Captive studies in birds are foundational to behavioural and evolutionary ecology, both in testing fundamental theory and for applied conservation. Recent advancements in fine-scale animal tracking have opened up exciting new avenues for aviary studies, particularly for our understanding of social behaviour in free-mixing groups. In this seminar, we will present three short talks showcasing the range of aviary-based studies conducted by researchers from the Australian National University. First, Damien Farine (EE, RSB) will present work in captive zebra finches exploring the mechanisms underlying the emergence of social structure and the consequences of the social transmission of stress in animal collectives. Second, Lucy Aplin (EE, RSB) will talk about studies with wild-caught captive great tits that manipulate social structure to test fundamental theory for the evolution of culture. Finally, Ross Crates (Fenner School) show how pre-training of song in captivity improves reintroduction success in endangered regent honeyeaters. We will conclude with a virtual walk-through of new aviary facilities available at the Research School of Biology.