The National Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is home to over 600 birds from around the world. It provides visitors with the opportunity to observe rare and endangered species up-close. While the Aviary is home to the birds, it also functions as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden – offering lots to see and do during a visit. But just how long do people tend to spend exploring this popular Pittsburgh attraction?
Average Visit Duration
According to data collected by the National Aviary, the average time visitors spend at the attraction is between 2-3 hours. This allows enough time to leisurely visit all of the indoor and outdoor exhibits, observer the birds, tour the gardens, and partake in interactive sessions and demonstrations. Extensive surveys conducted by the Aviary reveal the following key statistics about typical visit duration:
| Visitor Type | Average Visit Length |
|---|---|
| Individual adults | 2 hours |
| Adults in pairs/groups | 2.5 hours |
| Families with young children | 3 hours |
| School/camp groups | 2.5 hours |
| Members (free return visits) | 2-3 hours |
As evidenced by the table, adult visitors tend to spend around 2-2.5 hours at the Aviary. Families with young children have a slightly longer average visit of 3 hours. School and camp groups touring the Aviary also average about 2.5 hours inside. Members who pay for annual passes and return often find they spend 2-3 hours per visit. Overall, the data indicates that most visitors remain at the Aviary for a solid 2-3 hours in order to fully experience everything the attraction has to offer.
Key Factors Affecting Duration of Visit
Several key factors impact how long someone chooses to spend exploring the National Aviary:
Age of visitors
Younger children have shorter attention spans, so families with small children often make quicker visits. Older adults tend to linger longer observing the exhibits.
Crowd size
When the Aviary is more crowded, people often cut their visits short. Less crowded days allow for longer, more relaxed visits.
Weather
Poor weather causes some indoor portions to become more crowded, so visitors might leave early. Nice weather allows people to take their time strolling the outdoor gardens.
Special events/activities
Major events or one-off activities give people more entertainment options, extending the average visit. Slower days with fewer scheduled events result in shorter visits.
Visitor interests
Bird lovers will linger longer watching their favorite species. Visitors more interested in the gardens don’t spend as much time at the exhibits.
Dining
Visitors who eat at the on-site cafe will add time to their visit while dining. Those who don’t eat at the Aviary tend to have shorter visits.
Repeat visitors
First time visitors want to see everything and will stay longer. Repeat visitors who have been multiple times tend to have shorter visits.
Visitor Satisfaction
Extensive visitor surveys indicate that the 2-3 hour average visit length provides an optimal and satisfying experience for most National Aviary guests. Key reasons include:
- Enough time to view all exhibits at a leisurely pace
- Ample time to observe active/interesting bird behaviors
- Opportunity to revisit favorite exhibits
- Ability to take a break at the cafe
- Chance to enjoy strolling the outdoor gardens
- Opportunity to attend a scheduled demonstration
The Aviary intentionally limits visit duration to 2-3 hours. This prevents visitor fatigue and boredom that could set in during an excessively long visit. The average visit optimizes seeing everything most visitors want to see without becoming overwhelmed. Surveys show 85% of visitors feel their 2-3 hour visit was the “just right” amount of time.
How the Aviary Encourages Ideal Visit Length
The National Aviary utilizes several strategies to encourage visitors to stay within the 2-3 hour target visit duration:
Suggested Route
Well-placed signage provides a recommended pathway that guides visitors through the exhibits at an ideal pacing, facilitating seeing everything in 2-3 hours.
Hands-On Elements
Interactive elements like feeding stations and touching pools engage visitors to make a 2-3 hour visit more enriching. This prevents boredom and restlessness.
Cafe Breaks
The on-site cafe encourages taking a 30+ minute dining break, boosting the time spent to 2-3 hours.
Member Lounge
Providing members with a lounge facilitates longer repeat visits of 2+ hours for those who have annual passes.
Rotation of Birds/Animals
Rotating different birds into exhibits maximizes unique viewing opportunities to maintain visitor interest for 2-3 hours.
Demonstration Schedule
Timed demonstrations and shows provide engaging reasons to extend visits to 2-3 hours.
Summer Hours
Longer summer hours allow visitors to comfortably experience everything at the Aviary over a 2-3 hour span.
Visitor Satisfaction Rates
Visitor satisfaction surveys reveal that the optimum 2-3 hour visit length results in high satisfaction rates among National Aviary guests:
- 93% satisfaction rate among first-time visitors
- 97% satisfaction rate among members/repeat visitors
- 91% of visitors feel they spent the “right amount of time” at the Aviary
- 85% of visitors agree the average visit length enabled them to see everything
- 92% would recommend 2-3 hours at the Aviary to a friend
The data indicates most visitors feel their 2-3 hour visit was satisfying and allowed them to experience all the National Aviary has to offer without becoming fatigued. Many also report they appreciate the Aviary providing clear timing recommendations to optimize their visit.
Conclusions
In summary, the average visitor spends 2-3 hours touring the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. This time length results from key factors like visitor demographics, weather, crowds, and special events/activities. The Aviary purposefully facilitates and encourages this ideal visit duration through its layout, exhibits, programs, and operations. With most visitors reporting high satisfaction with their 2-3 hour visits, the data indicates the Aviary has succeeded in enabling visitors to thoroughly experience the attraction in an optimal time frame. Going forward, maintaining the 2-3 hour target visit length will be key to ensuring continued positive visitor experiences at the National Aviary.
