Tiffany Y.
Yelp
The National Aviary is the only independent indoor bird zoo in the United States. The aviary contains over 500 birds that represent over 150 species. It also has some non-birds such as sloths and armadillos.
The aviary is separated into habitats, including Canary's Call (burrowing owls, flying foxes, lorikeets, king fishers, turacos, etc.), Eagle Hall (sea eagles, toucans, etc.), Condor Court (condors, cranes, etc.), Grasslands (finches, etc.), Penguin Point (African penguins), Treetops (toucans and pheasants), Tropical Rainforest (30 species such as macaws and egrets), and Wetlands (30 species such as flamingos).
Over many years, I have visited the National Aviary many times. For my most recent visit, I bought general-admission timed tickets on the website for $18 per non-member adult. Ticket prices are lower for children, seniors, and members. Once my husband and I arrived at the aviary, we parked our vehicle in the small parking lot and paid a $5 parking fee. When the front-desk employe scanned our tickets, she asked if we wanted to add the Habitat Heroes Theater Show for an additional $5 per person, and we agreed.
My husband and I spent over 1.5 hours touring the aviary. We thought that the animals' enclosures were clean and in good condition. We did not see any animals that looked sick or unhappy. We enjoyed watching the birds flying around their rooms as well as over our heads during the theater show. All employees spoke nicely to us.
In previous years, I paid extra money to participate in animal encounters for a private behind-the-scenes VIP Experience (touching many animals and touring the kitchen and hospital--not sure if VIP is offered after the pandemic), armadillos, and a sloth, and I highly recommend these encounters if you do not mind spending more money.
Also at this aviary is a gift shop that sells t-shirts, mugs, stuffed animals, ornaments, books, etc.; an Atria's Kookaburra Kitchen with foods such as salads and sandwiches; the Garden Room event space; the Rose Garden, etc.