Just off Oregon’s shores live birds that spend their lives at sea, except for their annual breeding season in the summer. Along the shore live other birds that feast on clams, crabs, and mussels. An open-air, walk-through aviary at the Oregon Coast Aquarium allows visitors the rare opportunity to see some of these species up close. The aviary is one of the largest of its kind in North America. You can see a full list and further details of all of our birds here.
Tufted Puffins, Horned Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Common Murres and Black Oystercatchers reside in the Aquarium’s Aviary. Except for the Black Oystercatchers, these species are all members of the Alcid family. They spend most of their lives at sea, returning to rookeries along the coast in the spring to breed and raise their young. All of these species go through a molting process each year. Some birds go through a dramatic transition between breeding plumage and non-breeding plumage. For example, in the spring and summer a puffin’s bill becomes brightly colored, and the feathers on its face transition from black to a brilliant white. Tufted Puffins grow long, golden tufts above their eyes, and Horned Puffins grow distinct “eyelashes” above their eyes. Once breeding season is over, the birds molt again, sporting darker plumage throughout the fall and winter.
The aviary includes two pools to provide the birds with ample swimming and diving opportunities. A 30-foot rocky cliff rises above the north pool, with ledges and walkways that allow the birds to rest, groom and dive from the cliff’s face. An underwater viewing window is located at this pool, too, so that visitors can watch the underwater swimming skills for which some of these species are known. A shallower south pool is ringed on three sides by a rocky bank, outcrops and landscaping. This area provides built-in burrows and nesting boxes built into the rockwork.
Krill, silversides, smelt and other small fishes are fed to the birds continuously throughout the day. The birds consume roughly 1,000 pounds of fish each month. Vitamins are administered daily.
Want to know which bird you’re looking at? Check out our How To Read Seabird Bands guide, which lets you know how to ‘read’ the identifying color bands on each of our bird’s ankles!
Check out our seabird aviary from the comfort of home with our Seabird Aviary Live Camera!
Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.
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