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Holiday Hours Notice! The National Aviary will be CLOSED on Tues., December 24 and Wed., December 25 so staff, volunteers, and guests may enjoy the holidays. Plan Your Visit

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Penguin Point

Penguin Point

Penguin Point transports visitors to the rocky shores of South Africa to experience the sights, sounds, (and smells!) of an African Penguin colony. This spacious habitat with indoor and outdoor views gives a 360° perspective of African Penguins as they waddle, scale rocks, and torpedo through the water.

You can catch incredible views of the penguins as they swim through the water in the wheelchair-accessible acrylic tubes, which offer a penguin’s-eye view of the space. Domed bubbles crop up through the rocky ledges, putting you face-to-beak with the birds! Heated caves provide space for nesting.

As a leader in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for African Penguins, the National Aviary’s penguins play an important role in helping their species rebound and keeping the genetic lines of African Penguins in zoos strong, diverse, and healthy.

African Penguins are Endangered due to human encroachment on their breeding grounds and overfishing. While at Penguin Point, learn about Seafood Watch and how you can make sustainable seafood choices to help brighten the future for African Penguins and other aquatic species.

You can learn more about African Penguins by visiting our daily Penguin Talk at 10:30 am and 4pm, included with admission.

Spend even more time with them by booking a Private Penguin Feeding (available from April 1 to November 15) or a Penguin Encounter!

Learn More about Animal Encounters

Do you teach or have have school-aged children interested in learning why Penguins are Cool, or about different Habitats around the world? The National Aviary’s CyBIRD Virtual Education platform is for them!

Learn More about CyBIRD Programs

Support African Penguins with a symbolic adoption! The Adopt-A-Bird program makes a great gift, and helps us care for our flock!

In The News

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Meet Wanda, a critically endangered Vietnam pheasant hatched at the National Aviary | CBS News

The National Aviary is introducing visitors to Wanda, a critically endangered Vietnam pheasant chick that hatched this spring.

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Guam kingfishers hatched at National Aviary among first released into wild in nearly 40 years | CBS News

Three Guam kingfishers that hatched at the National Aviary have been released on an island in the Pacific, marking the first time their species has been in the wild in nearly 40 years.

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Guam Sihek Released to the Wild | National Aviary

Nine Guam Kingfishers have been released to the wild on Palmyra Atoll, making them the first of their kind to reside in the wild since the 1980s.  

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Take an Enchanting Journey through Forests this fall at the National Aviary! | National Aviary

Explore the Aviary’s new fall seasonal theme, Forests Presented by Peoples; learn more about the creatures who inhabit these woodland areas during TWO new daily activities, and say “hello again!” to the adorable Eurasian Eagle-Owl making her Animal Ambassador debut!

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  Extinct in the Wild birds head to new home ahead of first wild release | National Aviary

Precious Guam Kingfishers arrived on the Pacific Island as part of a project to re-establish a wild population 

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