Grasslands

Grasslands Presented by Vitro Architectural Glass

The Grasslands Presented by Vitro Architectural Glass is an indoor habitat where small songbirds from around the globe birds fly freely around you. This recently renovated habitat is a serene, quiet space where the soft chirps, trills, and songs of finches and sparrows surround you. Natural light filters in through skylights above you.

Please Note: We’re re-feathering our nest! The National Aviary’s Grasslands habitat will be temporarily closed for exciting renovations (and just MAYBE new species) the week of Mon., March 16. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for a reopening date. The National Aviary is incredibly thankful for the Allegheny Regional Asset District’s generous support of this project.

In 2024, the Grasslands was beautifully revamped and features new and improved roofing, additional lush plants and greenery, and new skylight glazing that maximizes UV transmittance for our birds. The National Aviary, including this recent renovation, is supported in part by the taxpayers of Allegheny County through a public grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). RAD works here.

You may see beautiful Green Singing Finches gathering nesting material, or catch the inquisitive Owl Finches peering at you from the branches of trees. Shaft-tailed Finches land on perches close by. A Red Siskin’s red feathers make them stand out as they fly overhead.

The National Aviary is part of global collaborative program to help save this endangered species, native to Venezuela, and boost the population. All of the Red Siskins living in the Grasslands habitat were born in our state-of-the-art Breeding Center!

The plantscape of the Grasslands incorporates inspiration from grassland habitats around the world.

Safeguarding Grasslands

Visitors to Canary’s Call can learn how to be good stewards of our planet, including the conservation of crucial grassland habitats. In addition to carbon storage, these habitats – whether the savannah in Africa, prairies in North America, or downs in Australia – allow rainwater to penetrate into the ground, helping to prevent flooding and maintaining critical water sources for flora and fauna alike. However, grasslands face largely human-caused threats like unsustainable farming practices. Learn how YOU can help protect them, thanks to tips and tricks from the National Aviary Green Team.

Learn More

Thank You to Our Grasslands Sponsor:

In The News

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The Invisible Clues Animals Leave Behind Are Helping Save Entire Ecosystems (featuring an interview with Dr. Steve Latta) | A-Z Animals

In this article, we speak with Dr. Steven Latta, Director of Conservation and Field Research at The National Aviary. In his own work, he collects eDNA samples from water, leaf litter, feathers, egg shells, and other substrates to identify species presence.

Why Animals in Cold Climates Are Bigger: The Science Behind Bergmann’s Rule (featuring an interview with Bob Mulvihill) | A-Z Animals

“Large animals can conserve heat more efficiently than smaller animals in cold climates,” explains Bob Mulvihill, Lead Ornithologist for the National Aviary.

Penguins To Hold ‘Penguins Pledge Night’ Presented by U. S. Steel | Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins Pledge will also raise funds and call attention to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and their conservation leadership with African Penguins.

Record Number of Peregrine Falcons Counted in Allegheny County | National Today

Conservation efforts have helped the raptor species rebound in the region.

Why Are There No Birds in My Birdhouse? I Asked Expert Bob Mulvihill Who Told Me How to Attract Birds to Any Birdhouse | Gardening Know How

To help ensure your birdhouses are as appealing to birds as possible, [we] asked a National Aviary Ornithologist Bob Mulvihill for the most common reasons why houses remain vacant and how to make houses more attractive to garden birds.