Meaghan Edwards
Well-Known Member
I've been a member of Bird Kingdom for a number of years ago and think it is a delightful jewel amongst the more ah, tacky attractions that Niagara Falls has to offer. With three levels, it is regarded as the largest indoor aviary in the world/North America and has a wonderful collections of birds from familiar Macaws to more rare such as the Silver Cheeked Hornbill (didn't see him on my last visit; this is quite an old bird as I understand), along with Egyptian Fruit Bats, skunks and various reptiles and amphibians. It's a wonderful place to hang out in and photograph or just sit on a park bench in the Small Bird Aviary and watch the little birds build nests and sing. A bit passe, with so many zoos offering the same thing, but still delightful if you aren't overly protective of your jewlery and whatnot, there is a lorikeet feeding area where you can pay a toonie to feed them little cups of sugared water. It's a great place for all ages!
With all that praise out of the way though, critique time
The section with random artifacts? Out of place. I feel this space should be done away with and replaced with a new bird exhibit (perhaps centered around native bird species) OR a more professional presentation of old artifacts from the old Niagara Falls Museum which was converted into Bird Kingdom in May 2003. Many of the images they use in this exhibit are grainy and not in the way old photos look, but what images look like if you zoom in too much, very pixel-y.
The Java House should reopen as a tea house; I remember sipping on tea, watching the birds do their thing, and miss it. Not sure why it was closed in the first place; it's now displays random bird information.
With all that praise out of the way though, critique time
The section with random artifacts? Out of place. I feel this space should be done away with and replaced with a new bird exhibit (perhaps centered around native bird species) OR a more professional presentation of old artifacts from the old Niagara Falls Museum which was converted into Bird Kingdom in May 2003. Many of the images they use in this exhibit are grainy and not in the way old photos look, but what images look like if you zoom in too much, very pixel-y.
The Java House should reopen as a tea house; I remember sipping on tea, watching the birds do their thing, and miss it. Not sure why it was closed in the first place; it's now displays random bird information.
