GETTING BACK TO NATURE
National Aviary visitors are staying a grey crowned crane apart
Abig bird is teaching visitors how to social distance at the National Aviary. Near the entrance is a lifesized photograph of Clover, a grey crowned crane, displaying her 6foot wingspan. A caption explains that’s the precise amount of space people should put between themselves and others during their visit to the North Side bird zoo.
Clover also puts in a live performance at the indoor flight theater, drawing oohs and aahs as she soars above the socially distanced audience. Hatched at the aviary, she celebrated her first birthday July 27 with a “cake” made out of corn, vegetables and bugs, trainer Cathy Schlott said.
More than 500 birds and a few mammals — including the popular sloths — sheltered in place for more than three months during the first round of COVID-19 quarantines. The public was invited back in to the avaiary on July 1, only to be kicked out two days later after local and state officials imposed stricter precautions as COVID-19 cases triggered by the coronavirus surged.
The aviary was allowed to reopen a week later with new safety precautions and guidelines. Everyone, except the birds, bats and sloths, wears a mask. Masked staff members are stationed throughout the aviary, feeding birds and giving out interesting facts while keeping a watchful eye to make sure visitors stay 6 feet apart.
Visitors must go to www.aviary.org to schedule a date and time slot for their visit. No more than 150 people are allowed in each two-hour slot, but once inside guests can stay as long as they wish. That’s 400-520 people a day. The aviary is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
Everything is continually cleaned and sanitized, and hand-sanitizing stations are everywhere. Water fountains have been turned off, but there is a station where visitors can fill personal water bottles. Sneeze guards create barriers between some of the staff and visitors.
Some popular daily activities, including a trainer feeding the flock of flamingos, have been put on hold to avoid attracting crowds. There are no more field trips for schoolchildren or other groups; those have been replaced by virtual and online activities, said Molly Toth, a communications specialist. Visitors can still schedule private, up-close encounters with some of the animals, including sloths, penguins and flamingos.
In the newly renovated Grasslands habitat, brightly hued finches and other small birds fly freely over the heads of visitors. Employee Jess Schonbert threw crickets and meal worms into the air for shaft-tail finches and other birds. She didn’t do this for the entertainment of visitors, she noted. These birds do all of their eating “on the wing” in midair.
Large weddings and other events are currently on hold, but small weddings have been booked in the Tropical Rain Forest in front of the waterfall. For $500, couples get the room for one hour with a maximum of 20 guests. There is no catering or food.
Admission to the National Aviary at 700 Arch St. is $17 for adults, $16 for children and seniors. Members and children ages 2 and under get in free.