In 2007, I placed second in the Utah PR Student of the Year competition. Our client was Tracy Aviary, a small menagerie of birds in Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park. To prepare for the competition and my proposal I visited the aviary and then participated in the final rounds of presentations at the aviary. I enjoyed my visits then, but was much more impressed after my recent visit eight years later.
From the magnificent Andean Condor named Andy to the majestic and colorful parrots of the tropics, the aviary has a wide range of beautiful and special birds from around the world. Having just undergone an extensive renovation there are new exhibits, habitats, and lots of new educational space including an amphitheater for bird shows. I think they did a great job with the changes, and it looks like more are under way going in the same direction (an indoor tropical bird aviary opening in autumn 2015).
In addition to seeing the birds and a couple of shows in the theater space, there are other experiences to help visitors interact and better appreciate these feathered Salt Lake residents. While visiting, we watched a show in the amphitheater about eggs that could be a little more interesting and use more birds. We also fed Sun Conures and pelicans.
Feeding the colorful Amazonian parrots was very exciting as they land on you and eat right out of your hand. Feeding the large swimmers, although exciting, doesn’t last as long or get you any closer to these pouch-beaked birds.
Roaming freely through the park are peacocks and hens as well as guinea fowl. Other highlights include the rescued birds of prey, the collection of owls and the Sandhill Cranes. Andy the condor is of course a special treat. Going when we went (early June) seemed to be a really good time as many birds were nesting. The cranes had eggs, the flamingos were on mud nests and parakeets were making nests in their enclosure.
Tracy Aviary has a fantastic collection of amazing birds worth seeing. I recommend a trip and time to add some additional activities to your visit such as feeding pelicans and the Amazon Adventure with the Conures as well as seeing some of the shows. It is an inexpensive adventure in a city park worth taking.
