Wildlife Wednesdays: Birds of All Kinds of Feather Flock Together at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Every day is for the birds at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where guests can see a variety of birds when they visit walk-through aviaries on both the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek, see the fantastic bird show Flights of Wonder, and encounter birds large and small throughout the park. On May 6, however, birds truly take center stage when we celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with special activities at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Kids can get “banded” (which scientists do to gather data for bird conservation), becoming “honorary birds” for the day, and discover how their “feather color” (clothing), “wing span” (arm length), and height compares with various bird species. Families can play a diet-matching game and learn about the many different foods that our birds eat here at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They may even get to see a bird examined by our veterinarians at the animal hospital.

Families also can talk with Cast Members about conservation work they are doing to protect birds, including the purple martin, the piping plover, and the whooping crane, and find out how the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) supports bird conservation. The DWCF, for example, has supported Operation Migration’s work on behalf of the rare whooping crane every year since the program’s inception in 2000.

Did you know?

• International Migratory Bird Day focuses on the nearly 350 species of birds that migrate from breeding areas in North America to winter homes in Central and South America and the Caribbean. These birds face many challenges as they migrate thousands of miles, including loss of habitat along their migration routes, finding food and avoiding predators. International Migratory Bird Day helps educate people about the threats to migratory birds and what we can do to help—including planting native trees and shrubs, keeping cats indoors, and sup­porting conservation organizations.

Upcoming 2014 events for connecting families with nature (as always, dates subject to change):

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

• May 20: World Turtle Day
• June 10: Pollinator Day
• July 29: Big Cat Day
• August 5: Primate Day
• September 23: Elephant and Rhino Day

At The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot:

• May 20: World Turtle Day
• June 4: World Ocean Day

Wildlife Wednesdays: Birds of All Kinds of Feather Flock Together at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D.: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog