The Bird Kingdom is a popular aviary and botanical garden located in Niagara Falls, Ontario. With over 80 species of exotic birds and lush indoor jungle gardens spanning over 20,000 square feet, visitors are often curious how long they should plan to spend at this unique attraction during their trip to Niagara Falls. Here is an overview of the key factors that determine the time needed to fully experience the Bird Kingdom.
Size of the Bird Kingdom
The Bird Kingdom itself is quite large, with multiple levels, paths and exhibits to explore. The main components are:
- Free Flight Aviary – A 2 story tropical atrium home to over 300 exotic birds from around the world that roam freely.
- Discovery Zone – Filled with hands-on educational bird encounters and exhibits.
- Toucan Ridge – A reproduction of a South American tropical rainforest with even more exotic bird species.
- Sanctuary Hall – Showcasing small endangered exotic bird species in naturalistic habitats.
- Jungle Trails – Lush indoor gardens and koi ponds woven between the aviaries.
- Gift Shop – Large retail shop with bird-related gifts and souvenirs.
With all these areas and exhibits to explore, it’s easy to spend a significant amount of time inside the Bird Kingdom seeing everything it has to offer.
Type of Visit
The amount of time spent at the Bird Kingdom can vary greatly depending on the type of visit:
- Casual Visit – 1-2 hours to quickly walk through the main aviaries and exhibits.
- Moderate Visit – 2-3 hours to explore at a leisurely pace, watch bird shows and interact with some exhibits.
- Comprehensive Visit – 3-4 hours to see everything in detail, interact with birds, and take part in encounters.
Visitors who want a more thorough educational experience interacting with birds and staff can easily fill 3-4 hours. More casual visitors just looking for general entertainment can see the highlights in 1-2 hours.
Time of Bird Shows
One of the main highlights of the Bird Kingdom are the scheduled bird shows held throughout the day. These educational shows feature trained tropical birds that showcase their unique talents and abilities. The shows typically last 20-30 minutes.
Visiting when the bird shows are scheduled allows you to incorporate them into your visit timeline. The current bird show schedule is:
Show | Time |
---|---|
Parrot Paradise | 11am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm |
Free Flight | 12pm, 2pm, 4pm |
Timing your visit around these popular shows adds another 30 minutes or more to your Bird Kingdom experience.
Visiting Additional Attractions
The Bird Kingdom offers combination packages with additional attractions like the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Visiting these attractions in addition to the Bird Kingdom can easily add 2-3 hours to your schedule. The most popular combination packages are:
- Bird Kingdom + Butterfly Conservatory – 4-5 hours total
- Bird Kingdom + Botanical Gardens – 4-5 hours total
- Bird Kingdom + Butterfly Conservatory + Botanical Gardens – 5-6 hours total
If you plan on combining the Bird Kingdom with these other attractions, make sure to allow enough time in your schedule for a leisurely visit to all locations.
Eating at the Bird Kingdom Bistro
The Bird Kingdom has an onsite tropical-themed restaurant called the Bird Kingdom Bistro. The bistro offers a variety of lunch and snack options in a relaxing rainforest environment. If you plan on eating a meal or a snack during your visit, budget an additional 30-60 minutes for this.
The bistro is generally open from 11am-3pm and serves a good selection of sandwiches, salads, snacks and tropical cocktails. It’s a nice place to take a break during a longer visit to the Bird Kingdom.
Special Events and Promotions
The Bird Kingdom offers some special events and promotions during certain times of the year that can impact visit duration. These include:
- Spring Break Events – Special kids activities and entertainment during March/April spring breaks.
- Mother’s Day Brunch – A popular Sunday brunch held in May.
- Summer Weekend Events – Extra presentations and kids entertainment during summer.
- Father’s Day Brunch – Sunday brunch held in June.
- Christmas Events – Santa visits, kids crafts and holiday entertainment in December.
During these special events, additional time should be allowed for any unique presentations, activities or meal experiences being offered.
Conclusion
With multiple aviaries, gardens, exhibits and shows to experience, the Bird Kingdom can easily provide anywhere from 1 hour to a full day of unique activities. On average most visitors spend 2-3 hours at a moderate pace, with additional time needed if combining with other attractions, dining, or attending special events. Allowing 3-4 hours ensures you can see all the highlights without an overly rushed pace. With so much to see and do, the Bird Kingdom truly earns its reputation as one of Niagara Fall’s premier indoor family attractions.