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Official account for America's Bird Zoo. Home to more than 500 birds and other animals representing more than 150 different species.
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⭐IT’S TIME FOR ROUND TWO! ⭐

After sorting through more than 1,800 submissions, the National Aviary is excited to announce the SIX (three sets of two) potential names for our Striped Skunk sisters! 
 
🧀Feta & Ricotta – known to stand out on a charcuterie board 
🌼Petunia & Daisy – skunks tend to frolic through flower patches in gardens and fields 
🦨Poppy & Pepper – the hues of poppy seeds and pepper grinds are reminiscent of a skunk’s iconic fur 
 
BUT WHICH WILL IT BE? It’s time for YINZ to vote for your favorite duo. To vote, donate $5 (credit/debit cards only) and select your preferred name. Each $5 donation is worth FIVE votes, and you can donate as often as you want (with a $5 minimum)! 

VOTE HERE: #linkinbio

Need inspiration? Meet one sister during our Forest Friends: Expert Talk (included with General Admission) and meet the other during a Skunk Painting Encounter! 
 
Thank you for your support; we cannot WAIT to see what their names will be! 
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https://national-aviary.givingfuel.com/skunks by @national_aviary
10
a month ago
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🗣️There’s a NEW girl in ‘tahn! 

The National Aviary is overjoyed to welcome a new juvenile female Harpy Eagle to our flock! Hailing from @zoomiami, this one-year-old raptor is the ONLY known Harpy living in the Northeast... 

AND now she has a name that fits her fierce adaptations and egg-shell colored plumage (that will slowly turn Harpy-gray over the next few years)...introducing, 
 
DARIÉNA (Dare EE awn ă), affectionately named by Aviary friends, Brian and Sandra Moroney, through our Name-A-Bird program. 

Come visit this ✨ Remarkable Raptor ✨ in her new habitat in The Charity Randall Foundation Eagle Hall! 🦅 
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https://www.aviary.org/visit/ Close up of Dariena in her habitat with her mouth open by @national_aviary
36
4 months ago
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Today is #InternationalAfricanPenguinAwarenessDay.

Many factors, such as a lack of nesting materials, have caused a sharp decline in wild African Penguin populations. Historically, African Penguins dug burrows using seabird guano, which served as a natural insulator for their eggs. However, unsustainable guano harvesting forced these birds to nest on exposed, unstable sand, causing lower nesting success rates. 

Last fall, the National Aviary helped deploy dozens of artificial nest burrows in Namibia, marking the second year in a row the Aviary assisted with installation. National Aviary Senior Director of Animal Care and Conservation Programs Kurt Hundgen and Assistant Manager of Animal Care Chris Gaus were “boots on the ground,” alongside our partners at the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB) and Saving Animals From Extinction® (SAFE) Program. 

Chris is currently in Namibia assisting the project again; stay tuned for details about his trip! A colony of African Penguins near several artificial nest burrows at the edge of a large rocky cliff. by @national_aviary
2
2 days ago
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Tomorrow is #WorldMigratoryBirdDay!

#DidYouKnow 8% of the total Wood Thrush population nests in Pennsylvania? In fall and winter, they migrate about 2,000 miles south to Central America in search of warmer weather and more abundant food sources. Then, come spring, they make their way back up the East Coast for breeding season. 

To help Wood Thrushes and other migratory birds on their long, arduous journey south, turn off all unnecessary exterior lights from midnight to 6 am. Learn more and join the Lights Out Movement: https://www.aviary.org/conservation/lights-out/ A Wood Thrush perched on a log that fell from a tree. by @national_aviary
0
3 days ago
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🐧Waddle to the National Aviary THIS SATURDAY for International African Penguin Awareness Day!🐧

Meet an African Penguin Animal Ambassador up close (and say hi to the entire crew in their Penguin Point home!), explore our Penguin Discovery Zone (designed for kids and caregivers), learn how you can help these native African birds right from your own home, and so much more.

🐧International African Penguin Awareness Day
📅Sat., October 10
⏰10:30 am - 4 pm
🎟️Included with General Admission

Plan your visit: https://www.aviary.org/sitewrench-calendar/events/?swwpc_calendar_id=103017&swwpc_event_id=6340754 by @national_aviary
1
4 days ago
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THE RESULTS ARE IN! 🦨🦨🥁SWIPE TO REVEAL ➡️ 

Thanks to YOUR votes, the National Aviary is now proud to announce that our Striped Skunk sisters have officially been dubbed… 
 
🌼PETUNIA & DAISY!🌼
 
THANK YOU to all who participated, from suggesting names to voting on the official monikers! The final rankings: 
 
1. Petunia & Daisy 
2. Poppy & Pepper 
3. Feta & Ricotta 
 
In total, the contest raised more than $2,500 in just 2.5 weeks and increased Guest and Member attendance in September by 40% compared to past years. September was the FIRST month visitors could meet the gals up close!

Come say hello to them – meet ONE in our Forest Friends: Expert Talk (included with General Admission/Membership) and meet the other sister when you add on a Skunk Painting Encounter (discounted for Members!)! 

All proceeds from this contest, General Admission, and our Animal Encounters support the daily care of our animal residents, including these two stinkin' cute gals. So once again, THANK YOU! by @national_aviary
8
5 days ago
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Eating their nutrients so they grow big and strong! 💪🦆

#DidYouKnow ducks prefer to moisten their food before eating it? Adding water helps soften their feed, making it much easier to swallow. While our expert care staff always adds water to their bowl, the ducklings still take matters into their own webbed feet. They grab a mouthful and scurry to the pond for additional water (under the watchful eye of mom and dad)! 

Watching them actively choose to add more water shows just how quickly their instincts kick in; they are only about two weeks old, after all! 

Witness their antics firsthand before they’re full-grown in just six weeks. Plan your visit TODAY: https://www.aviary.org/visit/daily-activities/ by @national_aviary
3
6 days ago
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Passport to Parks, presented by @aaaautoclubenterprises, aka the National Aviary’s MOST IMMERSIVE SHOW ever, is nearing its closing date. 

Uncover the planet’s most mesmerizing ecosystems as you soar above the Andes Mountains, journey to Victoria Falls, and fly past wonders like the Aurora Borealis and beyond alongside fan-favorite Animal Ambassadors and TWO Aviary experts. 🏞️

A few lucky audience members even have the chance to participate in the show!
Add-on tickets during your next National Aviary visit! 

📅Daily, except Tuesdays
⏰11 am and 2 pm
🎟️Members: $4 per ticket; Non-Members: $5 

Add-on tickets during your next visit: https://www.aviary.org/visit/daily-activities/passport-to-parks/ 

Passport to Parks sunsets Wed., November 25. by @national_aviary
1
7 days ago
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Biodiversity is essential for all healthy ecosystems - from microorganisms to towering trees and everything in between! Locally, Striped Skunks (and birds!) help keep insect populations in order, disperse seeds as they scurry around, and till the soil as they forage for food.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE to cast your vote in our Striped Skunk Naming Contest. And it's #WorldAnimalDay, so it's only fitting to cast your votes today! Should our pair be dubbed:

🌶️Pepper and Poppy
🌼Petunia and Daisy
🧀Feta and Ricotta

$5 = 5 votes; it’s that simple. All proceeds support the National Aviary’s work to save species and protect their habitats. 

Voting closes Mon., October 5 at  12 pm. #linkinbio Two Striped Skunks eating sweet potato, kale, and hard-boiled eggs. by @national_aviary
1
8 days ago
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Oh, to be an ibis bathing in a waterfall 🥺

Keeping the green-metallic feathers of a Southern Bald Ibis clean is important for overall bird health! Bathing removes dirt and potential parasites. 

See a Southern Bald Ibis UP CLOSE as you stroll through our Tropical Rainforest habitat. Book General Admission tickets today: https://www.aviary.org/visit/ by @national_aviary
2
9 days ago
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Using an iconic Vine soundbite for a video of a bat EATING LEAVES FROM A VINE? Too good 😮‍💨

October may be #BatAppreciationMonth, but we appreciate Buoy, Nutmeg, and Maroon EVERY DAY. Malayan Flying Foxes primarily dine on fruit but will also munch on flowers and leaves! 

Visit these not-so-spooky gals in their habitat in Canary’s Call Presented by @dollar.bank! by @national_aviary
5
10 days ago
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The National Aviary is elated to share that we are officially accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for another five years – a feat that we have maintained continuously since 1984. 

@zoos_aquariums-accredited institutions “meet the highest standards in animal care and welfare and provide a fun, safe, and educational family experience” while also aiding critical research and conservation for species of all shapes and sizes. 

During this process, every aspect of the Aviary is meticulously reviewed and inspected – from the daily care of our flock to administrative operations, and everything in between. 

None of this would be possible without the support of our amazing community! As we approach our 75th anniversary in 2027, we want to THANK YOU for always championing the conservation of our feathered friends! Close up side profile of a Victoria Crowned Pigeon, a signature species at the National Aviary. by @national_aviary
5
11 days ago
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