Samenvatting

To increase overall knowledge of housing, the experience of individual institutes needs to be shared with other zoos. To coordinate the exchange of knowledge on housing and husbandry between European zoos, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), was formed in 1992. EAZA set up Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs), these groups consist of people with a special expertise in taxonomical related species. Currently, there are 41 TAGs of which 15 TAGs are specialized in bird species. The bird TAGs indicate that EAZA members do not have access to an overview of recommendations regarding optimal housing of different bird species. To increase the exchange of holding birds in these enclosures and encourage zoos to use free-flight aviaries to house birds, this study on aviaries will concentrate on free-flight aviaries and walk-through aviaries. The bird TAGs have the need for a database, which is accessible online for all EAZA zoos and shows the required information about free-flight aviaries.