The place is cool, the elderly man that works in the rainforest room this past wednsday was NOT. My 3 year old got a little too excited and started to chase one of the ducks. Before I had a chance to speak to my daughter this man was yelling, waving his finger, and his cane AT HER. If they are going to act like that then either train staff to properly inform the parents of misbehaving kids or enforce an age restriction upon entry. I was mortified that anyone would speak to someone elses kid in that manner. read more

This is the coolest place. It's $14 but boy was it worth every moment. Even from the outside of the entrance, you can gigantic condors just chilling. Inside, I got to see penguins, a sloth, a baby sloth, ginormous eagles, beautiful pheasant, and whole hosts of birds from various different habitats. I had my jaw dropped the entire team. Here is how cool it was: during my visit the fire alarm went off and we had to leave the building and I still loved it because it was incredible. If you go to Pittsburgh and don't go here, You're doing it wrong! read more

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A nice aviary. Exhibits are executed well. Some interesting birds you may not see often. The show is well done. Just not very big and charges premium zoo prices (with up sells everywhere) for the quality of an aviary that is on par with high end zoos. Not bad if you are in area and have some time but not a destination. read more

As my time as a student comes to an end, I am making the best use of my CMU ID. I came here with my friends today, as CMU students get free admission. Full price tickets are $14, which seems high considering the zoo is cheaper. The aviary is really only going to keep you busy for an hour, and parking in their lot is $5. There are many different immersion exhibits and some cages. The immersion area with the flamingos was really cool, as were the other immersion ones. The birds are fairly un-phased by people, and there are attendants who talk to you about the birds. For an additional fee, you can feed the birds in many of these rooms at specific times. The penguin area was a lot of fun, and you can get really close to them. There are plenty of other animals, but these were the exhibits that really stood out. They also have two sloths at the aviary. Even though sloths aren't birds? If you are coming here with kids, there is a little food court area with pizza, soft pretzels, and other kid and junk food. It looked passable if you have starving kids. All in all, a fine way to pass an hour. read more

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Please know I am NOT a fan of birds, actually pretty terrified but had quite a fun afternoon (about 2 hours or less) at the aviary. Very clean and organized. It does smell like birds, but it obviously should. The birds do come near you and fly overhead but even I enjoyed it. It's also a great place to go on a rainy day. There is a snack bar/food area which we did not visit and a gift shop. Great for all ages! Stroller and wheelchair friendly and you can hang up your coat and umbrella read more

National Aviary - Flamingos - Zoos Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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What an incredible way to spend a day at a very affordable price. Take your kids. Plenty of fun and education to fill an entire day. Lots of shows that are as full of learning as entertainment. Plenty of hands on things to do. The new birdly exhibit is a virtual reality tour that allows you a bird's eye view while you "fly" over places like New York City. King Kong on the empire State building included. You can also fly over the mountains or the beach. You actually use your arms to "fly" guiding your view in every way. There are plenty of places to sit and watch the wild life. A little place to buy or eat a packed lunch. You don't need kids to love this place. Take a date. Take a book and read on the bench while listening to the birds. Don't forget to "lookie for the wookie" the sloth was my second favorite. Bested only by the burrowing owls. read more

National Aviary - Birdly virtual reality experience - Zoos Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Fun and Infomative Even with the pandemic restrictions, this is a great place to visit.  If you have any interest in birds, you will find that time passes very quickly here.  If you don't have any interest in birds, a visit here may well change that. read more

The national aviary is a nice place to visit, especially if you are bringing kids. I like that most of the exhibits are interactive and that most of the birds can fly free - and fly they will, right by you! If you're afraid of birds maybe you should be wary, since these birds are not afraid of humans and will come up very close to you. My personal favorites were the Andean Condors, who have their cage outside and you can actually see from the street. While driving by I thought there was a statue of a bird outside, since it was huge and had it's wings spread. I was surprised to find out it was a living bird! Since it had been raining that day they were trying to dry their feathers, hence the wings spread out. They are massive birds, almost unreal when you see them. While I like the idea of this place and it is fairly affordable, the aviary itself is a bit small. Despite being the national aviary, I have been in ones of similar size with similar species elsewhere. I was expecting something a little bigger, since in reality there are only about six exhibits here. However, I can't complain too much, since birds are notoriously hard to care for, and they do have a wide variety of birds on display. If you have kids or like birds, I would say this might be a good stop for you to make when in Pittsburgh. read more

A well deserved 5-star rating for this aviary which houses some of the most beautiful god's creations. The number of birds at this aviary is around 600, most of them endangered. The birds here look very happy because they are cared for so beautifully by the staff. Each staff member we encountered knew the birds by name. It was clear that the staff shared a special bond with the birds. The facility, I read somewhere, is recently renovated and it clearly shows. The place is very clean, well-maintained and has a great atmosphere. The entrance fee of $13 +$5 (1 bird show) is definitely worth spending. The Sky Deck show which featured raptors (eagles, black kites, vultures) was stunning. It's perfect for adults and young adults. For kids, Parrots of the Caribbean may be more appropriate. Feeding the Lories is another must do to be "one on many" with the beautiful Lorikeets. You purchase nectar and feed the Lories while they sit on your stretched-out arms. My wife was so happy to be so up close and personal with these multicolored birds. Do not miss the feeding times for other birds. The instructors will let you feed some of the birds during that time and it is a wonderful experience. Each exhibit area is designed very well and in some case the birds walk/fly around you like they would in their natural habitat. It is worth visiting Pittsburgh just for the National Aviary. Check out some of the photos from my visit in June 2012. read more

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Fun place, especially for kids. Make sure you get to meet the Penguins. The main room with the birds flying around and strutting their stuff is fun,,,just don't wear your best cloths...one guy got some white stuff on him from a flying bird...lol. read more

Fun time, but as others have said it's not really a big place--a few hours should suffice. Definitely dress casually because you could get pooped on or have some water drip from the ceiling. There are lots of hands-on opportunities, especially for children; be sure to bring a wad of $1 bills to drop in the donation bucket to take advantage of the feeding opportunities. The penguin exhibit is the most intimate I've seen around, which is of course a great highlight in the Pittsburgh area. The outdoor condor exhibit was closed for winter and another outdoor display was vacant. We paid the extra $5 for the Parrots of the Caribbean show. It was predictably corny and a few of the animals weren't interested in performing. I can't fault them (they are animals!), but I will say that show was probably best for little kids. Older attendees without kids might just want to skip the show and save the money for something else. The cafe is more like a snack shop, despite the name brand sponsorship from Atria's. We had a loaded baked potato soup that was really good, but don't expect to get much of a meal here. Most of the offerings are things you'd see at a sporting event (chicken strips, pretzels, nacho chips, etc). They offer a few salads, but I can't vouch for the quality. Bring your camera! Photography is encouraged in all areas except the show. Flashes are OK too. You can get some really great photos. I've posted a few of mine. read more

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The National Aviary is one of my family's favorite destinations in Pittsburgh. We have a membership and visit several times a year. Highlights include the amazing variety of birds, the courteous and informative staff, the ambassador animals including sloths, and the well maintained facilities. The special events such as sloth encounter and penguin encounter make great children's birthday celebrations. I also recommend attending an animal feeding. The aviary is a delight - highly recommended for locals and tourists. read more

National Aviary - Brown Pelican - Zoos Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Wow - just wow! This far exceeded all my expectations. This is not a simple, zoo-like aviary. There are two whole rooms where visitors follow a path surrounded on both sides by a lush, tropical setting. In those two rooms there are no cages and the birds roam free - sometimes coming up really close! Seeing them in flight and watching them interact in a close-to-natural environment is amazing. The birds seem really healthy and happy here. There are more traditional enclosures, too. Watching the penguins is really fun and there is a tunnel for kids to get closer to them. And I would recommend splurging on a bird feeding. I did the lorikeet one and it was so much fun! The birds are fearless and friendly, and the staff welcoming and knowledgeable. If you're in Pittsburgh do not miss out! Visit the aviary! read more

This place was so much fun. Impressive collection of all kinds of different birds--many of which I'd never knew of or seen before. I loved how close you can be to the birds and that most of them are in very spacious facilities where they can fly around and explore. (A few are disappointingly in smallish pens where they appear to live boring lives.) Many staff presentations (such as feedings) throughout the day will help you see the birds in action. Budget yourself 90 mins to 2 hours to see everything. read more

Fun and interesting place for young and old to see and learn more about exotic birds. The volunteers are keen to explain to you everything about the birds' behavior and some of their ways, especially in the "open" spaces where the birds litteraly fly around you. Enough fun things for the kids to see and to do as well, including a glass outpost in the middle of the pengiun area. Yay! There are a lot of interactive 'hands-on' feeding sessions scheduled throughout the day as well in where the visitors can participate. You really see the donations, on which this place is run, are being used effectively and go directly to maintaining the building and the welfare of the birds. read more

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It is amazing and a must if you are in the area. The grasslands was my favorite since the birds fly over your head. Do check for peak hours because it can get crowded. For animal lovers it is incredible. read more

Overall we really enjoyed the Aviary and spent about 5 hours there. The length of time we spent at the Aviary genuinely astonished us. On maps, and online, the Aviary appeared to be massive, however, in reality it's actually fairly small. We bought the all day pass because we wanted to see both shows, and for only $1 more it included the Lorikeet feeding. A note about that last part, it said on the board it included the Lorikeet feeding, however, at the actual enclosure they weren't checking tickets and were charging $3 for food. They gave us a map and told us where the shows were and what time to be at each one. It worked out perfectly that the first part of the day was moving from one show to the next, with a few minutes in between each to check out some exhibits. Once the shows were over we were able to take our time walking through, and our son could linger at the exhibits he loved the most. We were also able to see almost all of the feedings with the exception of the bats. The shows were fantastic. Each was about 20/30 minutes long, and very interactive. For the Soar! Show, make sure you line up about 10 minutes earlier, it's on a rooftop deck which is only accessible by elevator. Don't forget your sunglasses! At the end of each show, you have the option to donate $1 by handing the bill to a bird. It's not required, but our son absolutely loved it. And extra chance to be up close and personal. The Lorikeet feeding was by and large a huge disappointment. Reference my earlier note about them not checking tickets and charging for food. We went to the first feeding, however, the birds apparently weren't hungry, so we weren't even given the option of feeding them and no alternatives or refund was offered. We attempted to get to the second feeding time, but 10 minutes prior the line was wrapped around down the hall. We also opted to do a Penguin Encounter, an additional $40/person. While it was enjoyable, I wouldn't go so far as to say it was worth the $40. We did the later afternoon encounter and were the only ones there (it maxes out at 8 people). If the encounter had been full, it definitely would not have been worth it. We got to pet the penguin, but the photos with the penguin were waaaaay oversold. It wasn't so much a photo with a penguin as it was a photo with a penguin kinda sorta nearby, and doing whatever it wants. It was also led by a volunteer, not a trainer as advertised. Don't get me wrong, volunteer Sarah was phenomenal, but when the trainer came in for about 5 seconds to help move the penguin out the penguin became a completely different penguin. He was visibly excited to see his trainer. Overall, we really enjoyed the Aviary. Our son had a blast and most importantly had fun learning. I would recommend it to anyone looking for activities while visiting Pittsburgh. read more

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Wow. Awesome previous reviews - hard to make a real statement after them. We loved the Aviary and are members. My daughter loves visiting the aviary, and we make a once monthly visit. This is a really great place for a quick family trip out, especially during the cold winter months. Support their efforts and visit them! Only "cons" are that it is a bit small, and on rare occasions while walking around the areas where birds are flying free, you had best watch your step, and watch where you stand! read more

Pretty cool place to visit for kids and grown ups. FIRST: The penguin show! So you pay an extra $30 and a small group of 6-8 sit in a small hallway with one of the penguins! He just stands around or may walk between your feet but don't touch him! Not because you're not allowed to but rather, he's not a puppy. He doesn't realize petting and biting are not the same thing. If you want to pet him, the trainer will hold his head and let you feel his back and wings but if you want to touch him while he's walking past your feet, no ones going to stop you because you signed a waiver. The bird exhibits are pretty cool too. They have feeding times published and it's quite a show. They'll let kids and adults put food in their hands and wait for birds to come snatch it. Lots of pretty birds, fun, the penguin part makes it totally worth it! read more

National Aviary - They bite! - Zoos Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Jules had been begging me to take her to the National Aviary for years, going all the way back to our first trips to the Pittsburgh area when we were first dating. Finally, with some spare time on one of our trips, we managed to check this one off of her bucket list. It had been years since I'd been to the National Aviary, and I had forgotten how small the building really was. I had really been expecting something much larger and comprehensive...but that was before I entered. The scope and number of species--free-flying, in most cases--at the Aviary was beyond impressive. Jules particularly enjoyed the grasslands area, with numerous varieties of finches and warblers, so close you could reach out and touch them (but don't! Be nice to the birdies!). Areas replicating rainforests, wetlands and more featured full habitats, with exhibits that refrained from the museum cardinal sin of 'dumbing things down' simply to appeal to children. My one complaint? More owls. I do love some owls, but the only ones on feature were two burrowing owls in a hallway exhibit, who seemed perturbed that they were constantly surrounded by people. Even still? Adorable. The National Aviary is a treasure, just outside of downtown Pittsburgh. Take an afternoon and meet some feathered friends! read more

I really loved my visit to the aviary. I love animals and birds so I am really happy to finally visit. When I was there they had the baby flamingos out which were soo cute!! I also loved the penguins and enjoyed the flying VR set and the birds eye view demonstration. You have to pay extra to do some of the extra exhibits but it's definitely worth it as it does enhance the visit. The staff are all very knowledgeable as well. Will definitely return and make it a yearly event! read more

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A nice place to spend a bit of time seeing the birds, but I've honestly seen better aviaries and bird exhibits in zoos. Being as it's the "National Aviary" I was expecting a bit more. Especially with the penguin exhibit... that was just really sad looking. It's pretty cool though in the areas where the birds sort of roam free. Just have to watch your step for both the birds and their poop. read more

This is a cool spot. Its located in a beautiful park is one of the safer neighborhoods. The aviary itself is cool and interactive. They provide different activities for all ages such as feeding birds. There is another area where you walk through and the birds are flying right by you and sitting next to you on benches. My complaint would be the size of the place. It was on the smaller side and for the price its difficult to swallow. It did not take long to walk through. read more

I visited the Aviary for the first time for one of the "Aviary at Night" events. Once a month on a Thursday, the Aviary opens its doors from 5:00-9:00 for an over 21 event. The down side to this event is that there are no scheduled feedings or shows. The plus side is that you aren't swamped by kids, you can wander through certain areas with a glass of wine (the main hallway with the bald eagle and the penguin area) and you get to see birds at a time most people don't get to see them. In addition to the no kids, the cafe has a nice menu of specials (pulled pork nachos, salmon grilled cheese, a fruit and cheese tray). There is also a bar with beer, wine and mixed drinks. It was a fun event and something I will likely return to in the future. General Aviary Review: The Aviary is divided into themed areas. There was at least one volunteer in each area ready to answer questions you had about the various birds and bird calls. There is a tropical rain forest with an array of colorful (and talkative) birds. It is a free flight area where you may need to watch your step and look out above. Most of the birds will keep their distance. One that seems to greet you and say "you'd better behave in MY house" is the Crowned Pigeon. It has a beautiful blue color and peacock like tail. There was a very distinct call, but I had no way of knowing which bird it was. It would be nice if they had some sort of interactive display or listening station that had examples of the various bird's calls so you can know what you are listening to. The wetlands is another free flight area. The most visible birds in this area are the flamingos. I'm not sure what was going on that evening, but the flamingos were having some sort of fight (or very loud play). It was interesting to watch and seemed to get all the other birds riled up. It got quite loud! Another interesting bird in this area was the brown pelican. A lot of the other birds were interesting but unfortunately, not knowing a lot about birds, I couldn't identify them. Grasslands has another free flight area with finches, doves and more. They were quite vocal as well. And colorful. At the end of this exhibit were two lively parrots who chatted saying things like "hello" and "hi ya!" along with whistling. It was fun watching them and waiting to see what they would say next. Canary's Call, Eagle Hall and Penguin Point all feature birds that you watch through the glass. The bald eagle was incredibly majestic. Seemed like he was strutting his stuff saying "yes, I know I am impressive!" And the penguins were quite fun to watch splashing and swimming around in their enclosure. I had plenty to see, I just expected that the Aviary would be larger then it was with more to see. I guess if you go during normal hours your visit can be expanded by one of the feedings or shows. I also wish there was more signage or interactives to give visitors a better sense of what they were seeing (and hearing). Overall, I really enjoyed the Aviary and will have a return visit. read more

I really enjoyed the Aviary. You don't have to be a "bird" person to appreciate. Take the kids or go on a date. Relaxed atmosphere and the shows are fun. read more

This is by far the best museum, zoo, etc. experience I've had. The entire location is immersive from walking into exhibits with birds flying near by and overhead to opportunities to hand feed some of the inhabitants. While an extra cost, we were able to feed the exhibit of penguins by hand...worth every penny! read more

National Aviary - Zoos Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A recent participant of the Sloth Encounter, I was thrilled with the National Aviary and the opportunities available here. Petting a sloth, feeding and observing stunning birds, and watching penguins play with glee were among the major highlights of this adventure. In total, I spent about 4.5 hours exploring the space and felt it was well worth it. I would recommend opting for more than the basic admission fee and adding on at least some of the experiences. What I really loved about the National Aviary is the care and concern that the staff members showed for the beings who reside there and for the environment as a whole. Surprisingly, the cafe had tasty and healthy eats as well. The Aviary is also navigable, and the map is accurate and helpful in exploring the space and ensuring that you hit each spot. Make sure to check out the Butterfly Garden too! read more

The only Aviary I have been to!! It's amazing when birds of all sorts are flying around you and you are in their world. For folkes who hate zoos but are not able to go to the wild. This is the best option. read more

A lot nicer and more to do since their renovations. If you or any one in the family really likes birds, you'll definitely enjoy it. A little on the small side. Probably two hours is more than enough. Some cool tunnels (penguins) and walkthroughs that would be a huge with the 5-9 set. read more

National Aviary - Zoos Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I was really surprised by how much there was to do and see here! This may be a small aviary, but we ended up spending about four hours. It's a very good price, especially for the bird show. The keeper talks are informative and fun. I loved that the penguin enclosure had indoor and outdoor viewing areas. The open air flight areas were very cool as well. If you're heading to downtown Pittsburgh, this is a great spot to visit! read more

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So much fun and definitely worth the price! Favorite part was the open exhibits that you can walk through with the birds walking and flying by. Also during our visit we got to see the baby sloths which were a nice added bonus. read more

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Tons of fun for a rainy day, regardless of your age! The interactive exhibits (where the avian residents are flying about you) are excellent. read more

National Aviary - Zoos Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Another reason to be Pittsburgh proud! I had such a wonderful time touring the aviary! The staff was so nice and knowledgeable. They actively sought out opportunities to share their knowledge and to make sure that my experience was meeting my expectations! Make sure that you come early and grab a schedule. Take time to meet with the staff as they give presentations and be sure and introduce yourself to their feathery friends! read more

It's worth a visit, but the place is a little on the SMALL side. General admission is $13 and we ended up only spending about an hour here. There are several different sections including Tropical Rainforest, Penguin Point, Bald Eagles, Wetlands, and Grasslands. My favorite were finches in the Grasslands which have vibrant colors and are so small. I think the place seems to be geared more towards kids and they could use more exhibits to keep adults entertained. read more

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I've seen a sloth, toco toucans, an armadillo and macaws in Amazing Amazon, which is a short but fantastic show, also teaching a lesson about environmental protection. I can't help donate some money because of the intelligent crow. read more

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Bobby & I had an unofficial date day yesterday. We have conflicting work schedules, so we both scheduled a weekday off in advanced and decided to start our day off here. Surprisingly, this was my first visit to the aviary. There are very cool birds and exhibits here. At some exhibits, birds came right onto the walkway. It was super cool experiencing them up close. Bobby and I fed the lorkeets which i feel is a must if visit during that time. I was a little overwhelmed at first having multiple birds fly on me the second i walked in, but after 30 seconds i was fine. It was a great experience. I loved loved loved seeing the flamingos! How awesome were they! The toucan was also interesting and you can't forget about the eagle! Also, the burrowing owl was also cool. I'm glad i finally came here to check this out. I was a little nervous at first because we were behind "schedule" and only had about 2.5 hours at the aviary. Trust me that is PLENTY of time. We were probably here about 1.5 hours and experienced everything +hung out on the bench in one of the exhibits. I've been to another aviary in a different state which had a different set up. This one is really nice and i enjoyed my time and date :D read more

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Loved it. If you like wildlife you'll love it. If you are scared of birds .. avoid this. Some of the birds are confined but a great many are roaming free and a few landed on people. I loved that but with them flying over you .. . having extra clothes available would be wise. We didn't have any poo incidents. They have a feeding schedule posted and it pays to be there when they are being fed. You can pay 40 or so a person for a more private interaction but we didn't have time. Only in town for less than 2 days and spent over 3 hrs here. The do charge admission and for parking. read more

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A 'Must Visit' site when in Pittsburgh. We have been members of the National Aviary for over 10 years and I highly recommend it. Whether you are into science, ecology, tropical birds, birds of prey or an avian of any type, this is the place! With continuing educational sessions, FlightZone Theater and now the VR + Immersion flight simulator with Birdly there is truly something for everyone. read more

I thought it was a very good aviary. Great layout and very knowledgeable staff. However, some of the enclosures could be bigger. Overall, I'd highly recommend a detour here if you visit Pittsburgh. read more

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If you love birds, this is the place to visit! I've been here a few times and it never gets old. The space is not as large as you might think, but there are several exhibits to seen while visiting. The times that I have visited have been busy but not unbearably crowded. The exhibits have always been easy to view and I've not had any problems with seeing everything within the facility. They have a space when you first walk in where you can see into what appears to be a clinic room. On one visit, we actually had the opportunity to see newly hatched chicks that were being housed in this area! My favorite exhibit's are the Tropical Rainforest and the Wetlands. Getting to see the birds up close and personal is a great experience. The parrot in the rainforest mimics laughter and always makes for a good time! In the wetlands, we had the opportunity to feed the birds flying by during a structured information session. I did not participate in this as it required holding a bug, but the experience was well worth it! If you are looking for an indoor activity, check this place out! read more