Josh
May 23, 2023
Hi guys! It’s Birds Josh! One of the greatest things about being a bird keeper is the diversity of species you can care for. The Atlanta Zoo is home to over 225 birds of over 50 different species. It’s great to be able to observe how different species relate to each other in our habitat. Here at the zoo, we have a variety of aviaries, called mixed-species aviaries, where you can observe how these different species interact. Each species differs in size, diet, behavior, and even what their habitats are like in the wild.
Planning and researching which species to put together in a multi-species aviary takes a lot of work. One easy consideration is the size of the bird. Is the habitat large enough to exhibit natural behaviors similar to what birds do in the wild? , based on research available on the species, or simply on the past experience of senior keepers and curators. In addition to size, you also want to consider whether the habitat has suitable perches and foliage for the bird to thrive in. Our peacocks spend a significant amount of time on the ground, but are often seen roosting high in thick trees. Stopping to catch that sunrise. At the other end of the spectrum, weaver birds are often seen leaping, hanging, and flying from the thin, leafy branches of trees.
The second question, which is relatively easy to answer, is how cold-tolerant this bird is. Could the bird be easily transferred overnight in the winter? Do birds only need a few heat sources, or are they good all year round? Birds like the blue thrush are incredibly cold tolerant and adapt well to Georgia’s winter climate. Other birds, such as the Hamerkop that lives in the Living Treehouse, will also need to be moved to their winter holiday homes in order to feel comfortable. Therefore, when moving cold-tolerant birds, it is important that they are accessible to the breeding staff. These are all questions our bird breeding team considers when choosing the best for each bird.
One of the biggest and most difficult things to consider is bird behavior. Birds, like us, are different and react differently to situations. We need to allow each individual and each species to coexist peacefully in shared space. This is done by taking a very close look at what has historically worked here at the Atlanta Zoo, what has been successful at other accredited animal facilities, and what our avian team has done. We do our best to make the birds successful. This is often done by slowly introducing the bird into the new space and new habitat mates. Usually the first step is to allow the new bird to cross the barrier and meet its new neighbor. This is called “hello”. Once everyone seems comfortable with each other, observe and allow the birds to come into physical contact with each other to see if they can all continue to get along.
These are just a few considerations to find the best habitat for each bird we work with. As keepers, we are constantly observing and educating each bird to give them a wonderful place to call home. Next time you visit the zoo, be sure to check out the mixed-species aviaries to see how each bird interacts. As always, I hope you have a wonderful day.
Josh M.
Keeper II, Bird