Dennis' comments on brain size reminded me of the exhibit design for the new
Eagle enclosure inthe Northern Trail Exhibit. We wanted to eliminate the
barrier between visitors and birds, but didn't think it was a particularly
good idea for them to mingle. We developed parallel enclosures for bird and
visitor. The visitor's enclosure is lower and darker than the Eagles. We
put in a mesh curtain just in case and as the birds became more acclimated to
the exhibt we opened it more each day.

The exhibt has been open since last Fall with no evidence that the birds have
visited the viewing shelter or vice versa.
It is left open at night when there are no visitors. I have no idea how smart
eagles are but they have been trained to glove in the raptor program and
respond to a variety of signals, though not as readily as other raptors.
Don, any thoughts?

Mike Waller
WP Zoo