Shafts of sunlight pierce Tracy Aviary’s dense conifer forest, sending great grey owls into hiding until nightfall, when they emerge to hunt silently above the treetops. The Owl Forest is just one of five diverse ecosystems that dot the Tracy Aviary’s nine acres. Nearby, at the South American Pavilion, aviary keepers tend to the vibrant scarlet ibis, a visitor favorite. And in the Kennecott Wetland, visitors can espy long-billed curlews and American coots roosting in the tall grass.

In addition to providing a diverse habitat in which native and endangered species can thrive, Tracy Aviary’s curators strive to educate visitors about threats to avian species and to encourage conservation. To that end, Tracy Aviary hosts daily bird shows, small group talks with keepers, and up close encounters with many species.