Category: Conservation

Lianni sunning her wings

The National Aviary has long-term, strategic partnerships around the world, including with Bioparque Amaru, a wildlife conservation center in Cuenca, Ecuador. These joint efforts focus on conservation research, education, breeding and healthcare. Learn more!

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Countdown to Extinction web graphic featuring an image of a juvenile African Penguin fading into an image of wild African Penguins.

Countdown to Extinction: One Decade to Save African Penguins Ten years. Ten years is all that likely stands between the African Penguin becoming functionally Extinct-in-the-Wild. African Penguin numbers in South Africa are continuing to plummet, with fewer than 3% of their population remaining – the equivalent of 9,000 pairs. The current plight of this dwindling…

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A Eurasian Eagle-Owl chick gently being fed by an Aviary expert fades into an adult image of the same bird sitting amongst greenery and foliage.

Protecting Their Future: Conservation Stories of the National Aviary Proactive Conservation: Eurasian Eagle-Owls The National Aviary’s unwavering commitment to avian conservation is shown through our efforts to safeguard species. From slowing the rapid decline of the Least Concern Eurasian Eagle-Owl to the Extinct in the Wild Guam Kingfisher, our vital work makes a meaningful contribution…

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Andean Condors Marijo and Illimani in the left photo which fades to the right photo of two African Penguin chicks

Stronger Together: Saving Species One Hatchling at a Time The National Aviary remains committed to saving Critically Endangered and threatened species like the African Penguin and the Andean Condor. A Penguin Pair Back in November, we excitedly announced the arrival of two African Penguin chicks from Patrick and her mate, Owen. This sibling pair is…

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National Aviary African Penguin Pair Patrick (female) and Owen have hatched a duo of African Penguin chicks!

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One of the ways in which zoos like the National Aviary conserve species is by working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to help ensure an increase of healthy populations for a variety of threatened bird species. Your help today can make this work possible.

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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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Nearly extinct species coming back in wild thanks to Pittsburgh aviary | Yahoo News

The National Aviary has two baby Guam Kingfishers, known as sihek in the indigenous CHamoru language. The male Guam kingfisher hatched on April 19, while the female hatched on May 12. On May 27, the male chick took his first flight.

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Nearly extinct species coming back in wild thanks to Pittsburgh aviary | USA Today

With the help of two recently hatched chicks, Pittsburgh's National Aviary has plans to help a bird species that no longer exists in the wild to once again find its way home.

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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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