While any lushly planted spot in the San Diego Zoo is nice for a relaxing pause in your stroll through the grounds, the walk-through aviaries are especially tranquil. As you amble through Scripps Aviary, look around to get a feel for the flora and fauna you'd see in an African forest. The aviary even has waterfalls and gentle showers. You'll notice that the trees and bushes are not trimmed and groomed like the plants on our grounds. There's a reason for that. Our aviary plants are extremely important for encouraging natural avian behavior, whether the birds use them for marking territories, making nests, or as special perches for courtship displays. That’s why the plants and trees in all our aviaries tend to have a more natural look.