Why You Should Spend the Afternoon in Niagara Falls’ Bird Kingdom

Of the six basic groups of animals, birds are the clear commanders of the skies even though insects and bats also take to their wings on a regular basis. There are somewhere between 200 billion and 400 billion birds in the world, and that number is comprised of roughly 10,000 different species, some of which, like the house sparrow, number over 3 billion.

While not everyone would say a perfect day includes a bird identification book and a pair of binoculars, to the true bird lover, little more is needed. For the rest of us, however, we may need a more controlled and customized experience.

Niagara Falls’ Bird Kingdom is a unique and fascinating place where kids and adults can learn about, see, hear, and experience birds from around the world in an environment unlike any other. Whether or not you’ve ever been fascinated by our feathered friends, while vacationing in Niagara Falls you must visit the world’s largest indoor aviary. Here is some of what you can expect to encounter at Bird Kingdom.

History

The building in which Bird Kingdom is located actually boasts some pretty amazing history, which sets the stage for encountering Bird Kingdom well. Built in 1907, it originally housed the Spirella Corset Factory and was the first poured-concrete building in all of Canada. In 1958, the Niagara Falls Museum and its collection of Egyptian artifacts moved into the building. National Geographic later discovered that the museum actually had the mummified remains of King Ramesses I, the Biblical pharaoh Moses encounters in the book of Exodus. Upon that revelation, the mummy was returned sound and safe to Egypt. Today, Bird Kingdom’s Old Museum section includes photos and information about the factory and the museum, so you can learn more about its history in greater details upon your visit.

What You’ll See There

Set up to mimic an adventure set in another time, Bird Kingdom starts at the Old Museum before taking you and your family or friends to Explorer’s Base Camp where you can hold parrots and other exotic birds and animals. From Base Camp, you’ll walk past an exceptional view of the Niagara River Gorge as smaller birds sweep and swoop all around you. Next up is the Night Jungle, where owls, reptiles, bats, and other nocturnal creatures move about in darkness.

Then, any little ones in your party can hunt for archaeological treasures in the Kids Archaeology Dig. Finally, you’ll end up in Discover the Kingdom, where you’ll enter the world’s largest indoor, free-flying aviary. 400 different species of bird in every color and hue imaginable fly, sing, squawk, and play throughout the multiple-tiered rainforest environment. The path in Discover the Kingdom takes you behind a 40 foot-high waterfall and winds you through birds all the way down to the rainforest floor. As you travel, you can interact with and feed birds at Lorikeet Landing. You can also stop and get a drink at the Joglo house—the only original Javanese house in all of North America.

Bird Kingdom is open every day between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. For an unusual experience that can only be had in Niagara, it’s well worth a visit.

Categories: Falls Avenue Resort