What is an aviary?

An aviary is a house or very large cage for birds. For thousands of years, birds have been kept in aviaries to be enjoyed for their beautiful plumage or to be sold as pets. In the great markets and bazaars of India, whole buildings, resembling palaces, were built as aviaries. Most zoos have an aviary, which is often a large, glass domed building, built so that the birds have plenty of light and space to fly about in. A small aviary can be quite easily built on to a simple garden shed by removing some of the wooden wall and fitting wire netting, or by adding to the shed a framework of wood or metal covered with netting.