Cardinal & Pine, a publication of Courier Newsroom, reports that the North Carolina Zoo’s indoor aviary will be permanently closing. Although the bird habitat was wildly popular, the aging aviary is no longer safe, and repairs are not viable. The zoo has no choice but to demolish the structure entirely. According to Curator of Birds Debbie Zombeck, there are currently no plans to rebuild.
Zoo lovers and keepers alike have described the news as “heart-wrenching.” North Carolina is one of the most popular states for bird lovers, and the North Carolina Zoo was a must-visit destination for viewing rare birds in an aviary where they could fly free. The birds were free to call to each other and other species, feed, and raise their young all within eyeshot of the public.
Yet according to Zombeck, demolishing the aviary was the only option. The bird habitat is over 40 years old, and the strictly regulated climate conditions within caused it to degrade beyond repair.
“As most people know who’ve walked through [the aviary], it’s very hot and humid, and that humidity can really take a toll on infrastructure,” Zombeck said.
Yet before the aviary closes, zoo staff are left with a final challenge: What to do with the nearly 100 exotic birds that call the aviary their home?
A Monumental Move
According to Zombeck, hurricanes are easier to handle than moving the 93 birds in the aviary. She describes the move as a “huge undertaking.”
Most of the birds require exotic habitats, so they must be relocated to reserves or zoos with adequate facilities to care for them. For example, the crested cuoa, an elegant bird in the cuckoo family, is only found in Madagascar.
Unique birds, of which there are many at the North Carolina Zoo, require unique habitats. Luckily, there is a plan to relocate all of the birds safely.
Birds too old to move will remain at the North Carolina Zoo, and all others will be relocated to other zoos. According to Cardinal & Pine, a Courier Newsroom publication, moving birds to zoos around the country is nothing new. Birds are often relocated for breeding. But the scale of the current move is much larger.
For Zombeck and the other bird keepers, it will be a long and difficult process.
Slow and Steady
“The process cannot happen really fast,” Zombeck said.
Birds can only be moved at certain times of the year. Spring is a popular time to move birds, but starting in July, it becomes too hot to transport them safely.
There is also a long list of preparations to tick off the to-do list once a new zoo has been found. Medical records need to be transferred, tests need to be performed on the birds, and the birds must be prepared for the move.
Another time-consuming task is simply catching the birds in their free-flying habitat. Some can be lured into their cages with a snack, but birds who witness the caging will try to avoid the same fate. Keepers may have to wait days to try again.
Despite the arduous process, Zombeck has found homes for 56 of the birds. Now that summer is in full swing, the rest may have to wait.
Saying Goodbye
Saying goodbye to the aviary’s residents has been painful for staff and zoo patrons. And sadly, many bird lovers will not get the chance to do so.
Before the aviary received its death certificate from building inspectors, it had already been closed to the public due to The Avian Flu. North Carolina is a hotspot for avian flu outbreaks among wild birds and livestock, so the aviary was closed in January to protect its inhabitants.
“It’s hard on me, but it’s much harder on my staff,” Zombeck said. “In some cases, they’ve been caring for [the birds] for 10 years or so.”
The closing of the aviary marks the end of an era at the North Carolina Zoo. While the birds will be well taken care of, staff and guests will continue to mourn the loss of one of zoo’s most popualr attractions.
This story originally ran in Cardinal & Pine, a publication owned by Courier Newsroom.