Is it common for walk-through aviaries to close due to breeding?

[S. Venaticus]

Hi, I am a recent addition to this community. In a visit to Attica zoo during spring one of the large walk-through aviaries was closed and a sign posted outside said that it was due to breeding season. So I wondered whether this is something that happens to the rest of Europe and if it is something common (perhaps there is some Eaza regulation regarding this?).

I'm sorry if this has already been talked about before and if there is already a thread about it, but I couldn't find anything.

 

[Paul.Haerle]

I don't think so. At least birds are bred in the walk-in aviaries at Wilhelma and Augsburg.
Maybe it depends on the bird species.

 

[cerperal]

It happens often with owls, especially snowy owls due to their ground nesting. During my visits this June, the walkthrough owl aviaries in Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig were all closed due to the breeding season. As previously mentioned it really does depend on the species - owls are more likely to become incredibly defensive and attack due to visitor proximity to nests or females that are being courted. A good comparison are vultures, who generally couldn't care less about whether visitors are nearby to nests, and they also often nest off the ground.

 

[S. Venaticus]

Thank you both for the information.

 

[Paul.Haerle]

Maybe it's because the zoo is trying to prevent eggs from being stolen.
By the way, do you know which birds live in this aviary?

 

[S. Venaticus]

If I remember correctly it was the birds of Asia aviary. I don't remember which bird species it housed but I am pretty sure they were passerines and ducks. (I'm sorry but my memory is foggy )