National Aviary Wild Encounters Make Memorable Holiday Gifts

This holiday season, instead of a gift, give the animal lover on your list an experience that they will long remember — the chance to get close to, and interact with, penguins, flamingos, birds of prey and more — by purchasing one of the private encounter programs offered by the National Aviary.

Raptor Experience, Flamingo Connection, Penguin Connection and Trainer for a Day allow the recipient of your gift the opportunity to step into the world of trainers and zoo keepers, observing, feeding and in some cases assisting in the handling of many the Aviary’s most popular residents.

Raptor Experience is an interactive program for those with a fascination for birds of prey – those remarkable birds that hold the position of power at the top of the avian food chain. In this three-hour, private encounter, participants go behind-the-scenes and help care for the National Aviary’s birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, owls and vultures. Guests will learn about the physical attributes that make these birds outstanding hunters, from the silent flight of owls, to the speed and agility of falcons, and the keen eyesight of eagles. Participants will prepare food for the birds, and take part in flight training sessions with bird show staff.

Raptor Experience takes place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily; advance registration is required. Fee is $100; $90 for Aviary members. Price includes a photo CD of the experience and Aviary admission. Open to ages 12 and up; ages 12-16 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Flamingo Connection gives participants the rare experience of walking among, and interacting with, the National Aviary’s flock of American flamingos. Guests will climb down into the exhibit’s pond area for an extra close look at the birds’ intriguing physical attributes, from their bright pink feathers to their slender legs and curved beaks. Guests will observe the birds’ movements and feeding technique (flamingos feed by scooping up fish and filtering the water out of their beaks), while Aviary trainers talk about the birds’ behaviors and the challenges the birds face in the wild. Guests may even have the memorable experience of being preened by these gentle, graceful birds.

Guests who participate must be able to climb down a three-foot ladder into the exhibit. Flamingo Connection takes place daily at 2:30 pm; advance registration is required. Fee is $30, which includes Aviary admission; $25 for Aviary members. Open to ages 10 and up; ages 10 -16 must be accompanied by paying adult.

In Penguin Connection, participants learn about penguins’ natural adaptations, their feeding and nesting habits, and their fight to survive in the face of habitat loss, pollution and over-fishing. During this one-hour program, guests have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to touch and present toys to one of the Aviary’s African penguins. Fee is $40 per participant, which includes Aviary admission; $35 for Aviary members. Open to ages 6 and up; ages 6-14 must be accompanied by a participating, paying adult. Advance registration is required. Photo CD of experience available after the program for $10 per CD.

Trainer for a Day allows teens and adults (ages 12 and up) to spend a full day alongside Aviary trainers preparing food, helping with feed outs, and assisting with training sessions. Up-close experiences with the Aviary’s penguins, rainbow lorikeets and flamingos (getting preened by a flaming – priceless!) are among the highlights of the day. Trainer for a Day is a great experience for teens who love animals and who may be considering a career in veterinary medicine, zoology, biology, or wildlife management. A National Aviary t-shirt, lunch, and photo of the experience are included.

Fee is $250; $225 for Aviary members; additional $50 charge for chaperone accompanying guests ages 12-16. Program fee includes same-day admission, advance registration is required.

For more information on any of the National Aviary’s programs, to purchase a gift certificate, or to register, call 412.323.7235, x209, or email education.programs@aviary.org .