Wake up and save Tracy Aviary

Tracy Aviary's recent application for accreditation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums was denied due to concerns about aging infrastructure. During the same process, the aviary was complimented on our excellent bird collection, animal care and efforts with conservation and education; and we received encouragement for the great work completed during the past few years.

As disappointing as this is upon first glance, upon deeper consideration and reflection, this is a wake-up call — for the aviary, the community at large and for Salt Lake City. For far too long, the aviary has squeaked by while doing its best to foster caring for the natural world and transforming lives — both young and old — through our connection to birds. But the aviary, a city-owned asset managed by a fully independent nonprofit organization since 1994, has slowly deteriorated. In spite of recently investing $2 million in capital improvements, including the creation of a new exhibit, enhanced visitor amenities and improved winter holding for tropical birds — it's time to wake up.

The aviary is an incredibly unique asset in the heart of the city. It is the oldest and largest public aviary in America (one of only two) and has been a regular field trip for three generations of Utah's schoolchildren. It focuses on an animal that is ubiquitous; allowing for lessons learned at the aviary to be transferable to one's back yard, wherever that back yard is. It is also home to Utah's oldest remaining industrial building, the Chase Mill, next month nearing completion of its renovation into a beautiful year-round nature center and event venue. The mill will host conservation seminars and educational meetings, corporate retreats, local art showings and more — for those same schoolchildren, now grown.

Unknown to many residents of our state, Utah plays an important role in the survival and migration of millions of birds. Our Great Salt Lake is a vital stopover and nesting ground in the seasonal journeys of so many species. We are the nexus of the vast Northern and Southern Flyways — making our relevance within the conservation community even more so. It is this theme, the migratory path of so many, that the new master plan of the aviary depicts. Destination Argentina!, the first master plan exhibit which opened in 2005, beautifully and so naturally displays the typical birds found in the back yards of Argentina. That theme would eventually carry throughout the aviary, tracing the path from Argentina to the Arctic and back, highlighting Utah's relevance even more. It is, potentially, the aviary of the Americas.