America's 100 Must See Exhibits

[ifesbob]

Hummingbirds aren’t exactly a species many get excited for. Also those two points aren’t about the exhibit. I’m struggling to see how the actual exhibit is must see.

It's a really good exhibit for hummingbirds, giving people more of an appreciation for underappreciated little guys. People should get excited about hummingbirds, one of the points of many zoo exhibits is to get people excited about things they wouldn't otherwise be.

(Also it bares repeating that while there is effort to make the list somewhat objective, it is quite literally impossible to make not subjective)

 

[Pleistocene891]

It's a really good exhibit for hummingbirds, giving people more of an appreciation for underappreciated little guys. People should get excited about hummingbirds, one of the points of many zoo exhibits is to get people excited about things they wouldn't otherwise be.

(Also it bares repeating that while there is effort to make the list somewhat objective, it is quite literally impossible to make not subjective)

I haven’t been to ASDM, but from the pictures provided if looks like a much more naturalistic hummingbird exhibit than San Diego. If I was forced to choose one of make the list, I would definitely go with ASDM.

 

[ifesbob]

I haven’t been to ASDM, but from the pictures provided if looks like a much more naturalistic hummingbird exhibit than San Diego. If I was forced to choose one of make the list, I would definitely go with ASDM.

I've never been to either so I can't speak to that, I'm just saying why I think this exhibit was included.

 

[pachyderm pro]

Hummingbirds aren’t exactly a species many get excited for.

That's why an exhibit like this is all the more important. Engaging visitors with smaller, often overlooked species is a unique role modern zoos can play and should be celebrated. Truthfully however, I disagree that hummingbirds "aren’t exactly a species many get excited for." They are fascinating little creatures that are quite charming to the general public and from my understanding this exhibit has been very popular with San Diego Zoo patrons. Regardless, the name of the exhibit is a little misleading as of the 20 species in the house only three are hummingbirds, so it's really more of a South American aviary with an emphasis on hummingbirds.

I struggle to see how this aviary is on par with Wings of Asia, the Scripps Aviary, or the Columbus Songbird Aviary that's already been mentioned. I can easily get behind those three aviaries being included, but this aviary just seems like a respectable walk-through aviary that doesn't really stand above the pack as a "must-see".

It's not on the same scale as the other walkthrough aviaries at San Diego or Wings of Asia, but it doesn't need to be. I personally think it's wise to showcase that exhibits don't need to be big to be fantastic and that smart design with a cool focus can be enough to make the cut on this list. The Europe list included mega-aviaries like Doue's South American aviary and also included smaller walkthrough buildings like Prague's Sichuan house; this is no different. ZooChatters who have seen this exhibit since it opened have praised it and next time I'm in San Diego it's one of the things I most look forward to seeing.

I haven’t been to ASDM, but from the pictures provided if looks like a much more naturalistic hummingbird exhibit than San Diego. If I was forced to choose one of make the list, I would definitely go with ASDM.

The hummingbird aviary at ASDM was considered for the main list and in truth an argument could be made for its inclusion in place of the San Diego aviary, but I ultimately settled on San Diego because of the extra care gone into animal welfare, clever design, and much higher species diversity. Regardless, they are both fantastic and worth seeing.

 

[Pleistocene891]

Regardless, the name of the exhibit is a little misleading as of the 20 species in the house only three are hummingbirds, so it's really more of a South American aviary with an emphasis on hummingbirds.

I feel like that just makes the argument for this exhibit being must see even weaker. In essence, this exhibit is just the average South American aviary instead of mainly focusing on hummingbirds.

 

[ifesbob]

I feel like that just makes the argument for this exhibit being must see even weaker. In essence, this exhibit is just the average South American aviary instead of mainly focusing on hummingbirds.

But then you have to consider design and animal care/welfare etc.

 

[Aardwolf]

Having been to both this aviary and the ASDM one, I would have to say that the ASDM is the stronger of the two, in my opinion. It's certainly not a bad exhibit but didn't really stand out to me. The hummingbird aviary at the Desert Museum, however, was one of the most unique and interesting aspects of that facility both in terms of its appearance and the novelty of a walk-through aviary with multiple species of a group of birds that are rarely included in zoos, and which you rarely get the chance to observe in any detail - especially not multiple species!

 

[Pleistocene891]

But then you have to consider design and animal care/welfare etc.

The exhibit design looks very basic. Nothing stands out about it.

 

[birdsandbats]

While this aviary is decent, there’s other aviaries that are more worthy of “must see” status. I’m struggling to figure out why this aviary is must see.

How many other hummingbird-focused aviaries are there? I believe there's only like 5 or so walk-through hummingbird aviaries in the entire country, and in one of those your chances of seeing hummingbirds is actually fairly low. Barely any zoos even keep hummingbirds in the first place, even. So a naturalistic, walk-through hummingbird aviary with a unique shape? Why would it not qualify?

 

[Coelacanth18]

69. Hummingbird Habitat
San Diego Zoo, CA

Similar Exhibits: I would also like to highlight the beautiful hummingbird aviary at Arizona Sonora-Desert Museum which is exclusively focused on hummingbirds who are, of course, native to the Sonoran Desert. The vegetation is extremely thick and makes for a great challenge when trying to spot the tiny denizens.

The hummingbird aviary at ASDM was considered for the main list and in truth an argument could be made for its inclusion in place of the San Diego aviary, but I ultimately settled on San Diego because of the extra care gone into animal welfare, clever design, and much higher species diversity. Regardless, they are both fantastic and worth seeing.

Having seen both of these aviaries in the past 12 months, they're honestly both must-see in my opinion - but since some people apparently think giving even one of them an entry was too much I can understand why they had to share a post

I didn't realize how much of the San Diego aviary's design was structured for the benefit of the animals, and knowing that now makes me appreciate it even more. I also understand why - from a design standpoint - this would qualify it to be the headline representative. That being said: from the standpoint of offering a must-see experience focused specifically on hummingbirds, I also think that the Desert Museum's is more representative. In 30 minutes I saw one hummingbird in San Diego's small aviary; it is mostly honeycreepers, tanagers, finches, pihas, trogons - all amazing birds worth seeing, but also not exactly hummingbirds. 10 or 15 minutes in the ASDM aviary got me about 6 hummingbirds. In fact, the vegetation actually doesn't make it that big a challenge to find the hummingbirds - they are quite active and visible.

TL;DR: both aviaries have merit, and IMO people should see both for different reasons.

 

[Coelacanth18]

While this is certainly a good aviary, there are so many good aviaries in the US, including the ones that have already made the list, and I struggle to see how this aviary is on par with Wings of Asia, the Scripps Aviary, or the Columbus Songbird Aviary that's already been mentioned.

I fail to see why the species in this aviary make it a must-see exhibit. The species list is irrelevant to the overall quality of the exhibit, which is what's being judged in this thread.

I don't understand this argument. Most of us go to zoos to see animals, of course the species in an exhibit matters to whether it's must-see. "Must-see" is an experiential term, and animals are a key part - for many people the key part - of the experience. Would you have thought Wings of Asia was worth considering if it was the same aviary, but only had a giant flock of Cattle Egrets in it? Would the native songbird aviary still be a great exhibit if it didn't have any native songbirds? What about if the amazing Scripps aviary structure existed, with all the same dense vegetation... but the only animals were a pair of Mallard ducks?

I'd like to think that these exhibits were highlighted for the reason @birdsandbats essentially outlined: hummingbird houses are a rare experience in American zoos, and these two listings arguably offer the peak of that experience.

Out of curiosity, I went through this list and looked at how many walk-through aviaries have been covered so far, given that it's a common style of exhibitry and a number of them have made the cut. So far, the following six aviaries have been included, in order of inclusion:
- Sea Bird Aviary (Oregon Coast Aquarium)
- Stork Aviary (Racine Zoo)
- Scripps Aviary (San Diego Zoo)
- Wings of Asia (Zoo Miami)
- Migratory Songbird Aviary (Columbus Zoo)
- Hummingbird Habitat (San Diego Zoo)

six is a fairly large number of exhibits dedicated to a single style of exhibitry,

You think there's a lot of aviaries, I think there's a lot of African savannas. I'm more interested in birds, you're more interested in ungulates. Perhaps our opinions are biased by thinking other people must see things we'd like to see ourselves?

The six aviaries you outlined offer different experiences. Leaving out the stork aviary (IMO it's easily the most replaceable): two are enormous, diverse walk-through aviaries for many species and three are for groups of birds that are all quite different from each other - sea birds, backyard birds, and hummingbirds. I fail to see how leaving some of them out would make the list more representative of must-see zoo experiences.

It's also worth remembering that birds make up a large part of US captive collections - so honestly is it weird for maybe 10% of the list so far to focus exclusively on birds?

 

[Moebelle]

69. Hummingbird Habitat
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 2021
Size: 3,800 Square Feet (350 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: 20 South American birds including various tanager, honeycreeper, and hummingbird species.

San Diego is well known for its absolute plethora of spectacular aviaries, so be careful not to let this comparatively modest building get lost in the shuffle. While it’s referred to as a hummingbird aviary, this infinity loop shaped house showcases an excellent variety of South American birds, including several rarities. The unique figure eight design was a calculated decision in order to allow the birds to be out of view of one another to decrease aggression. This is done thanks to various green walls which were implemented for hiding and nesting opportunities, although the mock rock they grow out of is a tad unsightly. Modern tech was integrated into the building with electric blinds that will enclose the aviary when the temperature drops below the allowed limit. There is also a built in misting system working with various small ponds and streams tucked into the habitat. It’s only a few years old, but the furnishings have already grown nicely and wonderfully compliment the vibrance of the house’s residents. The old hummingbird aviary this replaced was a hidden gem often to its detriment, but this new exhibit has already proven to be an even greater success in both animal management and visitor reception.

@Coelacanth18

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

Similar Exhibits: I would also like to highlight the beautiful hummingbird aviary at Arizona Sonora-Desert Museum which is exclusively focused on hummingbirds who are, of course, native to the Sonoran Desert. The vegetation is extremely thick and makes for a great challenge when trying to spot the tiny denizens.

@Coelacanth18

@Coelacanth18

@Coelacanth18

Up until my recent visit to Animal Kingdom, the Hummingbird habitat became my all time favorite individual aviary. We had a positively tough time leaving to film the rest of the zoo. I wouldn't be surprised if we looked around for a collective hour, catching a glimpse of something we didn't see before with each walk through - even though it isn't a large space. It was my first time searching for hummingbirds, but ironically, the highlight were the Jacanas and their chicks.

 

[pachyderm pro]

I feel like that just makes the argument for this exhibit being must see even weaker. In essence, this exhibit is just the average South American aviary instead of mainly focusing on hummingbirds.

So at first your argument was that hummingbirds aren't a species many get excited for and as a result the exhibit isn't must-see. Now your argument is that it doesn't focus on hummingbirds enough and the inclusion of other birds makes it weaker. Do these arguments not directly contradict each other?

Having seen both of these aviaries in the past 12 months, they're honestly both must-see in my opinion - but since some people apparently think giving even one of them an entry was too much I can understand why they had to share a post

I didn't realize how much of the San Diego aviary's design was structured for the benefit of the animals, and knowing that now makes me appreciate it even more. I also understand why - from a design standpoint - this would qualify it to be the headline representative. That being said: from the standpoint of offering a must-see experience focused specifically on hummingbirds, I also think that the Desert Museum's is more representative. In 30 minutes I saw one hummingbird in San Diego's small aviary; it is mostly honeycreepers, tanagers, finches, pihas, trogons - all amazing birds worth seeing, but also not exactly hummingbirds. 10 or 15 minutes in the ASDM aviary got me about 6 hummingbirds. In fact, the vegetation actually doesn't make it that big a challenge to find the hummingbirds - they are quite active and visible.

TL;DR: both aviaries have merit, and IMO people should see both for different reasons.

Thank you for both of your well written posts. Indeed this is one of those cases where the spot really could have gone to either of the exhibits in question - similar to the seabird aviaries at Oregon Coast Aquarium and Alaska SeaLife Center which were discussed earlier. San Diego's aviary has a far more diverse collection with several innovative features and a modern design, while the aviary at ASDM has a greater focus on hummingbird species themselves, is very well planted with native vegetation, and larger overall.

 

[Pleistocene891]

So at first your argument was that hummingbirds aren't a species many get excited for and as a result the exhibit isn't must-see. Now your argument is that it doesn't focus on hummingbirds enough and the inclusion of other birds makes it weaker. Do these arguments not directly contradict each other?

I was more so talking about the general public. But if the argument you're making for why this exhibit is must see is because it showcases hummingbirds, then the inclusion of other bird species is a problem.

 

[15399]

You think there's a lot of aviaries, I think there's a lot of African savannas. I'm more interested in birds, you're more interested in ungulates. Perhaps our opinions are biased by thinking other people must see things we'd like to see ourselves?

The six aviaries you outlined offer different experiences. Leaving out the stork aviary (IMO it's easily the most replaceable): two are enormous, diverse walk-through aviaries for many species and three are for groups of birds that are all quite different from each other - sea birds, backyard birds, and hummingbirds. I fail to see how leaving some of them out would make the list more representative of must-see zoo experiences.

It's also worth remembering that birds make up a large part of US captive collections - so honestly is it weird for maybe 10% of the list so far to focus exclusively on birds?

Note that I also said that it's reasonable for there to be six aviaries on the list, since it is a fairly common style of exhibitry. I completely agree that each of these exhibits provides a different type of experience, and four of them (Seabird, Migratory Bird, Scripps, Wings of Asia) I can get behind 100% as deserving spots on this list. Note when I was making my list of guesses, I also included two aviaries that have yet to be included on this list, one of which I sincerely hope ends up making the cut (although I am doubtful it will).

For the record, I'd also agree with you that there are a lot of African savannas on this list, although with both these instances (Savannas and Aviaries), I think it's understandable that there are a lot of exhibits included with these themes because it reflects the fact a lot of zoo exhibits have these same themes to them. 10% of the list being birds certainly is reasonable, and when I made my list to guess what the 100 exhibits would be, eight of the exhibits I included on the list were primarily (or entirely) bird-focused. Don't get me wrong, I love walkthrough aviaries, and am a huge fan of seeing birds in zoos, I just also am interested in looking at the breakdown of different styles of exhibitry included in this thread to see how many "must-see" exhibits focus on a particular taxonomic group, continent, other theme, etc.

I don't understand this argument. Most of us go to zoos to see animals, of course the species in an exhibit matters to whether it's must-see. "Must-see" is an experiential term, and animals are a key part - for many people the key part - of the experience. Would you have thought Wings of Asia was worth considering if it was the same aviary, but only had a giant flock of Cattle Egrets in it? Would the native songbird aviary still be a great exhibit if it didn't have any native songbirds? What about if the amazing Scripps aviary structure existed, with all the same dense vegetation... but the only animals were a pair of Mallard ducks?

I'd like to think that these exhibits were highlighted for the reason @birdsandbats essentially outlined: hummingbird houses are a rare experience in American zoos, and these two listings arguably offer the peak of that experience.

I can get behind the animals included being one consideration for what goes on this list. It is certainly important when looking at an aviary whether or not it is well-stocked, and the diversity of animals (i.e. the sheer number of species in Wings of Asia) and/or a particular theme chosen (i.e. native songbirds at Columbus) can certainly be factors at play. However, I wouldn't consider the species to be a deciding factor of inclusion in terms of species rarity. If all of the rarities were removed from the Scripps or Wings of Asia aviaries, but were replaced with more common species, I think they would be equally deserving of a spot on the list than they are with the rarities the exhibits hold. Personally, I don't understand why the inclusion of a few seldomly-seen bird species (i.e. hummingbirds) makes this aviary a must-see, when I doubt anyone would be nearly as impressed by it if commonly seen species were exhibited instead.

 

[birdsandbats]

I was more so talking about the general public. But if the argument you're making for why this exhibit is must see is because it showcases hummingbirds, then the inclusion of other bird species is a problem.

What makes you think hummingbirds aren't an engaging species to the public? They're super active and almost otherworldly. I've seen hummingbirds hundreds of times, and each time I have to remind myself that what I'm looking at is, in fact, a bird. They're super cute and have little fear of humans, so they are willing to get super close to visitors.

Also why is the inclusion of other species a problem? Do you not like Congo Gorilla Forest because it also has Okapi?

 

[nczoofan]

Are people in this thread really going to act like the public don't care for hummingbirds? I mean people at my job talk about putting up there feeders and who is visiting (not big animal people), people decorate their yard with hummingbird related decor, and when I see a wild hummingbird in a garden others are always interested in its behavior. They are clearly a popular kind of bird.

Yet these creatures are really seen in zoos and therefore exhibits like this allow a sense of joy of seeing a hummingbird in a more predictable way. The other species only make the exhibit more lively as hummingbirds cannot exist in too high a density.

 

[Coelacanth18]

Don't get me wrong, I love walkthrough aviaries, and am a huge fan of seeing birds in zoos, I just also am interested in looking at the breakdown of different styles of exhibitry included in this thread to see how many "must-see" exhibits focus on a particular taxonomic group, continent, other theme, etc.

I understand, thanks for clarifying. I thought you were implying that there were too many walk-through aviaries included, but if you were simply outlining a breakdown of exhibit types I find those interesting too.

However, I wouldn't consider the species to be a deciding factor of inclusion in terms of species rarity. If all of the rarities were removed from the Scripps or Wings of Asia aviaries, but were replaced with more common species, I think they would be equally deserving of a spot on the list than they are with the rarities the exhibits hold. Personally, I don't understand why the inclusion of a few seldomly-seen bird species (i.e. hummingbirds) makes this aviary a must-see, when I doubt anyone would be nearly as impressed by it if commonly seen species were exhibited instead.

It's not simply that holding hummingbirds makes an exhibit worthy of this list because they're rare. Hummingbirds are a large group of unusual and fascinating species, and that captivate people with their size and speed and beauty and behavior. They are a fantastic species for people to engage with, yet zoos here offer few opportunities to do so; thus, two exhibits that make a point of focusing on them and highlighting them while offering a great design execution make for (IMO) must-see experiences. If there were a lot of hummingbird houses that were of similar quality, then I'd agree with you that maybe these aren't noteworthy enough to include.

 

[Pleistocene891]

Also why is the inclusion of other species a problem? Do you not like Congo Gorilla Forest because it also has Okapi?

CGF is supposed to represent the Congo Rainforest, not just gorillas. This aviary is supposedly meant to represent hummingbirds, yet only 3/20 birds in the exhibit are hummingbirds. In essence, this is a South American aviary, which is not at all rare in the U.S.

 

[TZDugong]

69. Hummingbird Habitat
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 2021
Size: 3,800 Square Feet (350 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: 20 South American birds including various tanager, honeycreeper, and hummingbird species.

San Diego is well known for its absolute plethora of spectacular aviaries, so be careful not to let this comparatively modest building get lost in the shuffle. While it’s referred to as a hummingbird aviary, this infinity loop shaped house showcases an excellent variety of South American birds, including several rarities. The unique figure eight design was a calculated decision in order to allow the birds to be out of view of one another to decrease aggression. This is done thanks to various green walls which were implemented for hiding and nesting opportunities, although the mock rock they grow out of is a tad unsightly. Modern tech was integrated into the building with electric blinds that will enclose the aviary when the temperature drops below the allowed limit. There is also a built in misting system working with various small ponds and streams tucked into the habitat. It’s only a few years old, but the furnishings have already grown nicely and wonderfully compliment the vibrance of the house’s residents. The old hummingbird aviary this replaced was a hidden gem often to its detriment, but this new exhibit has already proven to be an even greater success in both animal management and visitor reception.

@Coelacanth18

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

@Julio C Castro

Similar Exhibits: I would also like to highlight the beautiful hummingbird aviary at Arizona Sonora-Desert Museum which is exclusively focused on hummingbirds who are, of course, native to the Sonoran Desert. The vegetation is extremely thick and makes for a great challenge when trying to spot the tiny denizens.

@Coelacanth18

@Coelacanth18

@Coelacanth18

This is a cool choice, I never had the chance to visit San Diego’s old Hummingbird exhibit but this seems like a worthy replacement.

Judging just from the photos posted here, I would say that ASDM’s exhibit does look slightly better, although that may change in 5-10 years as SD’s exhibit has more time for vegetation to grow and the mock rock is more covered. Factoring in the innovative design and technology and this is a great addition to the list imo.

CGF is supposed to represent the Congo Rainforest, not just gorillas. This aviary is supposedly meant to represent hummingbirds, yet only 3/20 birds in the exhibit are hummingbirds. In essence, this is a South American aviary, which is not at all rare in the U.S.

I don’t really understand this argument. Hummingbirds may not be the only birds in the aviary but they are the stars of the exhibit, just like Gorillas are the stars of CGF despite being only one of many species represented in the complex.

You could also absolutely argue that CGF is meant to represent Gorillas, I mean look at the name of the exhibit.