@lintworm I did not know the climate of the region, but that is horrible design to have it outside then. Especially when their is already an indoor penguin exhibit.
@nczoofan Several other zoos in the region do have outdoor aviaries as well, such as Rotterdam and Bern, but these obviously are designed differently...
Im trying to think of any zoos in the US that keep puffins, guillemot or razorbill outside, and I can't think of any besides institutions in the Pacific Northwest (likely due to climate). I've seen eiders/long-tailed duck outside at a few zoos though.
@jayjds2 They do. Rotterdam has kept a small group of Atlantic puffin and a larger group of Common guillemot for almost 20 years now and especially the Guillemots breed quite well, the Puffins also breed but not so regularly. Bern has now maintained a larger group of 20+ Atlantic puffins for 5+ years and has bred them yearly (though the number seems to decrease slightly every year....) In Hagenbeck they first had a problem with a predator entering the enclosure and in the heatwave of last year they lost the majority of their Alcids and I do not think they have ever bred any of them...
@nczoofan I believe you are correct. I, too, have seen sea ducks exhibited outdoors but not alcids, except for zoos in the Pacific Northwest. Interestingly, though, sea ducks face similar problems, though it does not seem to be as severe (Sylvan Heights’ owner Mike Lubbock mentions in his book that he doesn’t keep many since they don’t do as well in his current location, although I have seen a couple species there myself).
