Bird Parks in the US

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Hyak_II

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
I know bird parks are a regular thing in Europe (especially in Germany). But how common are they exactly in the US of A? In Canada we only have a handful of facilities dedicated to displaying largely only birds (Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, a Bird of Prey Center in Southern Alberta and a Bird of Prey Center on Vancouver Island are the only three I'm aware of). Well and I suppose a parrot sanctuary in British Columbia, but their a little...different....for lack of better works.

I know of the Tracy and National Avaries, but outside of those two, how many "bird only" facilities are there? I'm not looking for strictly AZA or ZAA either, anything that would constitute a self sustaining public display facility for mainly birds where people pay for admission works for me!
 
Hyak_II said:
I know bird parks are a regular thing in Europe (especially in Germany). But how common are they exactly in the US of A? In Canada we only have a handful of facilities dedicated to displaying largely only birds (Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, a Bird of Prey Center in Southern Alberta and a Bird of Prey Center on Vancouver Island are the only three I'm aware of). Well and I suppose a parrot sanctuary in British Columbia, but their a little...different....for lack of better works.

I know of the Tracy and National Avaries, but outside of those two, how many "bird only" facilities are there? I'm not looking for strictly AZA or ZAA either, anything that would constitute a self sustaining public display facility for mainly birds where people pay for admission works for me!
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The one that immediately comes to mind besides the National and Tracy Aviaries, is the Sylvan Heights Bird Park in North Carolina. Very large bird collection, main focus on waterfowl but also cranes, hummingbirds, etc., in North Carolina
 
There are also some waterfowl breeding places, but they are mainly closed to the public. I've also heard of a breeding center in California specializing in toucans
 
then of course there is the crane breeding center in Wisconsin - I believe it has every crane species on display
 
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Emerald Forest Bird Gardens in California is the largest toucan collection in terms of specimens (over 400). They also hold the only chestnut-tipped toucanet in captivity that I’m aware of. They have quite a few species of hornbill and parrot as well. It is open to the public by arranged tour only.

Another waterfowl specialist collection is Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy. They are open seasonally on weekends, and also have a few species of falcon.
 
Bird Parks in the USA:

California Raptor Center (Davis, CA)**
Emerald Forest Bird Gardens (Fallbrook, CA)
Free Flight: Exotic Bird Sanctuary (Del Mar, CA)**
Nature & Raptor Center of Pueblo (Pueblo, CO)**
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey (Maitland, FL)
Save our Seabirds: Wild Bird Learning Center (Sarasota, FL)
Seaside Seabird Sanctuary (Indian Shores, FL)
World Center for Birds of Prey (Boise, ID)**
Eagle Valley Raptor Center (Cheney, KS)
International Crane Foundation (Baraboo, WI)**
Raptor Center of University of Minnesota (St. Paul, MN)
World Bird Sanctuary (Valley Park, MO)**
Raptor Trust (Millington, NJ)
Carolina Raptor Center (Huntersville, NC)
Sylvan Heights Bird Park (Scotland, NC)
Ohio Bird Sanctuary (Mansfield, OH)
Cascades Raptor Center (Eugene, OR)**
National Aviary (Pittsburgh, PA)
Center for Birds of Prey (Awendaw, SC)
Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City, UT)**

** I've visited 8 of these facilities

There is probably more than the 20 that I've listed, but the USA doesn't have anywhere close to the vast number of bird parks that are scattered throughout Europe.
 
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I know this is a U.S. thread but has anyone been to Bird Kingdom in Canada? I looked but there is not a thread for it.
 
I see Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy has been mentioned, but I don't see Pinola mentioned anywhere in this thread. Pinola Conservancy is located near Shreveport, Louisiana and houses around 300 species of birds (mostly waterfowl). I don't believe they are open to the public very frequently (if at all), but they just became a certified related facility with AZA and participate in many SSP programs.
 
Since Emerald Forest Bird Gardens does not have its own thread, placing here.

Apparently they are ending their parrot breeding, and are selling all their breeding parrots. Anybody have a clue why?
 
Great Argus said:
Since Emerald Forest Bird Gardens does not have its own thread, placing here.

Apparently they are ending their parrot breeding, and are selling all their breeding parrots. Anybody have a clue why?
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They haven't been breeding parrots for quite a while now. Basically what happened is the owner always wanted to focus on ramphastids but thought that he'd need to breed other more popular birds in order to pay the bills so he chose parrots (cockatoos specifically). Much to his surprise, there's a huge demand for ramphastids and the business could survive without the parrots afterall.

jayjds2 said:
Another waterfowl specialist collection is Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy. They are open seasonally on weekends, and also have a few species of falcon.
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They're now slowly branching into non-waterfowl birds as well.

~Thylo
 
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