Skip to main content

Aviary Cam

Camera is live now

Thanks for showing support!

Your donation plays a critical role in protecting the ocean. Make a gift to continue this important work.

Make a donation – Thanks for showing support!

Follow us on YouTube to get more great videos

Peek into our Aviary for an adventure in birdwatching

Marvel at the long legs of our black-necked stilts or spot the brightly colored beak of the black oystercatcher

Look for leg bands on our birds, which help us identify them in our Aviary exhibit. Each bird has its own history—most came here injured and can't live in the wild.

Watch our Aviary Cam carefully—you never know who'll stroll by. Then explore the beaches and dunes that are home to shorebirds, crabs, shrimp, and more.

Spot these animals on our Aviary Cam

Black oystercatcher

Black oystercatcher

Black oystercatcher

Despite its name, this brownish-black bird with large feet seldom eats oysters.

Check out this animal
A red phalarope

Red phalarope

Red phalarope

Red phalaropes spend most of the year at sea—they're one of the few birds classified as pelagic shorebirds.

Check out this animal
A male ruddy turnstone in breeding plumage standing near pink flowers and a large piece of birchwood in the aviary

Ruddy turnstone

Ruddy turnstone

You can tell this shorebird by its plump body, black bib, wedged-shaped bill and short orange-red legs.

Check out this animal
Small snowy plover standing on sand, with a white belly, light gray-brown feathers on back and face, and a small black beak, green bamboo in the background

Western snowy plover

Western snowy plover

The snowy plover nests in shallow nooks in the sand—sometimes even using human footprints to keep its eggs.

Check out this animal
A Western snowy plover on exhibit in the aviary was deemed non-releasable after rehabilitation for an injured wing

Ecosystem

Sandy seafloor

Waves and currents constantly stir and shift the sandy seafloor, creating challenging conditions for the plants and animals that live here.

Go now

Animals & the ocean

Free online courses

With our free online courses, students grades PreK–12 can learn science concepts with fun hands-on projects!

Stay informed with Aquarium updates

Get our best animal videos, Aquarium updates, at-home activities, and heart-warming animal stories delivered straight to your inbox.