I searched on Zoochat and noticed that nobody has written a review of Tracy Aviary yet so I figured I would write one.
Tracy Aviary is one of two stand-alone AZA-accredited aviaries in the US. It is located on 8 acres in Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. Tracy Aviary has chosen to focus its collection on New World species with its master plan focusing on the migratory flight path which runs through Utah to South America. Contrary to public opinion the aviary is almost entirely outdoors and is open year-round. All of the birds have access to heated holding areas so most remain on display throughout the winter, with the exception of very cold days.
Pond 1 is the largest pond at the aviary and houses a flock of American White Pelicans as well as Double-crested Cormorants and several diving duck species. Duck species on Pond 1 include: Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, and North American Ruddy Duck. Thanks to some relatively recent developments guests can now walk around the far side of Pond 1 via a boardwalk made from recycled materials. A pathway has been removed from the rear shore of the pond to provide the ducks with a forested “beach” area for nesting. An island in the middle of the pond provides a sheltered retreat for the pelicans. At the gift shop guests can purchase a ticket to participate in one of two daily pelican feedings.
Pond 2 is locally known as the dabbling duck pond but also houses a few goose species. This pond roughly resembles a very long rectangle and can be viewed from both of the long sides, with a shady forest path on the south side giving guests the closest views. Species on Pond 2 include: Ross’ Goose, Canadian Goose (a rehab bird part of the collection), Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, and Green-winged Teal.
Kennecott Wetland Immersion Experience allows visitors to walk through a recreation of a Utah wetland via a boardwalk through the center of the aviary. This boardwalk has no side-rails so nothing obstructs the view of birds here. Most of the birds in this exhibit were acquired from a local rehab facility and are non-releasable. An attached holding building allows the birds to remain on-exhibit all winter with access to heat. The holding building has a natural “green roof” with real plants and blends into the landscape. Species in KWIE include: Black-crowned Night Heron (one is an albino), American Bittern, White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Curlew, American Coot, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Caspian Tern, Franklin’s Gull, Black-billed Magpie, Western Scrub Jay, Northern Flicker, Mourning Dove, Cinnamon Teal, and Bufflehead.
Pond 4, or the swan pond, is home to a pair of Trumpeter Swans and provides a temporary home to juvenile ducks which were bred on Pond 1 and/or Pond 2 until they are ready to go onto Pond 1 or 2 (or until they are sent to other zoos.) Current duck species on Pond 4 include: Barrow’s Goldeneye, Northern Pintail, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, and North American Ruddy Duck. Until relatively recently it used to house several hybrid duck species but these have since been dispositioned.
Owl Forest opened in summer 2011 and provides a home to native owl species in a grove of over 100 conifers. All of the owls housed here are cold-hardy and are on exhibit all winter. Children are a fan of the push-button graphics showcasing owl vocalizations and the tree house climbing structure where they can search for owl cut-outs hidden inside Owl Forest. Owl species here include: Saw-whet, Western Screech, Short-eared, Long-eared, Barred, Great Horned, and Great Grey.
Amazon Adventure is an interactive feeding experience where guests can intermingle with a flock of Sun Conures. Feedings are offered almost every half-hour throughout the day and are capped at 8 people to create a more intimate experience with the birds. Tickets much be purchased at the gift shop prior to feeding times. When there are not feedings going on guests are not allowed inside the exhibit but the birds are still visible from the main pathway.
Directly across from Amazon Adventure is the Bird Show Theater where daily bird shows take place. This free-flight bird show allows for very close views of various species as they fly over the audience. Volunteers from the audience may get to have a turaco or toucan hop across their arm or even feed an emu! Bird shows take place daily and are included with general admission. Some of the bird-show holding spaces are on display for the public across from the wetlands holding building. When a bird show is not going on trainers frequently take birds around the pathways of the aviary allowing for informal and unplanned interactions to take place with guests. Species they bring out range from parrots to birds of prey. Guests might even get the chance to meet an Andean Condor! A new bird show theater is in the works and will hopefully be opened for Summer 2013.
South American Pavilion is a circular building featuring vibrant tropical species both indoors and outdoors. Each of the seven exhibits here has an indoor and outdoor portion meaning that birds can be on display throughout the year. The exhibits are designed to house small mixed-species groups of birds with the intention of breeding. In the center of the building guests can also peer into incubation and hand-rearing rooms offering a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on at the aviary. Species in South American Pavilion include: Spectacled Owl, Scarlet Ibis, Southern Lapwing, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Sunbittern, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Chaco Chachalaca, Keel-billed Toucan, Green Aracari, Blue-crowned Motmot, Crested Oropendola, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Troupial, Pompadour Cotinga, Red-capped Cardinal, Silver-beaked Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, and Turquoise Tanager.
Destination Argentina is meant to represent the end destination of the migratory flyway, giving visitors an idea of where native Utah birds may migrate. Visitors first encounter an exhibit which resembles an abandoned homestead in Argentina called Backyard Birds. This small walk-through exhibit showcases various South American species which are common in backyards in Argentina. Species in BYB include: Monk Parakeet, Guira Cuckoo, Red-crested Cardinal, Saffron Finch, and Andean Tinamou. Next, visitors encounter exhibits for Red-legged Seriema and Black-necked Swans. Rounding the corner guests will find the flamingo exhibit which houses Chilean Flamingos as well as Crested Screamer, White-faced Whistling Duck, Chiloe Wigeon, Red Shoveler, Puna Teal, and Argentine Blue-bill. Graphics at the flamingo exhibit compare Laguna Mar Chiquita in Argentina and the Great Salt Lake in Utah as they are surprisingly similar.
Continuing past the Children’s Discovery Garden guests will encounter a large wildflower meadow which houses a pair of Sandhill Cranes. This exhibit was recently re-done so it has a new water feature and work has been done to eliminate some of the taller plantings near the front of the exhibit so the cranes are more visible. Adjacent to the crane exhibit is a large enclosure for a family group of Southern Ground Hornbill. This enclosure is covered so these birds can occasionally be seen flying around their exhibit. Tracy Aviary is one of the few institutions to house Southern Ground Hornbills in a family group and it is always interesting to observe the dynamic of the group.
Just past the hornbills are two open-top eagle yards, housing Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle. The Bald Eagle yard contains a nice stream and is nicely planted; the Golden Eagle yard contains some rockwork and lots of wildflowers. Across from the eagle yards is an exhibit for native raptors which houses Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, and Swainson’s Hawk. Directly behind this native raptor exhibit is an exhibit for an Andean Condor. Andy doesn’t like other condors but loves people so the bird show trainers have started working with him. Across from the condor exhibit is a long exhibit for a pair of King Vulture.
Rare Birds of the World is opening soon and is a renovation of the existing Pheasantry exhibits. Each of the nine exhibits is planted to represent a different geographic area. This area will allow the aviary to work with more SSP species which don’t necessarily fit the New World collection plan theme. Species here will include: Northern Helmeted Curassow, Argus Pheasant, Reeves’ Pheasant, Northern Bobwhite, Mauritius Pink Pigeon, Socorro Dove, Buffon’s Macaw, Blue-headed Macaw, Kea, Roadrunner, Black-throated Magpie Jay, and Green Magpie.
Hopefully this review will provide Zoochatters with a good description of the aviary. If you’re in the area and like birds I encourage you to come check it out!
Tracy Aviary is one of two stand-alone AZA-accredited aviaries in the US. It is located on 8 acres in Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. Tracy Aviary has chosen to focus its collection on New World species with its master plan focusing on the migratory flight path which runs through Utah to South America. Contrary to public opinion the aviary is almost entirely outdoors and is open year-round. All of the birds have access to heated holding areas so most remain on display throughout the winter, with the exception of very cold days.
Pond 1 is the largest pond at the aviary and houses a flock of American White Pelicans as well as Double-crested Cormorants and several diving duck species. Duck species on Pond 1 include: Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, and North American Ruddy Duck. Thanks to some relatively recent developments guests can now walk around the far side of Pond 1 via a boardwalk made from recycled materials. A pathway has been removed from the rear shore of the pond to provide the ducks with a forested “beach” area for nesting. An island in the middle of the pond provides a sheltered retreat for the pelicans. At the gift shop guests can purchase a ticket to participate in one of two daily pelican feedings.
Pond 2 is locally known as the dabbling duck pond but also houses a few goose species. This pond roughly resembles a very long rectangle and can be viewed from both of the long sides, with a shady forest path on the south side giving guests the closest views. Species on Pond 2 include: Ross’ Goose, Canadian Goose (a rehab bird part of the collection), Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, and Green-winged Teal.
Kennecott Wetland Immersion Experience allows visitors to walk through a recreation of a Utah wetland via a boardwalk through the center of the aviary. This boardwalk has no side-rails so nothing obstructs the view of birds here. Most of the birds in this exhibit were acquired from a local rehab facility and are non-releasable. An attached holding building allows the birds to remain on-exhibit all winter with access to heat. The holding building has a natural “green roof” with real plants and blends into the landscape. Species in KWIE include: Black-crowned Night Heron (one is an albino), American Bittern, White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Curlew, American Coot, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Caspian Tern, Franklin’s Gull, Black-billed Magpie, Western Scrub Jay, Northern Flicker, Mourning Dove, Cinnamon Teal, and Bufflehead.
Pond 4, or the swan pond, is home to a pair of Trumpeter Swans and provides a temporary home to juvenile ducks which were bred on Pond 1 and/or Pond 2 until they are ready to go onto Pond 1 or 2 (or until they are sent to other zoos.) Current duck species on Pond 4 include: Barrow’s Goldeneye, Northern Pintail, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, and North American Ruddy Duck. Until relatively recently it used to house several hybrid duck species but these have since been dispositioned.
Owl Forest opened in summer 2011 and provides a home to native owl species in a grove of over 100 conifers. All of the owls housed here are cold-hardy and are on exhibit all winter. Children are a fan of the push-button graphics showcasing owl vocalizations and the tree house climbing structure where they can search for owl cut-outs hidden inside Owl Forest. Owl species here include: Saw-whet, Western Screech, Short-eared, Long-eared, Barred, Great Horned, and Great Grey.
Amazon Adventure is an interactive feeding experience where guests can intermingle with a flock of Sun Conures. Feedings are offered almost every half-hour throughout the day and are capped at 8 people to create a more intimate experience with the birds. Tickets much be purchased at the gift shop prior to feeding times. When there are not feedings going on guests are not allowed inside the exhibit but the birds are still visible from the main pathway.
Directly across from Amazon Adventure is the Bird Show Theater where daily bird shows take place. This free-flight bird show allows for very close views of various species as they fly over the audience. Volunteers from the audience may get to have a turaco or toucan hop across their arm or even feed an emu! Bird shows take place daily and are included with general admission. Some of the bird-show holding spaces are on display for the public across from the wetlands holding building. When a bird show is not going on trainers frequently take birds around the pathways of the aviary allowing for informal and unplanned interactions to take place with guests. Species they bring out range from parrots to birds of prey. Guests might even get the chance to meet an Andean Condor! A new bird show theater is in the works and will hopefully be opened for Summer 2013.
South American Pavilion is a circular building featuring vibrant tropical species both indoors and outdoors. Each of the seven exhibits here has an indoor and outdoor portion meaning that birds can be on display throughout the year. The exhibits are designed to house small mixed-species groups of birds with the intention of breeding. In the center of the building guests can also peer into incubation and hand-rearing rooms offering a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on at the aviary. Species in South American Pavilion include: Spectacled Owl, Scarlet Ibis, Southern Lapwing, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Sunbittern, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Chaco Chachalaca, Keel-billed Toucan, Green Aracari, Blue-crowned Motmot, Crested Oropendola, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Troupial, Pompadour Cotinga, Red-capped Cardinal, Silver-beaked Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, and Turquoise Tanager.
Destination Argentina is meant to represent the end destination of the migratory flyway, giving visitors an idea of where native Utah birds may migrate. Visitors first encounter an exhibit which resembles an abandoned homestead in Argentina called Backyard Birds. This small walk-through exhibit showcases various South American species which are common in backyards in Argentina. Species in BYB include: Monk Parakeet, Guira Cuckoo, Red-crested Cardinal, Saffron Finch, and Andean Tinamou. Next, visitors encounter exhibits for Red-legged Seriema and Black-necked Swans. Rounding the corner guests will find the flamingo exhibit which houses Chilean Flamingos as well as Crested Screamer, White-faced Whistling Duck, Chiloe Wigeon, Red Shoveler, Puna Teal, and Argentine Blue-bill. Graphics at the flamingo exhibit compare Laguna Mar Chiquita in Argentina and the Great Salt Lake in Utah as they are surprisingly similar.
Continuing past the Children’s Discovery Garden guests will encounter a large wildflower meadow which houses a pair of Sandhill Cranes. This exhibit was recently re-done so it has a new water feature and work has been done to eliminate some of the taller plantings near the front of the exhibit so the cranes are more visible. Adjacent to the crane exhibit is a large enclosure for a family group of Southern Ground Hornbill. This enclosure is covered so these birds can occasionally be seen flying around their exhibit. Tracy Aviary is one of the few institutions to house Southern Ground Hornbills in a family group and it is always interesting to observe the dynamic of the group.
Just past the hornbills are two open-top eagle yards, housing Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle. The Bald Eagle yard contains a nice stream and is nicely planted; the Golden Eagle yard contains some rockwork and lots of wildflowers. Across from the eagle yards is an exhibit for native raptors which houses Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, and Swainson’s Hawk. Directly behind this native raptor exhibit is an exhibit for an Andean Condor. Andy doesn’t like other condors but loves people so the bird show trainers have started working with him. Across from the condor exhibit is a long exhibit for a pair of King Vulture.
Rare Birds of the World is opening soon and is a renovation of the existing Pheasantry exhibits. Each of the nine exhibits is planted to represent a different geographic area. This area will allow the aviary to work with more SSP species which don’t necessarily fit the New World collection plan theme. Species here will include: Northern Helmeted Curassow, Argus Pheasant, Reeves’ Pheasant, Northern Bobwhite, Mauritius Pink Pigeon, Socorro Dove, Buffon’s Macaw, Blue-headed Macaw, Kea, Roadrunner, Black-throated Magpie Jay, and Green Magpie.
Hopefully this review will provide Zoochatters with a good description of the aviary. If you’re in the area and like birds I encourage you to come check it out!
