The National Aviary is America’s only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds. Located in West Park on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, the National Aviary’s diverse collection comprises 600 birds representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them threatened or critically endangered in the wild. The National Aviary’s large walk-through exhibits create an experience unlike any other – an intimate, up-close interaction between visitors and free-flying birds, including opportunities to hand-feed and to meet many species rarely found anywhere else in the world.

At the National Aviary, the wonder of nature surrounds the visitor. An indoor, accessible, stroller-friends facility, the Aviary brings visitors face to face with wildlife in a setting that allows guests to take in the amazing beauty of birds and watch as they eat, bathe, fly and play. It’s a place to become immersed in the music of songbirds, marvel at the nobility of eagles, cranes and condors, and be amazed at the antics of penguins, parrots, pelicans and more.

Programming at the National Aviary is designed to create memorable encounters with nature that educate, inspire and delight adults and children of all ages. Daily events such as Penguin Encounter, Raptor Encounter and feeding times provide unforgettable, close interaction with the birds. Other events such as Breakfast with the Birds, the annual summer free-flight bird show and educational programs help instill a respect for nature and a greater understanding of the winged creatures with whom we share our world.

As an environmental organization, the Aviary also plays an active role in meaningful conservation and avian research projects, in programs aimed at saving endangered species through habitat preservation and in scientifically controlled, managed breeding programs.

With consistent yearly attendance of over 100,000 visitors since 1999, world-first avian breedings, numerous education and conservation awards, and participation in international conservation organizations, the National Aviary has grown from simply presenting its collection in attractive settings to realizing its responsibility to celebrate, protect and preserve birds for the perpetuation of the web of life, as well as for future generations.

History
In the late nineteenth century, Pittsburgh’s first plant conservatory was established on the Aviary site until it was destroyed by a natural gas explosion in the late 1920s. In 1952, the conservatory was rebuilt by the City of Pittsburgh and opened with the addition of birds to the indoor gardens. The Aviary was one of the first zoos to present its collection in free-flight rooms and natural exhibits with over 25,000 square feet of space.

In the 1980s, the Aviary began to evolve its focus toward wildlife conservation by beginning the captive breeding of rare and endangered birds. When municipal budgetary cuts threatened to close the institution in 1991, a group of concerned citizens formed Save the Aviary, Inc., a private nonprofit corporation. The Aviary was privatized in 1992 and a year later, by declaration of the U.S. Congress, the Pittsburgh Aviary was designated honorary national status and renamed the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.