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Illinois Raptor Center

The Illinois Raptor Center rehabilitates injured raptors and educates the public on their conservation. Through hands-on experiences and community engagement, they aim to protect native birds of prey and foster a deeper appreciation for wildlife.

Who cooks for you? Not us, but we would love to show you owls! &nbsp;This Raptor Focus Series event will feature the Barred Owl - the raucous nighttime denizen of rivers, swamps, and wetlands. Perhaps the most iconic owl by call, and often the most likely owl around here to be seen out and about during daytime hours, Barred Owls are always sure to excite a neighborhood. &nbsp;Come learn about the natural history and behavior of these amazing birds.&nbsp; Your registration supports the rehabilitation and conservation work of the Illinois Raptor Center and helps us share practical, science-based education with our community.

Raptor Focus Series - Barred Owl

Experience the fascinating world of Illinois birds of prey at Adult Raptor Camp! This hands-on program is designed for adults (age 16+) who want to learn more about the incredible hawks, falcons, and owls that live in our state. Discover the unique adaptations, hunting behaviors, habitats, and conservation stories of Illinois raptors through engaging presentations and up-close encounters with live birds. Participants will have the rare opportunity to meet several trained birds of prey and learn what makes each species special. The highlight of the camp is the chance to safely hold four different raptors on your gloved fist under the guidance of experienced raptor educators. You&#39;ll also have plenty of opportunities to take photos with these magnificent birds and create lasting memories of your experience. Whether you&#39;re a bird enthusiast, nature lover, photographer, or simply curious about wildlife, Adult Raptor Camp offers an unforgettable opportunity to connect with some of Illinois&#39; most iconic predators in a safe and educational setting. ***Eagles will not be handled by camp participants*** This has been a wildly successful event in the past, and tickets are very limited. &nbsp; Guests should bring their own sack lunch. &nbsp; Your registration supports native bird conservation and helps us protect the raptors that share our Illinois skies. 🌎

Adult Raptor Camp!

Join us for the next installment of our Raptor Focus Series as we explore the fascinating world of the American Kestrel&mdash; denizen of the power lines, and a colorful and charismatic predator of fields, grasslands, and open skies. This presentation will dive into the American Kestrel&rsquo;s hunting abilities, migration patterns, unique adaptations, and the conservation challenges it faces across North America. Experience an unforgettable encounter with a live American Kestrel and see this stunning falcon up close. Whether you&#39;re a lifelong birder or just beginning your journey into the world of raptors, you won&#39;t want to miss this exciting program!

Raptor Focus Series - American Kestrel

Join us for this special event celebrating our work, our birds, and our community. To help manage attendance and ensure a high-quality experience for both guests and our raptors, free tickets will be available for two sessions - please reserve tickets for/attend only one of the sessions.&nbsp; This year&rsquo;s Open House will offer something for everyone, including:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="disc"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Up-close viewing of several raptor ambassadors from our Education on the Wing progams</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hands-on interaction with bioartifacts from our extensive collection</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guided tours of the education center and animal hospital</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Research highlights and overviews</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Displays showcasing the past and present work of the Illinois Raptor Center</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Silent auction and raffle opportunities</li></ul>New this year, we&rsquo;re introducing a fun passport program for each session! Guests who visit each Open House station and collect stamps will be able to enter their completed passport into a drawing for a prize&mdash;one winner selected at the end of each session. &nbsp;We&rsquo;re excited to welcome you back for this engaging and interactive day at the Illinois Raptor Center!

Open House (Two Sessions)

Join us for an unforgettable edition of our Raptor Focus Series as we spotlight one of the most intelligent, charismatic, and entertaining birds in the sky&mdash;the Turkey Vulture. Far from the spooky scavenger stereotypes, turkey vultures are curious, playful, and remarkably clever animals. With their impressive soaring abilities, unique social behaviors, and larger-than-life personalities, these birds have a way of winning over everyone they meet. Get up close with one of these fascinating raptors and discover the incredible adaptations that make turkey vultures some of nature&#39;s most efficient recyclers. Learn how they navigate vast landscapes, interact with their flock mates, and play an essential role in keeping ecosystems healthy. Whether you&#39;re a dedicated bird lover, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun and engaging experience, this program offers a fresh look at a bird that deserves a second chance in the spotlight.Come see why turkey vultures are among the most misunderstood&mdash;and most amazing&mdash;birds in North America. Once you meet them, you&#39;ll never look at a vulture the same way again! Perfect for ages 8 and up. Seats fill quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot and join us for this exciting encounter! Your registration supports our mission to rehabilitate injured raptors, protect native species, and build a more compassionate connection between people and wildlife. 🌎

Raptor Focus Series - Turkey Vulture

xxxxx Friday Raptor Focus Series 🦅 gives you a close look at the raptors in our care and the work that goes into their rehabilitation and release. Each session highlights a different bird of prey, its story, and the role raptors play in healthy ecosystems. By registering, you support the Illinois Raptor Center&rsquo;s mission of rehabilitation, education, and compassionate care for native birds. 🌟On Friday, April 10th we will focus on the Peregrin Falcon. &nbsp;Come join us and our beautiful large female Peregrine. &nbsp;Seating is very limited so get your ticket as soon as you can.Smile and Learn,Jane

Friday Raptor Focus Series

Our monthly Raptor Focus Series gives audiences a close-up look at one of our education raptors. Each month features a different species and includes a live bird from our education ambassador team. This month we will feature Ash, our beautiful Red-tailed Hawk. These events are small, simple, friendly gatherings designed to help you learn, connect, and see firsthand how your support keeps the Illinois Raptor Center doing what it does best&mdash;caring for birds and educating our community.What to expect.......&bull; A featured raptor you won&rsquo;t forget&bull; A conservation education program by Jack Nuzzo - smile and learn guaranteed&bull; Casual, interactive Q&amp;A (ask questions or just listen - your call)&bull; A meaningful way to learn about and directly support the IRC mission&bull; Refreshments&nbsp;Get your tickets here...................<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/raptor-focus-series-tickets-red-tailed-hawk" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/raptor-focus-series-tickets-red-tailed-hawk</a>With Hope,Jane

RAPTOR FOCUS SERIES TICKETS _ RED-TAILED HAWK

First Friday Raptor Focus is your chance to get up close with a live hawk, owl, or other raptor while learning how rehabilitation and conservation protect native birds of prey. At the end of a casual presentation, you will have a chance to comment, tell stories or ask questions. &nbsp;

First Friday Raptor Focus

&nbsp; Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Illinois Raptor Center&#39;s Raptor Focus Series. It&#39;s an monthly event like no other, and we want you to be there! &nbsp; &nbsp;This January we are focusing on the Snowy Owl. &nbsp;Every ticket to this event will bring us closer to funding our mission of wildlife rehabilitation, education and research. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world for all. What to expect:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="disc"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;A featured snowy owl you won&rsquo;t forget</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A conservation education program about the focus raptor by Jack Nuzzo - smile and learn guaranteed&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Casual, interactive Q&amp;A conversation (no pressure, no scripts)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;Insider insight about the IRC and its work</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit;" id="isPasted" style="box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;A meaningful way to directly learn about and support the IRC mission</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Refreshments&nbsp;</li></ul> Thank you for supporting our mission, your support is invaluable.

January Raptor Focus Series

🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something really fun at Illinois Raptor Center&#39;s fundraising event. It&#39;s an event you will find no place else, and we want you to be there! 🎉 Spend some time up-close with Illinois Owls in the IRC Nature Center. Then we will mosey outdoors to talk to some owls in the neighborhood.

The Great Owl Walk About

The POWER of a monthly donationIt&#39;s easy to think, &quot;What can $2 really do?&quot; But when 21,000 Friends give just $2.00 each, it becomes $42,000!What if just a few dollars a month could help save wild lives and protect the future of the Illinois Raptor Center?That&rsquo;s exactly what our Two Dollar Tuesday campaign is all about.By becoming a monthly donor, you&#39;re not just giving &ndash; you&#39;re helping build a reliable foundation that keeps our doors open, the lights on, and every rescued bird in safe hands. A consistent monthly gift, even a small one, gives us the ability and stablility to plan ahead, respond to emergencies, and grow stronger.We believe the best way to support wildlife is through steady, sustainable giving &ndash; and that means we don&rsquo;t have to rely on big one-time donations or scramble for funds when something urgent comes up.When you give monthly, you become part of our most loyal community insiders who believe in what we do and help make it happen every single day.👉 Sign up for monthly giving today and get insider information shared only with monthly donors and&nbsp;help us fully fund our mission, one month (and one bird) at a time: &nbsp;Together, we can build a future where every raptor gets a second chance &ndash; not just today, but every day.With gratitude and hope,Jane&nbsp;

The POWER of a monthly donationIt's easy to think, "What can $2 really do?"But when 21,000 Friends give just $2.00 each, it becomes $42,000!What if just a few dollars a month could help save wild lives and protect the future of the Illinois Raptor Center?That’s exactly what our Two Dollar Tuesday campaign is all about.By becoming a monthly donor, you're not just giving – you're helping build a reliable foundation that keeps our doors open, the lights on, and every rescued bird in safe hands. A consistent monthly gift, even a small one, gives us the ability and stablility to plan ahead, respond to emergencies, and grow stronger.We believe the best way to support wildlife is through steady, sustainable giving – and that means we don’t have to rely on big one-time donations or scramble for funds when something urgent comes up.When you give monthly, you become part of our most loyal community insiders who believe in what we do and help make it happen every single day.👉 Sign up for monthly giving today and get insider information shared only with monthly donors and help us fully fund our mission, one month (and one bird) at a time: Together, we can build a future where every raptor gets a second chance – not just today, but every day.With gratitude and hope,Jane

The POWER of a monthly donation                                 (Two Dollar Tuesday)

Our wildlife hospital&rsquo;s air conditioning failed without warning. In the summer heat, safe temperatures are critical for stressed and healing raptors 🦅. Your gift helps us replace the A/C unit with heating unit so birds in treatment can rest, recover, and be released back to the wild. Every donation goes directly toward this emergency repair&mdash;equipment, installation, and keeping our rehabilitation spaces safe for native birds. Thank you for standing with the Illinois Raptor Center and the wildlife in our care. 🌿

Our wildlife hospital’s air conditioning failed without warning. In the summer heat, safe temperatures are critical for stressed and healing raptors 🦅. Your gift helps us replace the A/C unit with heating unit so birds in treatment can rest, recover, and be released back to the wild.Every donation goes directly toward this emergency repair—equipment, installation, and keeping our rehabilitation spaces safe for native birds. Thank you for standing with the Illinois Raptor Center and the wildlife in our care. 🌿

Emergency A/C replacement for wildlife hospital.

Meet one of our most agile neighbors of the sky: the Cooper&rsquo;s Hawk.&nbsp; In this session, you&rsquo;ll get an up-close look at this common resident of urban and suburban backyards. These ambush predators are as striking in their looks as they are adept at taking down other birds for a meal. &nbsp;We look forward to you flap-flap-gliding your way to this event!&nbsp; Your registration supports real rehabilitation and conservation work&mdash;from medical care to daily handling and education. Join us to see how your contributions help protect native raptors across Illinois.&nbsp;

Raptor Focus Series - Cooper's Hawk

Join us for the Raptor Focus Series: Falconry, a close look at the ancient practice of hunting with birds of prey. &nbsp;Learn how trained raptors work with their handlers and what this partnership requires from both bird and human. IRC Executive Director, Jacques Nuzzo, is a permitted falconer with over 25 years of experience, and you will learn about some of the birds on permit and see them up close! &nbsp;Likely appearances from an Aplomado Falcon and Ferruginous Hawk.&nbsp; Illinois Raptor Center staff will connect falconry to our daily work in wildlife rehabilitation, education, and research. Your registration supports native birds receiving medical care, rehabilitation, and safe release back into the wild.

Raptor Focus Series - Falconry

Step into the night with us for an Owl Prowl &mdash; multiple live owls with a special Halloween visit from a purveyor of the macabre - a resident Turkey Vulture! You&rsquo;ll meet our Education on the Wing Owls up close, learn how these birds hunt, fly, and survive, and hear how the Illinois Raptor Center protects native species every day. This program will also feature a special guest appearance from one of our Education on the Wing Turkey Vultures, calling of wild owls, and, potentially, capture and banding of wild owls!&nbsp; &nbsp;Snacks and hot chocolate provided.&nbsp; Your registration supports medical care, rehabilitation, and education programs that give injured raptors a second chance in the wild.

Owl Prowl (with a bonus Vulture)!

Join us for Superb Owl Saturday!&nbsp; What better way to spend the day before the big game than meeting some of our superb owls that are native to Illinois? &nbsp;This educational program will kick off the biggest sports weekend of the year with natural history and behavior information about the owls that touch down in our local habitats daily. &nbsp; Traditional football game snacks and soft drinks will be provided. Your registration supports our ongoing work in rehabilitation and education.

Superb Owl Saturday

Deepen your birding skills while supporting injured raptors in our care.&nbsp; This Birding Masterclass Series, led by Dr. Travis Wilcoxen and Jacques Nuzzo, will help you develop successful methods for bird identification and behavioral observations. &nbsp;The instructors will use their combined 50 years of experience as observers of the natural world and educators to focus on birding as a process rather than purely memorization and guessing games. &nbsp;Professional photographs, taxidermy, field guides, binoculars, and, eventually, live birds in-hand will be used to help you become a more successful birder.&nbsp; You may sign up for all sessions, or pick and choose which sessions to attend. &nbsp; The cost for each session is $15/person or $75 for the entire series.&nbsp; March 31 Introduction - Skill Development ProcessApril 7&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Warbler IDApril 14&nbsp; &nbsp;Other Songbird and Near Songbird IDApril 21 &nbsp; Wading Birds and Duck IDApril 28 &nbsp; Raptor IDMay 5 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Bird Banding and Field Practice Your registration helps fund rehabilitation, conservation, and education for native birds of prey at the Illinois Raptor Center. &nbsp;

Illinois Raptor Center

Events

Events

Raptor Focus Series - Cooper's Hawk

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Raptor Focus Series - Falconry

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Owl Prowl (with a bonus Vulture)!

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Superb Owl Saturday

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Birding Masterclass Series

Get your tickets

More ways to support us

The POWER of a monthly donation (Two Dollar Tuesday)

US$3,625 of US$42,000 goal

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Emergency A/C replacement for wildlife hospital.

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