National Aviary Pittsburgh Inc

Wildlife conservation and research: the national aviary made significant improvements to its avian collection in 2024 with the acquisition of 47 birds representing 30 species. Three new species added to the collection included the peregrine falcon, white faced owl and the critically endangered baer's pochard. Sixty chicks hatched representing 22 species highlighted by 3 guam kingfishers, 5 white crested laughingthrushes and 1 hooded vulture. Two new field conservation programs initiated in 2024 included a satellite telemetry program for andean condors in southern ecuador and an artificial nest burrow project for african penguins in namibia. In addition, the national aviary provided 3 offspring to the guam kingfisher reintroduction program and 3 offspring to the eastern loggerhead shrike reintrouction program during the year. The national aviary's department of conservation and field research successfully completed the fourth year of a study that tests a unique model of sustainable forest management that provides habitats for many more species than normally occurs with traditional even-aged forest management. Our approach creates very small, 1-5 acre gaps through group selection cuts. This approach appears to provide habitat opportunities for important early-successional species while at the same time provides habitat for dispersing fledglings of mature forest species from the surrounding forest. These are two groups of birds most in need of conservation attention so an ability to address forest management for the benefit of both is very important. This project has been the source now of three graduate studfent theses as well as providing valuable field experience for several undergraduate students. Additionally, we continued a second major research program in 2024 that is demonstrating how birds depend on mature bottomland hardwood forests in the southeastern us, including the most iconic north american bird, the ivory-billed woodpecker. In 2025, we will continue this program with an extensive search for a nesting pair of ivory-bills. The national aviary's director of conservation and field research continues to assist in the development of the next generation of conservationists by continuing to teach courses and assist undergraduate and graduate students from chatham university and duquesne university, advising in their theses and dissertation research.

Advanced on-site avian treatment and care: the national aviary's veterinary hospital provides specialized avian medicine services to meet the needs of over 550 birds including primary health care, emergency services, full laboratory testing, anesthesia and surgery. In 2024, over 250 birds received preventative health screens and treatments including 120 birds receiving 135 vaccinations to protect them against west nile and polyoma virus. To prevent common avian pneumonia (aspergillosis), 114 birds received preventative medicines, including oral and inhaled treatment with a 100% success rate. In the aviary's care, 17 critically endangered african penguins received individualized avian malaria prevention. Bird beak care included 58 birds receiving customized beak care as well as 8 birds with beak fractures healing due to innovative repairs using human dental acrylics. Six birds recovered after surgery for leg fractures including a scissor-tail flycatcher and red siskin. Participating in aza species survival plan breeding programs, guam kingfisherchicks were hatched and received high level neonatal healthcare and preventative treatments resulting in 2 young adults being released back into the wild to re-establish a once extinct population. In the teaching hospital, 14 pre-veterinary and veterninary students were trained in avian medicine internships and an additional 75 students were taught in education classes and programs. In 2024, the national aviary had a direct impact on wildlife conservation internationally by providing a seminar and clinical assistance for wildlife veterinarians at rescate wildlife rescue center in costa rica as well as training a wildlife rescue vet from ecuador in the national aviary's onsite teaching hospital.

The other remaining expenses are attributable to various exhibits and daily educational programs.