Vogelpflegestation

Voliere Zürich

Voliere Zürich – Vogelpflegestation
Date opened	1902
Location	Arboretum Zürich Mythenquai 1, CH-8002 Zürich
Coordinates	Coordinates: 47°21′42″N 8°32′09″E / 47.36167°N 8.53583°E / 47.36167; 8.53583
No. of animals	111+
No. of species	33
Website	voliere.ch

The Voliere Zürich is a aviary and veterinary hospital situated in the Arboretum in the Swiss city of Zürich. It also houses the so-called Vogelpflegestation, a unique sanatory for birds.

The aviary is situated at the Arboretum in Enge (Zürich) on Zürichsee lake shore, being a part of the so-called Quaianlagen. It is separated by the General-Guisan-Quai and Mythenquai roads respectively the Arboretum from the lower lake shore promenade and the Enge harbour area.

Public transport is provided by the Zürich Tram route 5, as well as by the VBZ bus lines 161 and 165 at the Rentenanstalt stop.

The so-called Vogelpflegestation, meaning a veterinary hospital respectively a sanatorium for birds, claims to be the most important emergency department in Switzerland for injured and sick wild birds, and also young birds that were fallen from their nest. Established in 1902, it is focused on bird rescue and information centre for the population, as well as a competence center for native and exotic birds that are emerged. The aviary has experienced financial issues since the city of Zürich ceased their support for the facility in 2000. The foundation is financed by contributions from members of its donor organization, Voliere-Gesellschaft Zürich. Staffing issues, as well as a higher-than-usual number of birds at the facility, are a factor in the financial situation.

The aviary and the bird care station have a reputation which goes far beyond the Swiss borders. For tourists, in particular for ornithologists, it is a very attractive destination due to its unique portfolio of exotic birds. But also the citizens of Zürich use the wheelchair visitor hall of the aviary to expand their knowledge of the world of birds, of which approximately 111 exotics in 33 species are represented. Each year around 45,000 visitors ask for free information of some of the rarest bird species of Switzerland, housed at eight naturally designed inn walks and three landscape-like outdoor enclosures.