Review: Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of the Dinosaurs

Fernbank Museum’s newest exhibit is a fun complement to its permanent dinosaur collection. Developed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, it’s an interactive and educational look at the largest flying animals that ever lived.

Entering the large exhibit hall, we saw that it was divided into several rooms, each with a different topic or interactive activity related to the life of this very special animal. These include Flight Lab, Life on Land, Explore Up Close, Colorful Crests, Finding Food and New Discovery.

My girls: An 11-year old and 7-year-old twins were most intrigued by the flight lab. There are several flight stations set up where they could stand and flap their hands in front of a screen with a pterosaur on it. The pterosaur’s wings flapped at the same speed of their own arm motions.

The girls were also interested to learn that pterosaurs ate prehistoric fish. This display included an “ocean” with glass rods depicting water, prehistoric fish, and flying fish suspended overhead. Seeing one of the pterosaurs about to capture a meal, one of my twins exclaimed, “Mommy, look at his teeth!”

Younger visitors will be fascinated by the life-sized pterosaur models hanging from the ceiling. Visual displays, particularly the area which shows how the pterosaurs evolved, will also capture the attention of younger kids.

Know Before You Go: This exhibit is a must-see for dinosaur lovers; I recommend it for kids ages 3 and older. Adults who love fossils, archaeology and zoology will also enjoy it. We enjoyed a meal in the museum cafe; the kids’ meals included a dinosaur-shaped crayon and a coloring book. Don’t miss the indoor and outdoor play areas! Parking in the Museum’s lot is free.

-Cindy Moss

Journey through the Mesozoic Era with the largest flying animals that ever lived. Explore rare fossils, hands-on and digital interactives, enormous life-sized models, stunning dioramas and iPad stations with a custom app allowing guests to personalize their experience. Feb. 9-May 5. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults, $20; ages 3-12, $18; ages 2 and younger, free.