The wintery months of January and February are seldom thought of as a time for leisurely strolls along trails and stops to smell flowers blooming or to watch colorful birds. But at the North Carolina Zoo's award-winning R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary exhibit, that's exactly what's in store for the savvy zoo-goer.

Inside, tropical plants, exotic birds and unique displays recreate the wonders of tropical forests from around the world. In addition to the flora and fauna, educational panels and displays help visitors understand the fragile nature of these forest ecosystems, particularly how rainforests are being quickly destroyed by human encroachment.

Always one of the zoo’s most popular attractions, the Aviary gained national attention in the 90s when renowned zoo exhibit designer John Coe named it one of the 10 best zoo natural habitat exhibits in America in an article published in USA Today.

Even in the grip of winter, when the area’s songbirds are gone and July’s warmth has turned to January’s frost, the Aviary averages a warm 70 degrees. With more than 2,500 specimens representing almost 600 species, the Aviary is believed to house the largest tropical plant collection under one roof in North Carolina.

Since an extensive, 18-month, $850,000 renovation was completed in May 2000, even more exotic plants and animals have been added, including the nicobar pigeon, blue-crowned parrot, green woodhoopoe and yellow-crowned cacique. Aviary visitors may also recognize many old favorites such as the scarlet ibis, Victoria crowned pigeon and Chilean flamingo.

Additionally, many species of the Aviary’s original plant collection were retained after the renovation, but the zoo’s horticulture staff also added a significant number of species to better represent the topical rain forest theme.

One species that visitors can see at the Aviary is the highly endangered Bali mynah. By some accounts, there are less than 15 left in the wild. Luckily, though, institutions like the N.C. Zoo are maintaining and breeding these mynahs in captivity. Like so many other endangered bird species, the mynah population in the wild is being dramatically impacted by habitat destruction due to timber harvest, illegal bird trade, poaching and nest-site competition from other bird species. Conservation officials in their native Bali have even resorted to using armed guards to protect nesting areas.  

Because of their natural camouflaging, many of the birds in the Aviary are not easily seen at first. So to fully appreciate the Aviary, visitors will usually need to sit for a while and listen and look, not just quickly walk through, according to Aviary and educational staff members. But just as it is in a rain forest, if visitors give the birds time, they will come out.

Unfortunately, the safety of the plants and animals inside the Aviary’s miniature rain forest is a far cry from the uncertainty of today’s indigenous rain forests worldwide, where cattle ranching, logging, large mining operations and hydro electric dams daily threaten their existence. Rain forests are the source of some of our most widely used products and the wintering ground for many of our favorite migratory birds. Yet tropical rain forests are being decimated, and species are being lost before we are even able to discover them.

In addition to enjoying the Aviary and the relief from the sultry days of summer, January zoo visitors can also see the zoo without the summer crowds, where fewer park visitors mean shorter lines, not only to see the animals, but also for the restaurants, gift shops, ticket booths and the free transportation system.

Few places in North Carolina can offer a day's worth of entertainment and education at such a low price--and give visitors an escape from winter's chill, when summer's warmth is a faint memory.



Tom Gillespie lives in Trinity and is a journalist and public affairs specialist at the North Carolina Zoo. For more information on the zoo’s plant and animal collections, special events and education programs, go to their Web site at www.nczoo.org