What Birds Can Go Together in New Zoo Aviary?

Parrots and Quails

Parrots are typically brilliantly colored and active birds. They tend to be social and are considered to be highly intelligent. In zoo aviaries, parrots spend most of their time in trees or on ledges, eating or preening. These birds remain in the branches of living or artificial trees or sit on the cage wire and seldom, if ever, venture down to the aviary floor. Quails, on the other hand, are ground-dwelling birds that will afford movement and activity at the bottom of the aviary. The food and territory requirements of these two families of birds are so different that they will not interfere with each other while providing an interesting exhibit for the zoo visitor.

Lorikeets are vividly colored parrots from the Australian rain forests. These active little birds, which have specialized tongues for feeding on nectar, make for popular zoo exhibits. In many zoos, visitors are supplied with tiny containers of nectar to feed the lorikeets, which fly down to sit on the visitors' shoulders and hands. Most lorikeets are social, and a number of species can be mixed in these walk-through aviaries. Green-napped lorikeets, Swainson's blue mountain lorikeet, Edward's lorikeet and the red-collared lorikeet can all be mixed in a single aviary.

Doves tend to be peaceful birds. If the aviary is large enough, many doves can be housed together. As with all mixed collections, provisions must be made for sufficient nesting and food sites. Doves will appreciate a well-planted aviary with tall trees in which they can roost and nest. Diamond doves, ruddy ground doves and cape dove will co-exist peacefully. Doves will utilize the upper sections of the aviary, and pheasants, such as the golden pheasant, can be included. Most pheasants are particularly attractive, and they are larger than doves. Pheasants therefore draw the zoo visitor's eye to the bottom of the aviary and provide both color and activity in this area.

Vultures and their feeding habits interest most zoo visitors. Most species can be successfully housed together, provided the aviary is large enough and provision has been made for sufficient ledges. Other interesting scavenger species, such as marabou storks, can be housed with vultures. The various types of vultures will inevitably roost toward the top of the aviary on ledges that have been provided for this purpose, and the marabou stork will spend most of its time on the ground.