Tracy Aviary

04/23/2025

Did you know there are 4 species of shovelers? The males of all 4 species have yellow eyes with the Red Shoveler, shown here, having pale yellow to almost white eyes. You can see this species and the Northern Shoveler in Kennecott Wetlands Experience.

04/22/2025

Happy Earth Day! 🌎🌱

Happy Earth Day from Tracy Aviary's Nature Center at Pia Okwai!

You can Party for the Planet with us this Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
https://tracyaviary.org/nature-center/event-calendar/city-nature-festival/

04/22/2025

Join us for a special Mother's Day Teatime at Tracy on Sunday, May 11. Morning and afternoon times are available! Enjoy savory bites, sweet treats, and soothing, delicious tea. Take a peaceful stroll through the aviary before or after your teatime to make the day even more memorable.

Tickets are almost sold out, so register soon!
https://tracyaviary.org/liberty-park/event/march2025teatime-at-tracy-afternoon-niceties-8-3/

04/21/2025

Don't miss our City Nature Festival and Party for the Planet! April 26 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nature Center at Pia Okwai.

Join us for a fun, family-friendly adventure along the Jordan River! Enjoy guided nature walks, wildlife encounters, and hands-on activities that inspire curiosity and conservation.

https://tracyaviary.org/nature-center/event-calendar/city-nature-festival/

04/19/2025

As spring shows itself with greater fervor, consider the actions we can take in our backyards to respect all our neighbors, whether the humans next door or a ravenous chickadee. All wildlife requires three key resources: food, water, and shelter. Learn more about how you can change your garden into a habitat for wildlife by reading our blog!

https://tracyaviary.org/blog/post/song-of-the-chickadee-gardening-for-birds-bees-and-other-wildlife/

04/17/2025

As the weather warms, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and that means there is a growing need for helping hands at Tracy Aviary and Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai. Here are just a few of the many faces we’ve seen around our campuses this past month. As always, we are incredibly grateful for our volunteers—Tracy Aviary and the Nature Center wouldn’t be the vibrant places they are without your support!
Check out our latest blog post to learn more about Volunteering!
https://tracyaviary.org/blog/post/march-volunteer-newsletter/

04/16/2025

Join us for Salt Lake’s premier garden party for a cause! Ready to Hatch is coming up on May 29!
You'll enjoy a kid-free evening, cocktails, artisanal local food treats, live music, a silent auction, and up-close bird encounters! Ready to Hatch supports Tracy Aviary Conservation , which uses research, outreach, and action to protect birds and their habitats.

Get tickets here: https://tracyaviary.org/liberty-park/event/ready-to-hatch/

04/15/2025

April’s downloadable wallpaper features the White-faced Whistling Ducks—by special request from one of our awesome followers!
Got a favorite bird at Tracy Aviary? Comment below and it might be featured in May’s wallpaper!

Download this wallpaper here: https://tracyaviary.org/blog/post/wallpaper/

04/14/2025

Happy 40th "Bird-day" to our Northern Ground Hornbill, Rafiki!
Typically in human care, Northern Ground Hornbills live up to 40 years old. But Rafiki is still young at heart! You can spot him in our Outdoor Bird Shows during the summer!
Wish Rafiki a happy hatchday in the comments below!

04/12/2025

Tracy Aviary's Conservation fund supports bird conservation around the world. One project Tracy Aviary supports is the Monitoring Overwinter Survival network in Latin America. These pictures are from Boneo Brasso Seco Station under the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre. Featured in these photos are Giselle Ragoonanan, Daveka Boodram, Ché Ragoonanan, and Alexis Marianes. Thank you Steven Albert and The Institute for Bird Populations for these photos!

04/11/2025

Get ready for the 2025 Bird-a-Thon! All proceeds go directly to Tracy Aviary’s conservation work. Anyone can participate as a Bird-a-Thon birder, sign up to attend one of our field trips, or go birding on your own and share your eBird list with us. Or sign up to be a sponsor! Just pledge a single donation amount or a dollar amount per bird species seen during the field trip!

https://tracyaviary.org/conservation/special-events/bird-a-thon/

04/09/2025

Did you know that birds have bones in their tongues? Unlike human tongues, bird tongues are rigid and supported by bones and cartilage. The tongue consists of 5 bones, collectively known as the hyoid apparatus, that helps support the tongue and larynx. Since birds don't use their tongues to vocalize, the support allows better manipulation of food items. This redhead male is showing off his tongue.

04/08/2025

Join us on April 13 at Tracy Aviary's Nature Center at Pia Okwai for a high-energy marketplace where underground culture and DIY spirit collide! Explore a diverse selection of vendors, discover exclusive finds, and enjoy delicious offerings from local food trucks while immersing yourself in the vibrant atmosphere.

https://tracyaviary.org/nature-center/event-calendar/punk-rock-market

04/05/2025

Tickets are now on sale for Breakfast with the Birds! Join us for a lively morning at Tracy Aviary: breakfast buffet, hands-on nature activities and games for the kids, up-close bird encounters, and live music.

Get an early bird discount when you purchase tickets before May 1!
Get your tickets now: https://tracyaviary.org/liberty-park/event/breakfast-with-the-birds/

04/04/2025

Did you know you can meet a member of our Bird Care Team to learn more about the world of birds and their habitats. Bird Talks happen everyday at 2:15 p.m. We are excited to highlight new species this spring including Red Siskins and Cuban Grassquits on Mondays!

Monday: Red Siskins/Cuban Grassquits (inside South American Pavilion)
Tuesday: Turkey Vultures
Wednesday: Siheks (Guam Kingfisher, Inside Treasures of the Rainforest)
Thursday: Flamingos
Friday: Southern Ground Hornbills
Saturday: Kea
Sunday: Treasures of the Rainforest

04/03/2025

Join us for a hands-on journey into Indigenous artistry with Jay Rock, a Navajo and Ojibwe artist, as your guide. Throughout this six week series, Jay Rock will share his knowledge and techniques, providing a deeper understanding of Native art forms and their connection to nature and healing.

All materials are provided, and no previous experience is necessary—just a desire to learn and create.

This class is intended for individuals 55+ years.

Learn more and register: https://tracyaviary.org/creative-aging/

04/02/2025

Our Avian Experiences and Backstage Passes are back!
You can now book exclusive experiences with your favorite birds! Feed the Flamingos, Walk with the Spoonbills, Paint with DaVinci, Shadow a Keeper, and more!

Book your adventure today: https://tracyaviary.org/liberty-park/visit/experiences/

04/01/2025

Did you know flamingos get their pink color from their food? Their diet is rich in beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment found in algae, brine larvae, and shrimp. But what happens when we mix things up?

Using our carefully crafted (and totally real) diet plan, we've created the world's first rainbow flamingos! Come witness this spectacular flamboyance of flamingos as they make their dazzling debut this April Fool’s Day at Tracy Aviary