Bird species NOT keept in walktrough aviaries

[GiratinaIsGod]

Penguins perhaps? I’ve heard they can be really feisty if you spook them. Another one might be gulls or cranes and storks. Geese could also be another bird that isn’t fit for walkthrough aviaries due to their aggression.

Penguins are not that rarly keept in walk troughs. Here is me in Naturzoo Rheine
I saw a few walkr trough exhibits with storks, like in Rheine or Cologne. Cranes, I never saw in a classical walk trough, but pinned in the park area next to the visitors.
Gulls are sometimes kept in penguin walktroughs

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

Seems like you don't learn the lesson from the Great Emu War of 1932

it is part of the peace treaty of Brisbane. The Emus have the right to pick at little children

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

Bali myna are in walkthrough aviary (Edward Youde Aviary in Hong Kong )


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Back to the question, maybe secretarybird? I understand why they don't want to be in a walkthrough (although shoebill can be kept inside,but shoebill won't use karate kick on snakes)

Walsrode keept secretery bids in a walktrough

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

That is true all ratites with the exception of maybe kiwis would be horrible birds to put in a walkthrough, that would just be injuries waiting to happen.

I have seen rheas and emus in walk troughs though

 

[JurassicMax]

Can't think of a place either, but I haven't been to that many zoos compared to others here, I think. Another species I can think of spontaneously would be the bali myna. Gelsenkirchen for example keeps them in a separate aviary in the tropical hall, because they are too valuable in the cage-bird trade and might get stolen. Considering the popularity of "normal" mynas, too, maybe it's for the same reason.

Artis keeps free-flying Bali myana in the tropical green house (Metzelaarskas) with a variety of other bird species. Not sure if a tropical green house counts as a walkthrough aviary though.

 

[Great Argus]

Not sure if a tropical green house counts as a walkthrough aviary though

If it has birds on a normal basis, then I think it does in my opinion. You're entering the bird's exhibit basically.

 

[MRJ]

After seeing a video about mynas, I just realized. I never saw them in any big walktrough aviary or rainforest halls, and I can't realy see a real reason not to keep them in them.
Are there any in this type of exclosure, and maybe besides obvious birds, like large birds of prey, are there any other weird examples

Bali mynas are often kept in walkthrough aviaries. Green peafowl would be a big no-no. Very aggressive towards people. Indian peafowl would be fine but very destructive to vegetation, which would be a problem with many parrots.

 

[MRJ]

Denver has Laughing Kookaburra and Tawny Frogmouth both in their large walk through Forest Aviary, although, it was mentioned by @birdsandbats that the issue with keeping them in one would be them eating/ attacking other aviary inhabitants, and the only other inhabitants of the Forest Aviary are Ibis, Geese, and various other Waterfowl species, too large to be bothered. I’ll say one thing though, finding the two Tawny Frogmouth in a heavily forested outdoor aviary of that size is…an experience to say the least!

You would not have a predation problem with tawny frogmouths. There are many birds that will happily take the young of other birds, however large aviaries are not great places to breed birds anyway. One no-no would be lovebirds with smaller birds, especially finches. They have a habit of biting their legs off.

 

[Dr Bright N04]

Most large hornbills and owls

 

[Aardwolf]

The Quito Zoo actually had a pretty cool nocturnal walk-through aviary with several species of owls

 

[SwampDonkey]

Zoo Tampa has Nene geese in their main aviary, and saddle billed storks in the other walk through aviary in Asia as well as previously having emu and wallaby in another walkthrough. They keep kookaburra and great Indian hornbill in side aviaries off of the main aviary, so not with the general population.

Brown pelicans are not common in aviaries, perhaps other pelican species too. Zoo Tampa previously kept great white pelicans in the African delta aviary, but it was demolished a while back. They also kept brown pelicans, but they were not in an walk through aviary.

 

[Kakapo]

After seeing a video about mynas, I just realized. I never saw them in any big walktrough aviary or rainforest halls, and I can't realy see a real reason not to keep them in them.
Are there any in this type of exclosure, and maybe besides obvious birds, like large birds of prey, are there any other weird examples

I've seen various species of mynahs in wakthrough enclosures in various zoos. For example Taipei Zoo with jungle mynah and Haus des Meeres with bank mynah.

I also have been in emu walkthroughs and large bird of prey walkthrougs (including large vultures like Ruppell's griffon, secretarybirds, African gymnogene and long-crested eagle together... hmmm I guess many of you know which zoo is it).

I have seen large parrots (amazons, both blue-fronted and yellow-headed, plus nanday conure and red-fronted macaw) in a walkthrough exhibit. Toucans and curassows too.

I've see cranes running free like peafowl (Demoiselle, grey crowned), probably this don't count as "walkthrough" but they're in contact with visitors anyway. I suppose aggresivity of cranes will depend more on the individual personality and circunstances (breeding vs. non-breeding), so cranes can be safe with visitors depending on both factors. I've seen demoiselle crane also in a true walkthrough exhibit - and feeding from the hands of children.

Probably every bird that is able to thrive well in captivity (so no pelagic tubenoses, swifts or such kind of things) are also able to do well in a walkthrough aviary. Papuan people keep cassowaries as pets in their homes, so why not in a walkthroug? Probably is just a matter of evaluating the personality of each individual bird.

 

[Daniel Funk]

I've seen various species of mynahs in wakthrough enclosures in various zoos. For example Taipei Zoo with jungle mynah and Haus des Meeres with bank mynah.

I also have been in emu walkthroughs and large bird of prey walkthrougs (including large vultures like Ruppell's griffon, secretarybirds, African gymnogene and long-crested eagle together... hmmm I guess many of you know which zoo is it).

I have seen large parrots (amazons, both blue-fronted and yellow-headed, plus nanday conure and red-fronted macaw) in a walkthrough exhibit. Toucans and curassows too.

I've see cranes running free like peafowl (Demoiselle, grey crowned), probably this don't count as "walkthrough" but they're in contact with visitors anyway. I suppose aggresivity of cranes will depend more on the individual personality and circunstances (breeding vs. non-breeding), so cranes can be safe with visitors depending on both factors. I've seen demoiselle crane also in a true walkthrough exhibit - and feeding from the hands of children.

Probably every bird that is able to thrive well in captivity (so no pelagic tubenoses, swifts or such kind of things) are also able to do well in a walkthrough aviary. Papuan people keep cassowaries as pets in their homes, so why not in a walkthroug? Probably is just a matter of evaluating the personality of each individual bird.

True, the Prague Zoo keeps cranes in walk-through aviaries. Regarding to the cassowaries, that is a bit risky since they can be dangerous.

 

[birdsandbats]

I think the issue with mynahs as mentioned at the top of this thread is the larger Hill Mynahs are quite predatory. They are certainly capable of killing finch sized birds for example. I cannot see a rreason agaionst the smaller starling species - I have seen Emerald Starlings in walk thoughs for example. The smaller parrots/ parakeets would be OK but they might interact with visitors too much, and even smaller parrots could get quite aggressive when breeding.

The starling/myna species I can recall seeing in walk-throughs off the top of my head include Emerald Starling, Superb Starling, Golden-crested Myna, Grosbeak Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Metallic Starling, and Bali Myna. I've probably seen other species, too.

Zoo Tampa has Nene geese in their main aviary, and saddle billed storks in the other walk through aviary in Asia as well as previously having emu and wallaby in another walkthrough. They keep kookaburra and great Indian hornbill in side aviaries off of the main aviary, so not with the general population.

Brown pelicans are not common in aviaries, perhaps other pelican species too. Zoo Tampa previously kept great white pelicans in the African delta aviary, but it was demolished a while back. They also kept brown pelicans, but they were not in an walk through aviary.

NEW Zoo does/has kept American White Pelican in their walk-through aviary.

 

[JoJo22]

Artis keeps free-flying Bali myana in the tropical green house (Metzelaarskas) with a variety of other bird species. Not sure if a tropical green house counts as a walkthrough aviary though.

Thanks for the info to you and the others who replied. Maybe people in other countries are less likely to steal birds
Anyway, with all the input here, I can't think of many species not kept anywhere in a walkthrough. I've seen penguins, owls, secretarybirds and cranes, too, to name a few. The only ones I'd still vote for could be cassowary and ostrich maybe...

 

[FBBird]

Pheasants can be problematic. I’ve known two peacock pheasants of different species that both had to be removed from walkthroughs for attacking people

 

[birdsandbats]

Pheasants can be problematic. I’ve known two peacock pheasants of different species that both had to be removed from walkthroughs for attacking people

Pheasants are probably the birds I most commonly see in walk-through aviaries, behind parrots.

 

[Great Argus]

The starling/myna species I can recall seeing in walk-throughs off the top of my head include Emerald Starling, Superb Starling, Golden-crested Myna, Grosbeak Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Metallic Starling, and Bali Myna. I've probably seen other species, too.

I'll add Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Purple Glossy Starling, and Golden-breasted Starling to that.

Pheasants are probably the birds I most commonly see in walk-through aviaries, behind parrots

Same, though every here and there they can be problematic. Though really, occasionally certain individuals or conditions just don't work out among pretty much any species. I frequently hear of crowned pigeons, spoonbills, and parrots being common offenders as well.

One no-no would be lovebirds with smaller birds, especially finches. They have a habit of biting their legs off.

This is interesting as I've seen this mixing a couple times.

Papuan people keep cassowaries as pets in their homes, so why not in a walkthroug? Probably is just a matter of evaluating the personality of each individual bird.

Injury lawsuits involving dangerous animals, that's why for the USA anyways.

 

[gerenuk]

Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas, Queensland had cassowary in one of their walk-through aviaries. I believe Melbourne Zoo had kept cassowary in its large free flight aviary.

Hamilton Zoo, New Zealand once kept kiwi in their free flight aviary.

Bronx Zoo has a brilliant walk-through aviary with penguins.

 

[FBBird]

Pheasants are probably the birds I most commonly see in walk-through aviaries, behind parrots.

..and that can work well. Individual cock pheasants of any species can get over-familiar and start attacking, though.