National Aviary

This was one of the highlights of our weekend in Pittsburgh. Our group consisted of four adults and we had a blast (this place is definitely adult friendly). I absolutely loved this place and can't say enough. It was intensely busy during our visit as they had a flamingo festival event going on but we still managed to have a great time. Parking was a challenge but we found street parking in a nearby park. You will get up close and personal with a bird or two - I absolutely loved Elizabeth, the Blue-billed Curassow, that walks right up to you!

Great visit for our short trip to the city. Gorgeous facility. 😍 all ages. You can see the whole thing in 15 minutes but you'll want to linger all day! A couple hours is perfect. Nice small Cafe with sandwiches, salads, fresh options & kids fried favorites.

There are so many memorable moments we had gathered during our visit. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to explore this area. I appreciate the staff maintaining the environment and being so passionate about the many beautiful creatures that occupy the establishment. Don’t skip out on the events/showcasings, they are worth the small expense.

Love the National Aviary! Visited for FlamingoFest 2025 and it was rather packed. We managed to catch the Wetlands feeding which was super informational and full of really unique birds. Did you know the Inca Terns were so smart they knew their species name and came when called for snacks? I love how up close and personal you can get with flamingos, penguins, and more. If you've never been, you can see the whole place if you rush in about an hour, but it's more fun to take your time and really observe the birds. There are wetlands, tropical, and grassland rooms, each with their own species of birds flying right overhead. There is a resident sloth, toucans, some flying foxes, and even some Condors (they're enormous!) If you are afraid of birds, not a great place for the faint-of-heart since most of the walkways are in the open enclosures rather than encased in glass. But it's a wonderful experience for all ages to see these critters in their more natural habitats this way.

Our team has had the pleasure of setting up and coordinating several National Aviary weddings, and it’s always such a unique and enjoyable experience. The venue offers a beautiful blend of indoor and outdoor spaces—the garden is perfect for ceremonies and cocktail hours, providing a lush and intimate setting that guests always admire. Inside, the spaces are equally stunning. One of the best parts about hosting events here is how much guests love exploring the Aviary. It’s also a huge hit when a penguin or a bird of prey makes a special appearance during cocktail hour. The catering by Atria’s is consistently excellent—everything is delicious, and the service is top-notch. The Aviary staff is also wonderful to work with—so friendly and helpful, which makes the entire process smooth and stress-free. If you’re looking for an event venue in Pittsburgh that’s truly different, the National Aviary is a fantastic choice. We’ve seen so many couples and their guests leave with unforgettable memories from this one-of-a-kind space!

What a wonderful winter day escape to lands far away and tropical birdies! Loved the open air exhibits and the birds walking right up to us. Very much enjoyed the bird talks and informative staff. When the folks selling you tickets give you times for these informative talks, go take advantage of them! Luanne was so knowledgeable and kind, my boyfriend and I adored her. Don't miss the bats & sloth!! Wonderful amount of birds and things to see. We almost missed the humongous condors on the way out!

We visited the national aviary on a Sunday and got 50% with my reciprocal zoo pass. My boyfriend and I love penguins and we definitely want to come back to do an encounter experience. There were so many views of the penguins that allowed you to get up close. We liked the variety of immersive enclosures and the seemingly endless amount of unique birds!

Control your children. Bring a leash if you have to. Multiple little kids were chasing the lapwing birds and Victoria Crowned pigeons, trying to grab them and kick them for fun. I'm not normally very confrontive, but I stepped in front of the birds to stop one of the children. "No, no. We do NOT chase the birds." She IMMEDIATELY began chasing again. I looked at the babbling bunch of bimbo mothers, and they were too preoccupied with their phones and each other to even recognize their kindgergarten-age daughter needed discipline. An employee came over and attempted to intervene. She told the child that watching them is more fun because they will come up to you. The girl completely ignored her, as did the parents. Freaking disgusting. Get a leash for your crotch goblin. As for the museum itself! Wonderful! We enjoyed each and every exhibit, particularly the jungle room. There were many birds we had wanted to see for years, such as the lapwings, spoonbills, white eyes, and birds of paradise. The enclosures were stimulating and large. The variety of birds was breathtaking. Every single employee and volunteer was so helpful and knowledgeable. We spent nearly four hours walking the exhibits and could have easily spent more time. We loved each interaction with the animals and staff. It was truly the highlight of our trip to Pittsburgh. We can't wait to come back!

TL:DR - 100% worth a visit! Birds and baby animals! Add it to your list. We finally visited here, and are so glad we did. It's a great option during the winter. There are special events and encounters scheduled throughout the day/week, which are optional. We spent a couple of hours meandering through seeing each of the birds and heard staff talk about special care for their animals. The rainforest area was one of our favorites. This place is worth the visit, and is what you make it. You could easily breeze through for a quick visit in an hour, or spend a couple of hours visiting to see absolutely everything.

A nice little aviary with a decent variety of birds. It is especially neat to be able to walk in the 3 large enclosures and have the birds flying around you. I was expecting the facility to be a little larger than it is, however it is still a nice visit and worth your time. Note: they have marked times for feedings and paid shows so make sure to check the schedule to get the most out of your time there.

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.

Perfect spot to go with a kiddo on a weekend! The birds land at your feet and perch on a railing right beside you! Temps are warm in the tropical rooms, so it's a great escape from the chilly outdoors! There's a cool kids tunnel to look underwater at the penguins and the outdoor area is up close as well. Can get packed, so plan accordingly. Parking I lot is small, but there was street parking available. I was pleasantly surprised at the helpful staff and that it didn't smell bad (sometimes those bird encounters can be gross , but this was super clean!!).

One of my favorite places in Pittsburgh especially on a chilly winter day! Feels like you are in a tropical paradise! Can see everything pretty quickly (about an hour) but have many activities and knowledgeable staff if you want to spend more time here! There are about 5 rooms where you just walk in and most the birds are freely flying around! Great for kids, but I went with just my boyfriend and we had a great time! The weekends can be a little crowded so if you have a day off during the week it's even better! Penguin exhibit was closed when I went last week (1/20) so just a note.

I look back many months after my trip here with such fond memories! All the birds were so enjoyable and healthy. I really enjoyed the feeding time and little talk. It was crazy seeing them eat all the bugs and dead mice even! The staff was so helpful and knowledgeable whenever you looked confused and would point you toward interesting exhibits. Come here for two hours if you have the time! Lunch was cheap and good too

Went here with my family and our friends for the first time. I didn't even realize Pittsburgh had the national aviary! I didn't know what to expect when we arrived. We parked on the street in front of the aviary, which was pretty easy. We ordered tickets in advance online, and check in was very simple when we got there. The gift shop is full of plushies!! Got a beautiful card for my mom. The birds are open and flying about in each room, which can be alarming at first, but is pretty fun. The kids loved watching the sloth! Overall this was a great experience, good place to take kids, and I will be back soon - Possibly with a membership!

Really nice place. Went here with my wife and we both enjoyed it very much. Nice mix of habitats and I like how immersive it is and allow you to be up-close and personal with the birds. The entirety of the place is somewhat small, so it doesn't take too long to go through the whole exhibit. But still worth-while for a short day trip.

I like birds FROM a DISTANCE. They are kind of scary to me. Well, they are a lot scary to me. Nevertheless, when chatting with some North Side residents, we were told of the outdoor exhibits that are free to view. So I mustered up my courage. Luckily, the owl wasn't visible. Creepy the way it turns its head. But other birds were. Now, maybe eventually I will go inside. Everyone raves about the Aviary. But I made a good first step. If you are like most people and enjoy birds, go.

GO. If you haven't gone. GO. It was our first time going. It was the sweetest little place. A very immersive experience. The staff was AMAZING. There is food, coffee, ice cream in the cafe. There's even vegan options. we went on a weekend they had the Easter Bunny, so there was quite a few more people but honestly didn't even notice! Highly recommend! I think I enjoyed this place as much as my kids.

Loved all the birds. Got to see a sloth, was not expecting it. Had a nice time. Not sure which part was better.

Fantastic place to visit if you like birds and a zoo like setup. The wetlands room was my favorite, with how chaotic it got with all the flamingos honking and the canaries chirping. Granted, February is peak mating season for flamingos, so Im uncertain whether they will be honking in August? The eagles, owls, penguins, and roseate spoonbills were also highlights for me. Its definitely geared toward kids, but during the weekday it didn't feel like a kindergarten class at any point. Can't speak for the weekends though. I went through the whole place within under an hour. If you really take your time to soak in everything, its probably 2 hours. If you've got kids, I imagine it will be a lot longer.

This was a very easy-going, pleasant visit. Best for children, especially younger 2-11'ish folks, and their parents. There are climate controlled areas w interesting avian species: macaws (one was really chatty), flamingos, owls, penguins, many many species I cannot remember. Oh and a large exterior condor paddock. Young condors, adults. Very interesting to see the feather and body changes in growing and aging condors. Zane - our 13 yr old - flew in an operator program VR experience adjunct to the cafe that was very reasonably priced. A good time for you and your child!

The aviary is a great place to go and explore. It's a more immersive than going to a traditional zoo. You can buy activities that you can feed the birds and get close to them. Make sure you either get there early or book ahead of time. If you get the chance go during the week, you get a better experience because it's less crowed.

I love birds and so it was such a shame that I found my visit to be mediocre. Honestly the aviary itself is rather small and would only be worth the trip if doing the interactive sessions. However we had just missed the 10:30 AM Lorikeet Feeding ($3) and could not afford to wait until the afternoon for the 1:30 PM Falcon Encounter ($74). The Penguin Feeding was jam-packed with visitors that it was difficult to see anything. The aviary has two habitats with an immersive interaction, which we spent the most of the time in. The Wetlands habitat was closed for renovation at the time of our visit. There is a short outdoor section too. Overall not a large variety of birds. Tickets are $17.95 each, not including the additional costs to participate in feedings or encounters. Our tickets were 10 AM on a Sunday, which was somewhat crowded with families for a weekend morning. We had left after an hour or so. There is no dedicated parking lot so we had parked along the street.

The national aviary is a wonderful place to take your family. There is a parking lot for five dollars or you can park on the road however you have to pay. They recommend that you buy tickets beforehand but you can buy them day of. There are extra activities that are extra five dollars up to $75 for hawk experiences. There were three main areas which we enjoyed walking through which included a rainforest and a penguin area. We spent about 30 minutes to an hour at this facility including the gift shop. There is also an eatery inside with tables. I saw plenty of strollers and people with backpacks because they had kids. I also saw people bring in food and bring in drink.

I think I was expecting way more birds than there were actually there. For the price it seems like it would be more extravagant, we spent maybe 20 minutes walking through. It was really cool seeing the sloth hang there, and the flamingos were really chatty. But I understand that people have to continue to go to pay for them being there. It is a similar price to paying to go to the zoo and that was a lot more enjoyable.

We had the best time here! My family came to celebrate my dad's birthday and we did the penguin encounter. While it was a little shorter and not quite as interactive as I had envisioned, it was fantastic (granted I was kind of hoping to coddle the penguin like you would a baby, but I knew that wouldn't be happening). We got to meet Sirius and we learned about the climate impact on their environment and livelihood, and also that he and his fellow penguins poop every 7-11 minutes. We got to gently pet him and watch the keeper feed him. It was really neat! In addition we got to check out the rest of the aviary. We loved seeing all the different kinds of birds. It was worth the smelliness, and I would highly recommend a visit here!

I had a fantastic time visiting the National Aviary! If you love birds or even just like them a lot, this is a great place to visit if you're ever in Pittsburgh. It's not huge by any means (the Wetlands were closed during our visit so it may have felt even bigger if we were able to explore that area too), but there are a lot of beautiful birds from different habitats. I especially loved seeing the burrowing owls, the scissor-tailed flycatchers, and the owl finches! We did not participate in any of the feedings or other interactive sessions or experiences, but the aviary on its own was worth it for me. You probably wouldn't spend hours here until you are an avid birder and taking lots of photos, but it's still a great place to explore!

We had a fantastic time at the Aviary with friends. They are perfectly suited for hosting group events such as birthday parties or other celebrations. Courteous staff and beautiful ambience with the birds!

Coming to the aviary was such a great experience! Honestly, I probably wouldn't have paid to come here if it wasn't for the animal encounter experiences that they have available, but all of the exhibits are great. I chose to do the sloth encounter where you have the chance to learn about their sloths, feed them and pet them. The trainers give you a lot of opportunities to take pictures and to ask them questions. The prices for the animal encounters seem a little steep, but I thought it was very worth it and would recommend it to anyone visiting (or living in) Pittsburgh. Other than the animal encounters, they have several different exhibits that are included with your admission. One of my favorites was the penguin exhibit and being able to watch one of the animal trainers feed the penguins. He called each of them by name before feeding them, which I was told he uses to keep track of how much each penguin eats. There are a lot of cool birds to see at the aviary and you get to actually walk through some of their habitats. Don't forget to check out the condors outside!

Well where should I start about the Mother's Day Breakfast? The venue was very pleasing to the eye with wide open doorways that allowed fresh air into the open floor plan event. The open door ways lead into an immaculate view of the outdoors which one can walk between indoor venue and outdoor social area. Paired with a well rounded and delightfully delicious breakfast made the Mother's Day event that much more special. There was a pay cocktail bar that served an array of cocktails, with it being morning however a lot of mimosas and bloody Mary's were sold and quite the treat. If you're contemplating going next year I would consider this event a must go and well worth the value of emission.

Very cool spot to stop at if you're in the Pittsburgh area. The gift shop was cute too.

Located right in the heart of Pittsburgh's historic Northside the Aviary is such a pleasant place to visit during the weekend, or anytime to relax and hear the chatter of birds of all kinds. They have added a cafe with some food items, so you can now have lunch there, or browse some of their merch in the gift shop of course. They keep adding more birds to up their game, pretty awesome. The staff can be helpful and informative. Best place to get up and close to some of these beautiful birds.

Truly an incredible experience! I highly recommend booking an animal encounter weeks in advance of your visit for an exciting and unique visit. My boyfriend and I did the owl animal encounter on a Saturday, we booked about 4 weeks in advance. There is only 1 per day with 4 slots, so you must get them in advance! It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, honestly. We asked a lot of questions about owls, their habits, their history, their temperament. And then finally got to hold one! It will take your breath away. We got to meet Dumbledore, a Eurasian Eagle Owl. I would love to go back and do some of the other animal encounters. The rest of the museum was absolutely amazing. I thought all of the birds would be in cages but they aren't! You just walk right into their habitats (and make sure to close the door behind you). Seeing all these incredible creatures up close and personal is an experience like no other. There is a parking lot, which I believe is $5 but there was plenty of free street parking in the neighborhood around it. The museum took us about 2 hours including the owl encounter to go through and take ample pictures, we also went to one of the shows and the penguin feeding. I think 2.5-3 hrs is probably the max it would take you if you had little kids. Overall, it was an incredible experience and if we lived closer I would definitely consider being a member.

My family always enjoys a trip to the aviary! We enjoy the various bird exhibits that change from time to time, the bird encounters are so fun, and we love the shows with the birds. We actually have a precious picture of when our daughter was almost one and her and a penguin were staring at each other. The paintings on the wall are gorgeous, the food served on site by Atria's is delicious, and bathrooms and everything are always clean. One of my first childhood memories I have from grade school is from visiting the aviary in 1st grade and it left such an impression on me then and now I find myself thinking nostalgic thoughts while making new memories with my family. There's a lovely gift shop that should not be missed and yearly membership is pretty affordable!

Such a fun Aviary. I love all the covid precautions and sanitizing stations throughout. It was greatly appreciated with the opening and closing of so many doors. My favorite part was the room with the flamingos. Set up a chair in there for me and leave me all day.

I have been to the Pittsburgh Zoo many times but had never been to the Aviary. Got my chance recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. A wide variety of birds to view with personal encounters if you wish to pay extra. There are also some cages outside to view which we almost missed. Nice place to visit as long as it isn't too crowded. Parking can be a little challenging also.

Dang, Pittsburgh. I've gotta say, this is the coolest aviary that I have ever been to! I didn't know much about this place at all before stepping in. I honestly just thought it was going to be like 4 or 5 birds in a small building. NOPE! This place is basically a mini zoo, with sooo many different types of birds to check out. Different habitats like the rain forest, colder and warmer climates. The admission is $20, which is a good deal for how long you could probably spend here. You'll find different species like canaries, penguins..even toucans!! I'm not a huge bird person but I was fascinated at what I saw. The aviary is also very clean and well organized, so there are multiple rooms with birds that fit into the same category as one another. If you're in Pittsburgh, this place is a must. It actually wasn't even a top priority during my visit, but was for sure a pleasant surprise!

We extended our vacation by a day specifically to stop in Pittsburg to visit the National Aviary, and we were not disappointed. Very friendly, helpful staff/volunteers who were very willing to answer any questions. We did the owl experience, and Jamie did a fantastic job teaching us about Ash the screech owl. Highly recommend a visit!

Wonderful experience. I always have fun at the aviary. Bob in the rainforest exhibit was wonderful and helpful. He knew every bird, dropped some great bird facts and directed me to the Nicobars! It turns out my favorite bird, Fawkes is perfectly alive and happy though separated, which brightened my day. Savannah was wonderful with the lorikeets and everyone was very attentive and friendly. The new person at the check-in desk was very kind and helpful, though I missed her name. Thanks for the great time!

We had a great time visiting the aviary during the winter. It was nice and warm inside and they provided ample spacing and appropriate measures for Covid social distancing. I particularly enjoyed the caretaker talks in each habitat. The bats are one of my favorite species to watch, too! I would recommend the aviary for groups of all sizes during all times of the year!

We had an unforgettable experience at the National Aviary! The aviary is located in a beautiful park and the grounds are immaculate. Many of the birds are free-roaming and it is a joy to be so near to them. The themed exhibits allow you to see them up close (much more than at a zoo) and the birds are unique and beautiful and healthy. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions (many of them are volunteers). We paid extra for the Owl Encounter and it was an amazing birthday experience. You get to hold an owl at arms-length and study them up-close and personally. Sometimes the owl would lock eyes and it would be absolutely mesmerizing to experience such a beautiful animal so closely. We had a great experience with Mike, Janet, and Dumbledore the owl! If you love birds, you have to make a trip!

We had our wedding at the Aviary, it was great and the staff helped everything go smoothly. The garden room, garden and bird exhibits created a very nice atmosphere. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for wedding venues!

We went here for a birthday party. I have lived in Pittsburgh area all my life, which is 39 years. :) I have never visited this place. I was very impressed with the different birds. The place is a quick visit. You will not be here long. But worth checking out and always a great place for younger kids.

Super fun if you like birds, feed the penguins if you can! Great for kids and adults.

A great outing. Not too much walking, lots to learn and great photo ops. Special events or just taking it in for the day the Aviary is a great time. Indoor and outdoor exhibits make for a great experience learning about birds. The fun of seeing them in natural habitats was nice. The penguins have name tags, the sloth makes an appearance on his own schedule and the flamingos are plentiful. I've been 3 times this year and I'm looking forward to going back soon. You can enjoy lunch, a nice gift shop and parking is available. You can book tickets online and tour the Aviary at your own pace. This is one of the forgotten gems in Pittsburgh. I encourage you to head over and enjoy a day at the Aviary.

The Aviary is a very cool place! Really enjoyed my visit here. We spent about an hour total to see everything and watch the penguin show. Being a member of the Cleveland Botanical Gardens got me free admission through the reciprocal admissions program, so I'd check any memberships you have for gardens, zoo's, etc to see if they are reciprocal. Parking was the only problem, they have a very small lot, and it fills up fast. It's in a very congested area where street parking is hard to find. We drove around for 20 minutes trying to find parking and ended up having to leave and get lunch before coming back to finally find a spot in the lot. It is $5 if you find one there.

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.

Nice, neat place to check of varieties of different birds. Daughter loved going. Only down size is the price is a little much in regards to how fast and small the place is.

The aviary is home to over 600 birds representing more than 200 species. It is a perfect size and it offers many extras that may thrill the kids. It was interesting how many birds can/must live together in what appears to be a harmony. Enjoyed sounds, colors and movements. You will not feel overwhelmed or threaten but you will be amazed by some species. Money spent well - memories etched for eternity.

The National Aviary is a blast! So many gorgeous, exotic birds to see. Lots of exhibits are interactive and there's lots of signs and staff to really educate you on avian life. It's always super crowded it seems. It's also fairly expensive. I enjoy walking through and my niece loves the penguin tunnels. The sloths are adorable!

I had such a fantastic time at the Aviary! I never really thought I had much interest in birds...but the Aviary does a good job at showcasing many varieties of birds, discussing the conservation strategies which are ongoing, and getting you excited to learn more. It is clear that the birds are well-cared for and safe. Their exhibits are fantastic. Will definitely be back.

I feel like Pittsburgh is a fantastic city. It feels like that regardless of what your interests are, there's something for almost everybody. Between the museums, the river activities, the sports, and the theaters, some places just get lost and I feel like this is opening those places. My fiancé and I chose this spot as our wedding venue and it was, without a doubt, a fantastic choice. We went with a package that allowed us to have our ceremony right after the aviary closed so we had the whole place to ourselves. The entire staff was warm and welcoming, and I'd like to say that one staff member in particular, Ashley, couldn't have been better. She repeatedly went out of her way to answer questions, check to see if we needed anything, and she did it all with a smile. If you're just wanting to go to see the animals, I think this is the type of place that can give you unique encounters. The aviary allows a lot of the birds just to roam free in rooms which gives you a chance to see walk right up to the animals and see them without any type of barrier. There are some animals that in an enclosure, but again, you get a chance to see these animals so closely. I've never seen a bald eagle, but I was fortunate enough to see one from two feet away. The penguins have an exhibit that even has crawl tunnels that allows kids to crawl into a bubble inside of the penguin enclosure. If you check out their website, they also offer some extras that look like they're fun. I noticed that they have a sloth which you can hand-feed. Again, I'd like to send my thanks once more for giving my wife and I a fantastic wedding. We were treated like we friends.

I had so much fun at the National Aviary. This was my first visit. I went on a Saturday morning around 11am. The best part was hanging out in the enclosures with the birds. In the Grasslands, you are surrounded by little birds. They chirp and sing, fly around you, build nests...I could watch for hours. The Wetlands is another open area with a large pond. Ducks and flamingos hang out in the pond...birds fly around and call to each other. Again, I could watch for hours. Other enclosures include eagles, owls, condors, penguins, butterflies, bats, and canaries. The sloth was taking a nap when we stopped by. Few notes: The Tropical Rainforest was being renovated at the time of my visit. There is a small parking lot and street parking when the lot fills up. Entry for 1 adult is $16. I'm really looking forward to my next visit to the National Aviary!

I have too say since i have moved too Pittsburgh the Aviary is definitely one of my favorite places I have been. My daughters and I went the other day and I got a yearly membership as I plan on going many times a year. There is so much to see and do at the aviary. My daughters and I fed the birds which was really cool. There is a ton of different birds to see and you could spend hours in each room just watching. Daughters and I staid in the main area where the flamingos are for at least an hour. We got luck as we got there around feeding time which is a must see event. The staff is excellent and very knowledgable , And there where many around everywhere if you had questions. I would definitely say a visit to the National Aviary is a must see if you are in Pittsburgh.

It has been some 15 years since I first visited the Aviary, and I was so glad to be able to get a chance to visit again. The Aviary is truly a gem here in Pittsburgh, and I highly recommend planning this as part of your visit. I took an exchange student here while we were traveling and the smiles on her face made it all worth while. Each of the different rooms is filled with activity and I enjoyed pointing out all of the interesting birds. There is one room which I don't remember from last time that houses smaller birds from grassland habitats. I loved seeing the owl finches, bee-eaters and scissor-tail flycatcher. The exhibit is beautifully designed and the free-flying birds seems quite content. I could have sat in this room for a long time... I wish I was skilled at drawing and sketching.. LOTS of inspiration here. Definitely worth your while if you're in town!

To get the most out of our experience we attended the show. In order to see different birds and animals I do recommend this, it was professional and well put together. Seating is limited and the best seats are in front so you want to be there early. Tickets can be purchased upon entry. I feel it could get a little pricey compared to Phipps but smaller. An example of pricing: 2 adults adding the 20 minute show was nearly $45. Special note: parking is free on Sunday. On positive side, I was in awe of the beautiful birds, many of which were in free flight among us. I'm glad we visited.

This is probably one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh! I'm a huge fan of birds so take my words with that in mind. The Aviary has a wide collection of birds organized by environment. A few birds live outside of the main building, and they definitely catch your eye when you first walk up. I was amazed at the giant candors on their perch, watching the visitors as they approach. A few large owls also live outside. Inside the wetlands, parrots, pheasants, and even a sloth lives in this leafy environment! The caretakers were very knowledgeable and helpful in answering my questions. They pointed out details such as how the small birds loved staying in the rafters at the top of the greenhouse, or how their sloth actually moved quite quickly when it was hungry. The aviary boasts a few more interactive exhibits such as protected glass platforms within the penguins habitat or walking into the parakeets(? I forget the exact bird) exhibit. The caretaker there told us the story of how smart the birds were, escaping the old mesh windows during the night and then running back into their cages when they saw people in the morning. Overall, I learned a lot from my experience at the aviary and would definitely come here again. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. My advice is to talk to the caretakers as they share great insights into the lives of these birds!

I loved this place. It's so peaceful and beautiful. The animals are well taken care of and have habitats that are very suitable for them.