America's 100 Must See Exhibits

[Westcoastperson]

Noted, thanks for the added context; I'd been assuming that the cranes in covered exhibits were not flight-restricted and wondered why it varied between species.

There is actually another reason for covering bird exhibits besides keeping its inhabitants in: it also keeps wild animals out. This may be especially relevant now given the avian flu situation; a lot of the bird exhibits that have closed in zoos are open-topped enclosures because potentially infected wild birds like waterfowl can't be excluded. I've seen covered penguin exhibits before, you have to assume it's not to keep them from escaping

Well not really, bird flu is spread through bird feces so any bird exhibit that isn’t covered by an actual roof threatened by flu. Netting would prevent other avian diseases that are spread through more personal means but not avian flu. What they are most likely used for is to keep wild birds away from captive birds food or to protect the animals from birds of prey.

 

[Coelacanth18]

Well not really, bird flu is spread through bird feces so any bird exhibit that isn’t covered by an actual roof threatened by flu. Netting would prevent other avian diseases that are spread through more personal means but not avian flu. What they are most likely used for is to keep wild birds away from captive birds food or to protect the animals from birds of prey.

I didn't say bird flu was the primary reason some bird enclosures get netted over, I was just offering that it may be a particularly notable reason now. I suspect you're right that some get covered for a variety of reasons, including the ones you mentioned.

While you're correct that mesh coverings don't prevent zoo birds from being exposed to the virus through feces, excluding wild birds from the enclosure may still decrease that risk by preventing many wild birds from inhabiting the enclosure - particularly waterfowl, who can't fit through even wide-holed mesh and don't have a habit of using mesh structures as perches. I don't have any hard or colloquial data on that, but it seems like a reasonable assumption.

 

[Aardwolf]

The main vectors for HPAI are waterfowl, which are, not surprisingly, most attracted to open-topped exhibits with pools. Flamingo, waterfowl, penguin, and crane exhibits are especially attractive for those species, which is why at many facilities those were the first birds to be pulled at the sign of HPAI, the last to be returned to exhibit when the danger has passed. So yes, I can say that it is a factor that many zoos are considering when it comes to future exhibit design for aquatic and semi-aquatic birds.

 

[birdsandbats]

It is worth noting that before ICF flight-restricted their cranes, they did have several Red-crowned Cranes that got through their netted exhibits and were never seen again.

 

[Batto]

Well not really, bird flu is spread through bird feces

And by secretions from the nostrils, mouth, and eyes of infected birds... @Coelacanth18 isn't wrong; more and more zoos react to obligatory federal HPAI prevention/control measures by netting their bird enclosures over.

 

[pachyderm pro]

45. Scripps Aviary
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 1923
Size: 8,600 Square Feet (800 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: 35 species of African birds including Taveta Golden Weaver, Violet Backed Starling, White Bellied Go Away Bird, African Openbill, African Gray Parrot and more.

If there's one category where San Diego beats out every other zoo on the continent, it’s birds. The amount of aviaries scattered throughout every nook and cranny of the grounds is astronomical and nowhere does it get any better for bird-nerds than the Scripps Aviary. It's hard to believe this enormous flight cage just turned a century old, although it has of course seen several renovations over time and was restored to its current iteration in the early 90s. The structure is 80 feet tall and completely engulfed by large mature trees which create a dense canopy. It's worth noting there are two separate routes through the aviary that are independent of one another, a narrow path through the forest floor and an elevated boardwalk. There are over 130 birds on display, mainly composed of doves, starlings, weavers and ibises. Of course, seeing African gray parrots in free-flight is a treat and the stocklist is rounded out by several rarities including African darter and Malagasy pond heron. The vegetation is so thick that one could spend hours trying to locate every species and from many vantage points the mesh is completely obscured by the lush rainforest.

@twilighter

@TheoV

@geomorph

@geomorph

@snowleopard

@Julio C Castro

Similar Exhibits: Originally I considered having all three of San Diego's walkthrough rainforest aviaries share a spot, but that would be cheating. Truthfully however, this spot could have just as easily gone to the Owen's Aviary, an even larger flight cage inhabited by a variety of Southeast Asian birds. While it's much smaller than the other two, the Parker Aviary is a lovely little showcase of some unusual South American birds and also includes some free-ranging golden lion tamarins. Many zoos would be proud to have just one of these aviaries, so the fact that San Diego has a trio of amazing ones is remarkable.

Owen's Aviary

@twilighter

@geomorph

@geomorph

Parker Aviary

@IndianRhino

@twilighter

 

[oflory]

45. Scripps Aviary
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 1923
Size: 8,600 Square Feet (800 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: 35 species of African birds including Taveta Golden Weaver, Violet Backed Starling, White Bellied Go Away Bird, African Openbill, African Gray Parrot and more.

If there's one category where San Diego beats out every other zoo on the continent, it’s birds. The amount of aviaries scattered throughout every nook and cranny of the grounds is astronomical and nowhere does it get any better for bird-nerds than the Scripps Aviary. It's hard to believe this enormous flight cage just turned a century old, although it has of course seen several renovations over time and was restored to its current iteration in the early 90s. The structure is 80 feet tall and completely engulfed by large mature trees which create a dense canopy. It's worth noting there are two separate routes through the aviary that are independent of one another, a narrow path through the forest floor and an elevated boardwalk. There are over 130 birds on display, mainly composed of doves, starlings, weavers and ibises. Of course, seeing African gray parrots in free-flight is a treat and the stocklist is rounded out by several rarities including African darter and Malagasy pond heron. The vegetation is so thick that one could spend hours trying to locate every species and from many vantage points the mesh is completely obscured by the lush rainforest.

@twilighter

@TheoV

@geomorph

@geomorph

@snowleopard

@Julio C Castro

Similar Exhibits: Originally I considered having all three of San Diego's walkthrough rainforest aviaries share a spot, but that would be cheating. Truthfully however, this spot could have just as easily gone to the Owen's Aviary, an even larger flight cage inhabited by a variety of Southeast Asian birds. While it's much smaller than the other two, the Parker Aviary is a lovely little showcase of some unusual South American birds and also includes some free-ranging golden lion tamarins. Many zoos would be proud to have just one of these aviaries, so the fact that San Diego has a trio of amazing ones is remarkable.

Owen's Aviary

@twilighter

@geomorph

@geomorph

Parker Aviary

@IndianRhino

@twilighter

These look amazing. I'm planning a San Diego trip for next year, and I'm already stressed about these aviaries...

 

[ifesbob]

The past several exhibits have been incredible and I want to visit every one of them

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

45. Scripps Aviary
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 1923
Size: 8,600 Square Feet (800 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: 35 species of African birds including Taveta Golden Weaver, Violet Backed Starling, White Bellied Go Away Bird, African Openbill, African Gray Parrot and more.

If there's one category where San Diego beats out every other zoo on the continent, it’s birds. The amount of aviaries scattered throughout every nook and cranny of the grounds is astronomical and nowhere does it get any better for bird-nerds than the Scripps Aviary. It's hard to believe this enormous flight cage just turned a century old, although it has of course seen several renovations over time and was restored to its current iteration in the early 90s. The structure is 80 feet tall and completely engulfed by large mature trees which create a dense canopy. It's worth noting there are two separate routes through the aviary that are independent of one another, a narrow path through the forest floor and an elevated boardwalk. There are over 130 birds on display, mainly composed of doves, starlings, weavers and ibises. Of course, seeing African gray parrots in free-flight is a treat and the stocklist is rounded out by several rarities including African darter and Malagasy pond heron. The vegetation is so thick that one could spend hours trying to locate every species and from many vantage points the mesh is completely obscured by the lush rainforest.

@twilighter

@TheoV

@geomorph

@geomorph

@snowleopard

@Julio C Castro

Similar Exhibits: Originally I considered having all three of San Diego's walkthrough rainforest aviaries share a spot, but that would be cheating. Truthfully however, this spot could have just as easily gone to the Owen's Aviary, an even larger flight cage inhabited by a variety of Southeast Asian birds. While it's much smaller than the other two, the Parker Aviary is a lovely little showcase of some unusual South American birds and also includes some free-ranging golden lion tamarins. Many zoos would be proud to have just one of these aviaries, so the fact that San Diego has a trio of amazing ones is remarkable.

Owen's Aviary

@twilighter

@geomorph

@geomorph

Parker Aviary

@IndianRhino

@twilighter

When I was predicting on what goes on to the list, I just knew one of San Diego's beautiful aviaries had to take a spot on the list, only I don't know what to pick because they're all impressive in their own right. So I lump all three of them under one spot. Funny how even you think that way.

 

[Pleistocene891]

45. Scripps Aviary
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 1923
Size: 8,600 Square Feet (800 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: 35 species of African birds including Taveta Golden Weaver, Violet Backed Starling, White Bellied Go Away Bird, African Openbill, African Gray Parrot and more.

If there's one category where San Diego beats out every other zoo on the continent, it’s birds. The amount of aviaries scattered throughout every nook and cranny of the grounds is astronomical and nowhere does it get any better for bird-nerds than the Scripps Aviary. It's hard to believe this enormous flight cage just turned a century old, although it has of course seen several renovations over time and was restored to its current iteration in the early 90s. The structure is 80 feet tall and completely engulfed by large mature trees which create a dense canopy. It's worth noting there are two separate routes through the aviary that are independent of one another, a narrow path through the forest floor and an elevated boardwalk. There are over 130 birds on display, mainly composed of doves, starlings, weavers and ibises. Of course, seeing African gray parrots in free-flight is a treat and the stocklist is rounded out by several rarities including African darter and Malagasy pond heron. The vegetation is so thick that one could spend hours trying to locate every species and from many vantage points the mesh is completely obscured by the lush rainforest.

@twilighter

@TheoV

@geomorph

@geomorph

@snowleopard

@Julio C Castro

Similar Exhibits: Originally I considered having all three of San Diego's walkthrough rainforest aviaries share a spot, but that would be cheating. Truthfully however, this spot could have just as easily gone to the Owen's Aviary, an even larger flight cage inhabited by a variety of Southeast Asian birds. While it's much smaller than the other two, the Parker Aviary is a lovely little showcase of some unusual South American birds and also includes some free-ranging golden lion tamarins. Many zoos would be proud to have just one of these aviaries, so the fact that San Diego has a trio of amazing ones is remarkable.

Owen's Aviary

@twilighter

@geomorph

@geomorph

Parker Aviary

@IndianRhino

@twilighter

I’m interested why you chose the Scripps aviary over the Owens aviary.

 

[pachyderm pro]

I’m interested why you chose the Scripps aviary over the Owens aviary.

I went back and forth between the two several times as they really are both equally deserving of being on the list. While the Owen's aviary is a bit larger (approx. 10,000 square feet), the Scripps aviary came first, so it's more significant from a historical standpoint and I recall the design being a bit more memorable to me personally. Either way, they really are both must-see in their own right which is why I initially considered bunching them together.

 

[Coelacanth18]

I thought Scripps and Owens were similar enough that I expected you to combine them into one entry; this works fine too I guess. An additional feature of Scripps I found is that the birds inside are incredibly visible and make for a memorable experience, while many of the birds inhabiting the Owens Aviary are smaller and harder to find. As you can see from the photos, though, Scripps and Owens are very alike in structure and design.

 

[pachyderm pro]

46. Sea Lion Shores
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, NE
Opened: 2020
Size: 1 Acre (0.4 Hectares)
Inhabitants: California Sea Lion, Harbor Seal

Even if they end up costing a pretty penny to exhibit, the charisma and popularity of pinnipeds is seen as a worthy investment in the eyes of many zoos with modern seal and sea lion exhibits becoming a popular trend in American collections. Some are more memorable than others, but few are as extravagant as what Omaha has put together. Not only is this habitat aesthetically superb, the extra lengths improving animal welfare are absolutely phenomenal. Keepers can hide food inside of crevices in the intricate rockwork and the 250,000 gallon pool is in constant motion thanks to a wave machine. There is also a dedicated pupping beach where mothers can gradually introduce their offspring to deeper waters. The theming is excellent as well, as the exhibit is situated at the bottom of a canyon with towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls fully immersing visitors in a pacific northwest environment. With so many extra details to enhance the animals' quality of life and the guest experience, it's hard not to argue this as America’s single greatest pinniped habitat.

@pachyderm pro

@pachyderm pro

@pachyderm pro

Similar Exhibits: Sea Lion Sound at Saint Louis Zoo features an incredibly popular underwater viewing tunnel and is easily the next best pinniped enclosure in the US. Sea Lion Cove at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo also deserves an honorable mention for being in the top tier of US pinniped exhibits. As great as both of these exhibits are, they lack the extra attention to detail that Omaha has put into their exhibit, although that’s not at all to discredit the excellence of these habitats in any way.

Saint Louis Zoo

@pachyderm pro

@Moebelle

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

@snowleopard

@snowleopard

 

[Julio C Castro]

46. Sea Lion Shores
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, NE
Opened: 2020
Size: 1 Acre (0.4 Hectares)
Inhabitants: California Sea Lion, Harbor Seal

Even if they end up costing a pretty penny to exhibit, the charisma and popularity of pinnipeds is seen as a worthy investment in the eyes of many zoos with modern seal and sea lion exhibits becoming a popular trend in American collections. Some are more memorable than others, but few are as extravagant as what Omaha has put together. Not only is this habitat aesthetically superb, the extra lengths improving animal welfare are absolutely phenomenal. Keepers can hide food inside of crevices in the intricate rockwork and the 250,000 gallon pool is in constant motion thanks to a wave machine. There is also a dedicated pupping beach where mothers can gradually introduce their offspring to deeper waters. The theming is excellent as well, as the exhibit is situated at the bottom of a canyon with towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls fully immersing visitors in a pacific northwest environment. With so many extra details to enhance the animals' quality of life and the guest experience, it's hard not to argue this as America’s single greatest pinniped habitat.

@pachyderm pro

@pachyderm pro

@pachyderm pro

Similar Exhibits: Sea Lion Sound at Saint Louis Zoo features an incredibly popular underwater viewing tunnel and is easily the next best pinniped enclosure in the US. Sea Lion Cove at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo also deserves an honorable mention for being in the top tier of US pinniped exhibits. As great as both of these exhibits are, they lack the extra attention to detail that Omaha has put into their exhibit, although that’s not at all to discredit the excellence of these habitats in any way.

Saint Louis Zoo

@pachyderm pro

@Moebelle

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

@snowleopard

@snowleopard

Sea Lion Shores certainly appears to be the most impressive pinniped exhibit here in the states, the rock work is outstanding and reminds of the rocky shores I’ve seen when on the train passing Oceanside. Also, it should be noted that all 3 entries are AZA exhibit award winners: Fresno receiving Top Honors, with Omaha and St Louis receiving Significant Achievement

 

[Blackleopard207]

All 3 sea lion exhibits are just great! I can definitely vouch for Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s Sea Lion Cove being a great exhibit though because it is my home zoo. The detail and rock work put into it are really cool and well done in my opinion.

One thing I enjoy about the Sea Lion Cove exhibit is the multiple viewing locations from underwater viewing to above viewing.

 

[nczoofan]

Houston’s about to join this tier with a sea lion exhibit larger than Omahas I believe (362,000 gallons). All of the mentioned sea lion exhibit’s look amazing though and it is great to see exhibits holding large groups of the species these days.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Houston’s about to join this tier with a sea lion exhibit larger than Omahas I believe (362,000 gallons). All of the mentioned sea lion exhibit’s look amazing though and it is great to see exhibits holding large groups of the species these days.

Houston's Galapagos area is going to set the bar for that region's habitats, IMO.

 

[Jurek7]

46. Sea Lion Shores
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, NE
Opened: 2020
Size: 1 Acre (0.4 Hectares)

Great exhibit, love the shore background and underwater landscape, especially sunk tree trunks and artificial kelp. Pacific off the coast of North America is one of the richest seas of Earth, and the zoo tries to imitate it for Californian sealions. The only wish would be a soft surface on the land to rest, which pinnipeds prefer - but the zoo could easily provide it.

Too many enclosures of sea mammals are essentially 50-100 years outdated compared to land carnivores - all concrete and shows with animals doing tricks.

 

[15399]

Great exhibit, love the shore background and underwater landscape, especially sunk tree trunks and artificial kelp. Pacific off the coast of North America is one of the richest seas of Earth, and the zoo tries to imitate it for Californian sealions. The only wish would be a soft surface on the land to rest, which pinnipeds prefer - but the zoo could easily provide it.

Too many enclosures of sea mammals are essentially 50-100 years outdated compared to land carnivores - all concrete and shows with animals doing tricks.

Personally, I don't mind shows with pinnipeds, as the training opportunities associated with them are enriching and beneficial to their welfare, however I completely agree with the need for natural substrates. One of the key things that will always knock an exhibit down in my book is a lack of natural substrate. Thankfully, zoos have finally moved away from entirely mock rock polar bear exhibits, and most polar bear exhibits now contain grass and/or sandy areas, so hopefully it's only a matter of time before exhibits for pinnipeds follow suit.

 

[Coelacanth18]

The only wish would be a soft surface on the land to rest, which pinnipeds prefer - but the zoo could easily provide it.

I completely agree with the need for natural substrates. One of the key things that will always knock an exhibit down in my book is a lack of natural substrate. Thankfully, zoos have finally moved away from entirely mock rock polar bear exhibits, and most polar bear exhibits now contain grass and/or sandy areas, so hopefully it's only a matter of time before exhibits for pinnipeds follow suit.

It would be interesting to see an exhibit modeling a sandy beach, which wild seals and sea lions in California frequently use. I wonder how practical sand as a waterside surface would be, though - thinking about both sanitation as well as water quality and visibility.