Cacao farms can serve as crucial habitats for many bird species and provide the same benefits to them as undisturbed wooded areas.  Bird-friendly chocolate is produced by cacao farms that emphasize conservation and protecting forested areas. They do this in many ways, including utilizing shade-grown cacao. This means cacao that is planted within the understory of diverse trees and other plants, to the benefit of multiple crops and wildlife alike, rather than cleared land used to grow only one crop at a time for faster production.

Look for the Bird Friendly™ certification stamp on the product label. Developed by our friends at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, this stamp certifies that the cocoa (processed cacao) was farmed by a company that doesn’t use harmful pesticides and features dense canopy covers for local wildlife AND yummy chocolate!

We partner with local Pittsburgh company, Paras Candies, to sell their chocolate in our Gift Shop!

Their special blend sources fresh ingredients from other local companies and doesn’t include palm oil, an additive some companies use in place of cocoa butter for large-quantity chocolate production. In addition to being palm oil-free, Paras Candies chocolate supplier is a global leader in good farming and business practices.  

Learn more about the usage of sustainable palm oil here!

Bird-friendly coffee is considered any coffee produced from beans that were grown organically (without chemical fertilizers or pesticides) and under an extensive canopy of native tree species, which are also home to diverse bird and wildlife species.

When land is cleared for coffee beans to be grown in direct sunlight (or sun-grown), the beans demand a lot of additional water, fertilizer, and chemical herbicides and pesticides to develop.

In combination with the removal of a forest’s natural overstory, these conditions spell disaster for many bird species, including millions of the migratory birds that rely on these forests during cold winter months.

So why do some farms grow coffee beans this way? Because it produces more beans at once…at a greater cost to our planet. 

The cultivation and industrialization (or mass-production) of the coffee industry over time have led to massive deforestation in biodiverse, mountainous tropical regions in the Americas, Africa, and Asia to make way for coffee bean fields.

The most significant problem with this sun-grown coffee method is that those monoculture (or single crop) areas support only a fraction (less than one-quarter) of the bird diversity that shade-grown, certified bird-friendly coffee farms support.

Farms that grow their beans organically (chemical-free), while maintaining native tree species, help important wildlife ecosystems thrive…while still giving you a delicious morning roast. 

By choosing bird-friendly coffee, you’re not only enjoying a delicious brew but also supporting the preservation of forests (and wildlife) around the globe.

• Look for the The Smithsonian Bird Friendly® stamp of approval during your next grocery trip.
• Support local business, Redstart Roasters, a certified, bird-friendly roaster.

 You can sip on bird-friendly coffee at the Atria’s Kookaburra Café during your next National Aviary visit! 

You can also learn more about bird-friendly coffee (and see actual coffee plants cultivated by the Aviary’s Horticulturist) in our Tropical Rainforest habitat. 

Glass alone is invisible to in-flight birds. Instead, they see whatever is reflected in the window – which is often open sky or your surrounding yard. Bird-safe glass means any panel with an etching, coating, or pattern that reduces glare and helps make the window easily visible to birds. 

You can affordably turn your windows into bird-safe glass!

Patterns of stripes or dots placed two inches apart on the outside of your windows is the most effective way to make your home bird safe.

Applying decals or vinyl yourself works the same as glass that is etched with a pattern. 

You may also apply a few strips of colored tape across your windows for an easy solution.

Adding netting or screens also helps prevent collisions (and keeps bugs outside)!

You can also hang strings two inches apart spanning top to the bottom of your window frames.

Bird-safe glass can be seen throughout the National Aviary, in a variety of patterns. Some were professionally etched by Vitro Architectural Glass, and others demonstrate how you can create bird-safe glass on your own at home! 

Our Tropical Rainforest habitat features 3,146 panes of laminated bird-friendly glass from Vitro Architectural Glass. The glass was designed to prevent collision by birds both inside and outside the habitat and maximize ultraviolet (UV) transmittance to help sustain wildlife and plant life throughout the year.

Our largest habitat, the Wetlands, received brand-new, bird-safe glass panels during its 2022 renovation. A mix of both laminated and pattern-etched glass was used. Ample natural light shines through more than 20,000 square feet of glass which encourages natural behaviors like nesting and preening. 

But the bird-safe glass isn’t just used in our habitats, it’s also used in our LEED Gold Certified event space, The Garden Room! A line-etched design was specifically chosen to protect local wildlife while offering stunning views of the historic Rose Garden. Eye-catching light-refracting skylights are unique way to reduce energy consumption.

To see how you can easily transform your own windows, venture to The Charity Randall Foundation Eagle Hall. A member of our Green Team hand-installed large vinyl dots two-inches apart on both habitats along that hallway. 

Composting is what many call ‘nature’s way of recycling!’ It’s the process of organic matter breaking down over time, becoming fertilizer called “compost.” 

The United States wastes more food than any other country, with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimating that nearly one third of all available food is lost or thrown away. Food takes up more space in United States landfills than any other waste, making up 22% of municipal solid waste.

Composting turns food waste into biologically stable soil that makes a huge, positive impact on healthy environments. Benefits include: 

• Decreasing waste that ends up in landfills.
• Reducing emissions of toxic gases that pollute our air and increase global temperatures. 
• Preventing runoff of pollutants in landfills that would otherwise end up in our waterways.
• Promoting plant growth and reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Composting also helps save money because the nutrient-rich soil that is left behind means you won’t have to purchase as much potting soil for your garden! 

Composting your waste is rather easy once you secure the right supplies!

Before you begin, select a dedicated composting container. There are a variety of types and sizes you can purchase or even make, but they all get the job done! Even a take-out container made of recycled materials will work! 

The most important part of composting is making sure you have the proper ratio of carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials: 25 or 30-parts carbon to 1-part nitrogen. 

• Carbon-rich, or “brown” materials include twigs, leaves, paper (non-glossy and uncolored), straw/hay, and cardboard.
• Nitrogen-rich materials, or “green” materials include fruit/vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, and grass clippings. 

With this proper ratio, the compost should eventually “heat up” as materials decompose.

Pro tip: Cut up everything into small pieces and alternate brown and green layers to maximize air flow! 

Resolutions for Decomposing Issues:

• Importantly, it shouldn’t smell! If your compost pile has an odor, you likely have an incorrect ratio. 
• If your compost pile is dry? You likely have added too much carbon and need to add more nitrogen and/or water. 
• If you compost pile is wet, slimy, AND smelly? Add more carbon and aerate the compost by mixing up the pile so it’s not as compact. 

Regardless of the ratios, the materials in your compost bin will eventually decompose over time! 

Once your compost pile is done “heating up,” there will be no more visible food scraps. Then, it’s time to allow it to rest until it does become dry and crumbly (that’s OK at this stage!). You can scatter this compost into your plants and garden to use as a fertilizer!

You can also create a liquid fertilizer by adding your compost to water, letting it soak in water for a few days, then straining out the solid compost.

Some companies pickup compost from your home and other facilities allow for material drop-off. 

• Zero Waster Wrangler (City of Pittsburgh services)
• The Compost People
• Carbon Compost

Not only does the National Aviary help animals across the globe, we also diligently work to make our own positive impact on the planet.

We have a compost bin behind-the-scenes where all of our leftover animal (and human) food goes. We partner with AG Recycle to dispose of all of our compost!

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is the framework for an eco-efficient plan to design, construct, and operate a low-carbon impact building. 

The system is set up with a series of strict guidelines. Points are granted based on various tiers within the USGBC system. A few requirements are:

• Improved interior air quality for those utilizing the space. 
• Conservation of building materials during and after construction.
• Controlled ambient heat using specific reflective materials or plants for shaded areas.
• Conservation of water throughout the building. 

You can get a home LEED certified by making improvements under any of the USGBC’s nine priority categories.  However, the best way to reduce your environmental impact is through research and your consumer dollars! 

• Use energy-saving LED lightbulbs in lamps and light fixtures. 
• Install a smart thermostat to monitor your home’s ambient temperature. 
• Wash only full loads of laundry or use an appropriate amount of water per load. 
• Wash laundry in cold water! Cold water utilizes less energy than hot. 
• Fill up your dishwasher before switching it on!
• Seal air leaks and fix water leaks as quickly as possible as to not waste these valuable resources. 
• Replace HVAC filters regularly so it doesn’t have to use more energy to heat/cool your home.
• Switch off lights and electrical appliances when they’re not in use.
• Sweep driveways, decks, and patios rather than using a hose. 

We have many! When you walk through our Entrance (and Gift Shop), you’re walking into a LEED Silver-certified building. Our Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone™ Theater and Learning Centers are also Silver-certified. 

The National Aviary’s all-seasons’ event space, The Garden Room, was awarded LEED Gold certification in 2022! 

Sustainable seafood means it is harvested from oceans in a way that minimizes negative environmental impacts, such as overfishing and habitat loss.

For wild-caught seafood in particular, these practices ensure that the fish populations are well-managed and plentiful. 

Overfishing has contributed to the decline of many marine-based species, including African Penguins, who rely on abducent food sources for sustenance. That’s because these birds, and many other species, are forced to travel further distances to fulfill their daily food needs.

Sustainable seafood provides a steadfast, nutrient-dense food source for humans and helps ensure that our oceanic friends also have plenty of food for generations to come, while minimizing the negative effects on oceanic habitats. 

By using products and brands that prioritize birds through sustainable products, you can let your consumer dollars speak loudly about your support for bird-friendly options!

• Use the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch to help find sustainably sourced seafood during your next shopping trip.
• Check labels! Check your food labels for The Marine Stewardship Council’s or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s official stamp of approval! 
• Purchase by season! Buy seafood that is caught locally and in season, if possible. 

The National Aviary is home to many fish-eating species, including African Penguins! Our commissary orders large bulk shipments of various whole frozen fish from a Monterey Bay Seafood Watch-approved distributor, McRoberts Sales Co., Inc. Our distributor is also approved by Ocean Wise and NOAA Fisheries FSSI programs, which advocate for sustainable practices across their entire supply chain, and is a commercial member of the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums! 

Buying a wide variety of fish allows us to diversify our species’ fish diets and allows us to not become over-dependent on one particular type of fish. 

Additionally, the National Aviary’s seafood distributor consolidates their storage of products in regionally located warehouses to help reduce its carbon footprint, as well as aligns themselves with like-minded environmental associations.