"The British Crows" exhibit, London Zoo, 1980s
It probably didn’t fit with the Zoo’s developing conservation ethos. I remember the exhibit well, plus the British Owls exhibit which was equally comprehensive of its taxa. However, the crows’ aviaries were not suitable for all the relevant species: too small for Ravens, or to house more than a pair of the colony living Rook.
Thanks FBBird. You're right. It seemed to have survived beyond its years, even by 1979 when the Zoo was trying more appropriate exhibit.
I remember both the British Crows and the British Owls aviaries, but I had to look back to my first London Zoo guidebook (1971) to remind me which was which: the crows were behind the Parrot House and the owls were at the eastern end of the north bank. Both buildings combined a series of small shallow aviaries, with a men's toilet block behind then, the entry doors were at the end of each block. I think they were built of smooth grey concrete with small pebbles incorporated to give a mottled appearance. I think the birds were mainly single specimens, probably rescued individuals which could not be released, but even at that time they were obviously far too small.
I can't can't put a date on the end of the crows aviary, but I think the owls block was eventually used for a range of small species, including burrowing owls and lovebirds, perhaps until that end of the north bank was closed off.
I can't can't put a date on the end of the crows aviary, but I think the owls block was eventually used for a range of small species, including burrowing owls and lovebirds, perhaps until that end of the north bank was closed off.
Thanks so much. That is good background information. And thanks for reminding me the British Crows was in front of the men's toilets! Definitely there in 1982 and I think at least as late as 1985.
Presumably the Owl block is still there, even if empty now? The concrete material had a sort of smooth mosaic appearance I think and I remember the shelter sections were open down to ground level, maybe so the owls were more visible.
Peter Guillery's book The Buildings of London Zoo published in 1993 states that the buildings that were the British Crows Aviary and British Owls Aviary were built to designs by Franz Stengelhofen in 1957. As noted above they were part of public toilet blocks, the Crows had ladies and gents and the Owls only gents (according to a 1996 guidebook). Guillery states that both "are simple buildings roughly rectangular with stock-brick walls and flat roofs. Caging around the exteriors consists of light tubular-steel framing and wire mesh in front of mosaic walling".
From vague memories from the 1960s I think that the Crows Aviary held pairs or single Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie and possibly Chough. Ravens I think were still then held in the original 1832 Ravens Cage then sited just to the west of the Clock Tower. The Owls Aviary held Barn, Tawny, Long Eared, Short Eared add Little. Many of these birds may well as Gentle Lemur says above have been rescue birds, as were possibly many of the other British species held at London in the 20th century, this before the proliferation of wildlife rescue facilities now available.
By 1993, whilst the Owls Aviary was still designated as such (though I think not used exclusively for British species), the Crows Aviary seems to be used for parrots.
As far as I know the Owls Aviary still stands, whilst I think that the Crows Aviary was demolished around the time the Penguin Beach was constructed.
From vague memories from the 1960s I think that the Crows Aviary held pairs or single Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie and possibly Chough. Ravens I think were still then held in the original 1832 Ravens Cage then sited just to the west of the Clock Tower. The Owls Aviary held Barn, Tawny, Long Eared, Short Eared add Little. Many of these birds may well as Gentle Lemur says above have been rescue birds, as were possibly many of the other British species held at London in the 20th century, this before the proliferation of wildlife rescue facilities now available.
By 1993, whilst the Owls Aviary was still designated as such (though I think not used exclusively for British species), the Crows Aviary seems to be used for parrots.
As far as I know the Owls Aviary still stands, whilst I think that the Crows Aviary was demolished around the time the Penguin Beach was constructed.
The former owls aviary seems to be part of a construction site according to the new map. It hasn't held British owls for many years but I remember seeing enclosures for burrowing owls, kept until 2019, according to ZTL, and white-faced scops owls, kept until 2020, .
The British Crows Aviary was demolished many years before Penguin Beach was constructed.
I remember the British Crows Aviary very well but cannot recall exactly when it was demolished. I've been searching through my copies of the ZSL Annual Report but cannot find any reference to the demolition of the British Crows Aviary.
My memories of the species housed in this aviary during the 1960s are almost the same as yours.
I think it initially housed every British species of the family Corvidae except ravens which, as you mention, were kept in the old Ravens Cage.
I think it did, originally, house British (red-billed) chough but these were soon replaced by Alpine (yellow-billed) chough.
I was shown a single Raven in there in 1977. A pair was elsewhere on site
Thanks for this information; I was specifically referring to the inhabitants of this aviary in the 1960s though.
On this 1996 map posted by @snowleopard, it still shows the building that was the British crows aviary and toilet block. Though I imagine it had been out of use for some while.
https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/zoo-map-1996.681709/
https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/zoo-map-1996.681709/
Thank you all for the further clues. I've found a Westminster planning application - 96/05870/CAC - for the demolition of "existing store, WCs and aviary" considered in January 1997 which may well refer to the Crows Aviary etc. so demolition possibly occurred that year or shortly after.
More generally the Westminster Council planning site is a useful resource for ZSL building and tree work.
More generally the Westminster Council planning site is a useful resource for ZSL building and tree work.