Rainforest Aviary Feeding Adventure

Welcome to the Rainforest Aviary Feeding Adventure! On this Adventure, you will assist our animal care specialists in preparing the food for the 12:00 noon feeding of our rainforest birds in Feathers & Scales.

SCHEDULE:
Opens May 29, 2023:
Will be available daily, 11:45 a.m.

 

Click here to register 
 

Click here for Waiver, FAQs, Map, and Info Brochure

Encounter Information

During your visit, you will meet at the entrance of the Feathers and Scales house public entrance, at the sign that says "Your Backstage Adventure Meets Here," at 11:45 a.m.

Encounter: Approximately 30 minutes.

Cost: $80 total per encounter; available for 1 or 2 participants

You must be on time. Since you will be participating with a scheduled public feeding, this Adventure must start on time. If you are late, the feeding will proceed without you. Participants that do not show up for their registered session or choose to leave early will not be granted a refund.

Refund Policy: Refunds are only available 14 calendar days before the program date and there will be a non-refundable 25% deposit for each program. Please be aware that though it is rare, Backstage Adventures can be cancelled by Brookfield Zoo at any time due to animal welfare, dangerous weather, or staff needs. If your program is cancelled, you will be contacted with as much notice as possible to schedule another date for your adventure. 

Age: Participants must be at least 8 years old; a parent or guardian must accompany participants under age 17.

Maximum Group Size: 2 participants. Two participants under age 17 may register as long as a parent or guardian checks them in.

What to Expect

Being an animal care specialist takes careful preparation. Here are some things you need to know so that you can be prepared to work side by side with your zoo crew.

You will learn how we present the different foods to accommodate the different feeding habits of each species. Once the preparations are complete, you will assist the staff with placing the food in the habitat. The care staff will provide you with instructions on how to safely move through the rain forest and interact with the resident birds. As the different birds come down to eat, you will be able to learn which foods are the favorites of the different species. Animal care staff will identify each of the different species as they arrive at the feeding stations and you will help them conduct part of their daily inventory. You will learn how and why the staff does these daily inventories.

At the end of the Adventure, after the rainforest birds have had their fill, you will bid them farewell and exit the habitat with staff. The care staff will answer any additional questions you have as they guide you back to the public area of the building.

Communication between you and the host care staff is crucial. You must be able to read, speak, and understand English without the use of an interpreter. If you are unable to participate in the program without an interpreter, please call (708) 688-8338.

You must be attentive. Although our birds regularly work with their human caregivers, they are still wild animals and their behavior is unpredictable. It is important that you pay close attention to the guidance and instructions of the animal care specialist you are spending the morning with.

Never enter any animal area without direction from the care staff. Always wait for instructions and authorization from the staff before approaching any of the animals while participating in observation, care and enrichment, and feeding sessions.

Participants must be able to maneuver within the rainforest habitat. All participants are required to complete a signed liability waiver.