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Bird species NOT keept in walktrough aviaries

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by GiratinaIsGod, 29 Nov 2021.

  1. GiratinaIsGod

    GiratinaIsGod Well-Known Member

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    After seeing a video about mynas, I just realized. I never saw them in any big walktrough aviary or rainforest halls, and I can't realy see a real reason not to keep them in them.
    Are there any in this type of exclosure, and maybe besides obvious birds, like large birds of prey, are there any other weird examples
     
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  2. JoJo22

    JoJo22 Well-Known Member

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    Can't think of a place either, but I haven't been to that many zoos compared to others here, I think. Another species I can think of spontaneously would be the bali myna. Gelsenkirchen for example keeps them in a separate aviary in the tropical hall, because they are too valuable in the cage-bird trade and might get stolen. Considering the popularity of "normal" mynas, too, maybe it's for the same reason.
     
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  3. Randomname0183

    Randomname0183 Well-Known Member

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    Penguins perhaps? I’ve heard they can be really feisty if you spook them. Another one might be gulls or cranes and storks. Geese could also be another bird that isn’t fit for walkthrough aviaries due to their aggression.
     
  4. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I've seen mynas in a few free-flight aviaries. Geese, cranes, gulls, penguins, and storks as well. No large birds of prey though, for obvious reasons.
     
  5. Aardwolf

    Aardwolf Well-Known Member

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    I've also seen gulls, cranes, storks, and geese in walkthroughs, so they all certainly can work. There are some species which might not work for aggression reasons. Walk throughs aren't often the best set up for breeding many of the more delicate species, either because of disturbance from guests or harassment from other birds
     
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  6. Dassie rat

    Dassie rat Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    The first birds I thought of were cassowaries
     
  7. ParathePineapple

    ParathePineapple Well-Known Member

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    That is true all ratites with the exception of maybe kiwis would be horrible birds to put in a walkthrough, that would just be injuries waiting to happen.
     
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  8. Aardwolf

    Aardwolf Well-Known Member

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    Now, a run-through cassowary exhibit might be a hit with some folks. Here's your helmet, here's your cup, and... GO!
     
  9. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I've seen Emus in walk-throughs before.
     
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  10. Westcoastperson

    Westcoastperson Well-Known Member

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    Well, it depends. Birds like turkey vultures have been successfully kept in walk-throughs. I assume you mean mainly condors and eagles.
    Penguins in general are very stabby with their beaks. I have heard of king penguins specifically stabbing keepers with their beaks.
    Also, "special" birds like laughing kooks, tawny frogmouths, and sulfur crested cockatoos are all usually placed in individual exhibits instead of large aviaries even though they would be way more interesting in larger spaces with other birds.
     
  11. ParathePineapple

    ParathePineapple Well-Known Member

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    True I know Memphis has an aviary walk-through with African vultures in it, so I’m sure other birds of that nature could as well. Laughing kookaburra are another bird I have not seen in walk-through as well, although I think a big part of that is due to the fact most places like for them to have their own aviary off to the side to put them in, as I have never seen them with other species of bird before and honestly don’t know if they are able to.
     
    Last edited: 29 Nov 2021
  12. joe99

    joe99 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Seen Emus in walkthoughs

    One thing about kiwis other then being nocturnal or shy is they can also be quite aggressive. if we ever got a walkthough kiwi enclosure it would probably end up with some bloody shins eventually, that why i like to call them pocket cassowaries
     
  13. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Yes, I've seen Turkey Vulturues in walk-throughs. I meant any bird large or dangerous enough to eat other aviary inhabitants/potentially injure visitors.

    Saint Louis keeps King Penguins in a walk-through.

    Kookaburras and frogmouths run the risk of eating other aviary inhabitants. I've seen pinioned Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in Australian walkabouts.
     
  14. Bengal Tiger

    Bengal Tiger Well-Known Member

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    For some reason I personally haven’t seen very many parrots or macaws (lorikeets and budgies not included) in walk-throughs, maybe it is because they like to bite.
     
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  15. Great Argus

    Great Argus Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I've seen Bali Mynas in walk-throughs before.

    Fresno Chaffee had/has Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in a walk-through, not sure if they're pinioned or not.

    It varies due to biting issues, (though anyone who's been bitten by a lorikeet knows that isn't fun either) but I've seen a variety of parrots in walk-throughs. Including African Gray, Lesser Vasa, Sun Conure, Eclectus, Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, and Eastern Rosella. Besides a handful of fairly small species.
    I've never been to a walk-through with flighted macaws, but I've seen plenty of photos of such walk-throughs and recall a story on the site of a Zoochatter being chased by breeding Scarlet Macaws.

    Also to add to birds of prey, I recall a couple different places in Europe with birds of prey in walk-throughs. Unfortunately I don't remember names offhand, but one had Great Gray Owls (UK i think), there's one with a large aviary with a variety of vultures, kites, and such, and then one in I think Spain with the Long-crested Eagle and others.
     
  16. ThatOneZooGuy

    ThatOneZooGuy Well-Known Member

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    Denver has Laughing Kookaburra and Tawny Frogmouth both in their large walk through Forest Aviary, although, it was mentioned by @birdsandbats that the issue with keeping them in one would be them eating/ attacking other aviary inhabitants, and the only other inhabitants of the Forest Aviary are Ibis, Geese, and various other Waterfowl species, too large to be bothered. I’ll say one thing though, finding the two Tawny Frogmouth in a heavily forested outdoor aviary of that size is…an experience to say the least! :p
     
  17. Zoovolunteer

    Zoovolunteer Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I think the issue with mynahs as mentioned at the top of this thread is the larger Hill Mynahs are quite predatory. They are certainly capable of killing finch sized birds for example. I cannot see a rreason agaionst the smaller starling species - I have seen Emerald Starlings in walk thoughs for example. The smaller parrots/ parakeets would be OK but they might interact with visitors too much, and even smaller parrots could get quite aggressive when breeding.
     
  18. aardvark250

    aardvark250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Bali myna are in walkthrough aviary (Edward Youde Aviary in Hong Kong :) )

    Seen cranes and storks in walkthrough (e,g KL Bird Park :) )

    I think KAK have walkthrough parrots and macaws. Also another for toucans and turacos.
    I've hold and pet an owl in an owl cafe in Japan so i can't see why they can't be in a walkthrough.

    Back to the question, maybe secretarybird? I understand why they don't want to be in a walkthrough (although shoebill can be kept inside,but shoebill won't use karate kick on snakes)
     
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  19. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Traditionally kiwis are kept behind glass to prevent the public from tampering with them, but Wellington Zoo has a walk through nocturnal house where you could (theoretically) touch them (I say this in past tense as they’re currently between kiwis).

    Several Australasian zoos have Emu in walk through exhibits. I took this photo at Auckland Zoo:

     
  20. aardvark250

    aardvark250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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