National Aviary Closed Tuesday

The National Aviary will be closed on Tuesday so crews can continue construction of Penguin Point.

There will be no "Little Peepers" program on that day.

Penguin Point, a new $1.7 million exhibit, will immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of a real penguin colony.

The 2300-square-foot African penguin exhibit will give visitors an up-close, 360-degree views of African penguins swimming, playing, nesting and scaling rocks in an open-air space.

A wheelchair accessible Kids ViewTube under the exhibit will offer underwater views of the penguins as they dive, swim and “fly” through the pool, while domed bubbles allow young guests the chance to pop up in the middle of the penguin group.

Construction is expected to be completed by late spring 2009.