Year: 2020

Jenny Owens and staff and volunteers of VulPro

When the call came in that a concerned South African citizen had found two vultures down on the ground, unable to take off, Jenny Walsh sprang into action. As the birds were brought in, Jenny looked them over, assessing for injuries. One bird was very thin—she observed its lack of coordination while walking. A blood…

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Stanley and Dottie cuddling together

How the Aviary’s expert team, and a loving mate, helped one African Penguin recover from a long illness.

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Guam Rail walking on the ground

Guam Rails are small, flightless, and if you blink, you’ll miss them. They dart in and out of the foliage of the Tropical Rainforest at the National Aviary. But great things come in small packages, and in late 2019, Guam Rails made a huge leap forward when their IUCN status changed from “Extinct in the Wild” to “Critically Endangered.”…

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American Flamingo preening itself

A Flamingo Rescue Halfway Around the World When more than 1,800 baby Lesser Flamingoes were abandoned by their parents due to a severe drought at the Kamfers Dam in South Africa in 2019, the National Aviary’s Teri Grendzinski was among the first to arrive on the scene. Teri Grendzinski made the journey to South Africa equipped with medication and veterinary supplies,…

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In The News

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National Aviary welcomes new chick to Wetlands habitat | WPXI

Aviary officials just announced the hatching of a Roseate Spoonbill chick as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.

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The Bird That Builds Its Own Incubator and Raises Itself (ft. insights from Senior Aviculturist, Brianna Crane) | A-Z Animals

Rather than sitting on their eggs themselves, they rely on external heat sources for incubation.

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National Aviary’s new bird causing a buzz in Northeast | KDKA

The Aviary recently welcomed Dariéna, a one-year-old female Harpy Eagle from the Miami Zoo, and she is the only known Harpy Eagle in the entire Northeast, weighing around 17 to 20 pounds.

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Peregrine Falcon Storm on KDKA News Radio! | KDKA

Director of Animal Programs and Experiences, Cathy Schlott talks all things Peregrine Falcons with John and Rachael from YaJagoff!

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New harpy eagle at the Aviary is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime species to see’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh has the only one in the Northeast, reflecting the bird's endangered status in the wild and slow reproduction rate.

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