Building an Aviary for Hornbills

As luck would have it, we were entrusted with another aviary at the Warsaw Zoo. This time, the rhino aviary underwent a renovation—it had been waiting for an upgrade for a very long time.

We began by preparing a design for the biotope; after consulting with representatives from the zoo, a final version was created, which—as often happens—was slightly modified during the course of our work

The main theme of this aviary was the biotope of the dry and desert-like regions of South America.

To achieve the desired effect, we constructed artificial rocks on the wall; this structure imitates wind-eroded sandstone, featuring deep cracks and spalling that occur over time. On the front wall, we constructed a simulated landslide; it was important to highlight the individual layers of multicolored sand and soil, with natural stones embedded in it and exposed tree roots.

The centerpiece of the aviary is a 4-meter-tall artificial tree with a hollow for hornbills. This element required special attention, as hornbills can be particular about their choice of nesting site. To encourage them to settle in this hollow, the interior was made of wood, and a long branch—comfortable for the birds to perch on—leads directly to the hollow itself. Importantly, visitors will be able to observe the hornbills in the nest box thanks to a camera installed in the artificial tree.

The old pond has been covered with a new decorative layer and slightly camouflaged with an artificial boulder on which a sculpture of a tree branch rests. Flower pots have also been built into the aviary itself and are hidden among the artificial rocks.