Volume 3, No. 10. May 23, 2003
New Arrivals
It’s
an aviary!
Miami Metrozoo announces the arrival of the American Bankers Family Aviary,
Wings of Asia, May 2, 2003. Measurements: 2.6 acres (1 hectare), 54,000-square-foot
(5,017 square meters) aviary eventually holding up to 400 birds representing
80 species, two exhibit halls, five waterfalls, a 55,000-gallon (209,000-liter)
aquarium and marsh, and one mock fossil excavation pit containing a 40-foot-long
(12-meter) dinosaur skeleton.
Guests to Miami Metrozoo have long, fond memories of the old aviary that was
flattened when Hurricane Andrew roared through the region in 1992. Those longtime
guests are putting those memories to rest. “People are saying ‘I loved
the old aviary so much, but I like this better,’” Sherrie Avery, director
of public relations for the Zoological Society of Florida, said of reaction
to the zoo’s newest exhibit.
Understandable. This new aviary is the largest free-flight open-air Asian aviary
in the Western Hemisphere. Shotcrete-formed mudbanks simulate a wetlands environment,
and faux fossils litter the pathways. One of the adjoining buildings is themed
as an Asian temple exhibiting the aviary’s primary educational theme, that
birds are living dinosaurs. The exhibit includes fossils, story boards and a
13-minute film starring the exhibit’s three consultants on the topic: Mark
Norell, chief of paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History in New
York, ornithologist Philip Stoddard and paleontologist Laurel Collins, both
of Florida International University. In an observation room guests can watch
diving ducks swim atop the pond or submerge all the way to the bottom.
The theme of the celebration surrounding the aviary’s opening focused on
its Asian orientation. Every weekend in May the zoo is celebrating Asian Pacific
Cultural Heritage Month. Entertainment on opening weekend and recurring in subsequent
weekends included the Fu Shu Diko Drummers from Japan, Splendid China’s
acrobats, Chinese Dragon dancers, Hindu dancers from India and dancers from
Polynesia, Thailand and the Middle East. Crafts include origami making, paper
cutting, kite building, rice decorating and oriental mask face painting. The
zoo also was hosting martial arts displays, chopstick contests and professional
kite flying.
Both dinosaurs and Asia shared the stage for the aviary’s official opening
ceremony May 2. Norell was on hand along with iconic purple dinosaur Barney.
Chinese dragon dancers led about 700 city officials and zoo donors into the
aviary and, pointedly, out of a rainstorm. “It poured rain,” Avery
said, “until it was time to go into the aviary, and the sun came out and
it was beautiful. I think that was indicative of something, a good omen.”
THE LOOP is written and produced by Eric Minton, Minton Enterprises, LLC. To see more examples of Eric Minton's work and Minton Enterprises services, visit www.ericminton.com.
©2003, Minton Enterprises
LLC
All rights reserved