
This beautiful little bird, the Buff-breasted Bustard, has a call that is piercing and sonically loud! It called out when I was in the main gallery, two rooms away, and it was impossible to ignore.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1e7Ga_cKblrfYFzfmWmZmaw8aEJLfjzgiGuWQdoqIWa91luDg2twVgU9l1o6Atj_YlGrsMhzZYcz3Q1TicJ1tHs8b3iCysS8s4GQCCnp-C07-wH7O_hGUXTPCH4JoV0KyBQRYMg/s320/PhiladelphiaZoo47.png) |
Cattle Egret, Bibulous ibis |
I was focused on obtaining a decent picture of the Kingfisher, when all of a sudden I felt the presence of something very near to me. With a start, I looked to my left and there was this beautiful Cattle Egret.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSpnpCBGhLh-v1TqLnTkD8NLBxTejTYGsWpc6YRXTHXBNZ16BO0Hyxquwa51HwOtLArRu0eOSnsM8zb2fyfPYdHoHcurUOtlDe-R38WrNV4Pys0KBDfWFqM2kkno4bAsbvNe19g/s320/PhiladelphiaZoo48.png) |
Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JINEpRKcJh6b2RevGn9EpMPjYGypjwxtLFrqZ6xl9vO5ZW_uczOc7vNJBhcQT4EGHSpkNj30CGQndrXlXNOwZA8O8eT9LLuZjJ308kS3X9e7uMYlANDUxNiwVriukWRJq5rn2A/s320/PhiladelphiaZoo49.png) |
Golden-breasted Starling, Lamprotornis regis |
I got a kick out of discovering that when I visited the Philadelphia Zoo back in 2012, and the McNeil Avian Center, I included a photo of a Golden-breasted Starling in my posts then, too! Such a beautiful bird.
No comments:
Post a Comment