Giant south american aviary - Hyacinth macaw flying

Very nice to see macaws in a large free flight aviary, instead of on a pole with their wings clipped.

So you're not a fan of this exhibit?

Is this fairly new aviary the largest in Europe (as claimed in "What Zoos Can Do")? I've seen many photos of it on ZooChat and I've read that it is over 1 hectare (2.5 acres in size). Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo has a 4-acre aviary that is so large that once inside it is difficult to see the end of it, but the one at Doue has a unique appearance and I'd love to tour it one day.

Probably the best exhibit in France for me. You can spend half a day to see all the birds living (and flying of course) in the aviary. A unique exhibit

No, I know at least two others aviaries which are larger than this one (one in Spain and one in Italy).

Whilst I wouldn't envy either the keeper that had to catch up a bird here (and it is required from time to time) nor the bird involved, there's no doubt that this looks fabulous. How much of the stock has to be caught up to be put into warmer winter quarters?

I doubt if something like this could be attempted any further north-west in Europe; it would be too cool and damp in the summer to be worthwhile in Britain.

Definitely not. Actually I do not like the practice of clipping or pinioning birds at all, even though every major U.S. zoo I can think of (including mine) does it. Macaws with clipped wings on a fixed branch is so standard, even (or especially) in AZA zoos, that it seems to be just accepted. But I cannot see how that is much different than surgically chopping a tiger's legs off at the knees so you can put them on display without a fence. (Of course there would be an international outcry if someone actually tried this). Why no outcry over preventing flying birds from flying?

I agree. Are there no free-flying macaws in the States? There are in the UK.

There are, but they are usually seen in bird shows rather than large flight cages.

There is a large warm house (off show area) where the birds can spend the night and the cold days. There is an open space at the top of the house with heating lamps during cold days (if I remember well).

Very few and far between. Usually trained birds in shows, as Ituri says. The only macaw aviary I recall seeing, and it is not a very good one, is at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.