Tracy Aviary- Not Just for the Birds

Field trips in elementary school, trips with scout troops, visits with my family (my parents and my own kids)- I have lost count of how many times I have been to the Tracy Aviary. But, you know what? It never gets old. I mean never. With about 400 birds representing nearly 135 species, it always seems like there is something new to see each time you visit.

Tracy Aviary is located just south of downtown Salt Lake City in Liberty Park in the southwest corner of the park. During the summer, with all the trees, plants and flowers, it is a beautiful and cool place to hang out for an afternoon. There are winding paths all through the aviary taking you past birds that you may have seen in your backyard and birds that most people will never see anywhere else but the aviary. Many of the birds on display here are considered rare or endangered.

In one of the newest exhibits in the aviary, "Destination, Argentina," visitors see birds that live in or migrate to Argentina. The exhibit has a free flight aviary- you go inside the exhibit and the birds are flying all around you. You can also see black-necked swans and Chilean flamingos.

Attend the outdoor bird shows and see fantastic birds do some amazing tricks. The bird shows run from May 13th through September, Tuesdays through Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (show are held only on Saturday and Sunday until after Memorial Day).

It's a guarantee that you will find a favorite bird- mine has changed over the years, from the bald eagle to the condor to the pelicans. Which one will yours be?

Tracy Aviary does have an entrance fee- Adults are $5.00, children 4-12 are $3.00, and children under 3 are free. There is a family membership (2 adults and 2 children) for $40 per year. If you have more than 2 children, it is $8.00 for each additional child on the membership. But, here's a great deal to use- if you have a Hogle Zoo membership (see the blog post on Hogle Zoo) you can get into Tracy Aviary for free on the first Thursday of every month. Or, if you purchase a membership to the Tracy Aviary you can get into the Ogden Nature Center, Thanksgiving Point Farm, Hogle Zoo, and the Utah Museum of Natural History for FREE on the first Thursday of each month. You can also get FREE weekday admission to Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park, FREE admission to the Willow Park Zoo in Logan, and half price admission to the Living Planet Aquarium. If you plan on visiting any of these places, a membership to Tracy Aviary isn't just for the birds.

Place: Tracy Aviary
Location: 589 East 1300 South (enter Liberty Park on 900 South), Salt Lake City, UT
Phone: 801.596.8500
Hours: Summer (March -October), 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Winter (October - February), 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children (ages 4-12) Free for children 3 and under. FREE on the first Thursday of each month for Hogle Zoo members.


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Distance from:
Salt Lake City (downtown): 2.0 miles
Ogden: 39.5 miles
Provo: 43.1 miles
Logan: 84.2 miles