Say Hello To As Many As 40 Magnificent Birds Of Prey At Cascades Raptor Center In Oregon
By Catherine Armstrong|Published February 14, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
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Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
There’s nothing more magnificent than a stately bald eagl circling high in the sky, or a beautiful snow owl nestled in the branches of a pine tree. Sometimes, these gorgeous birds are injured or sick, and the lucky ones end up at Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene. You can visit them in person six days a week!
Welcome to Cascades Raptor Center! This beautiful non-profit refuge is home to around 40 birds of prey, and you're going to want to visit soon to see them up-close and in-person.
The refuge is open to the public six days a week. Visit Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. While you're here, you can wander down the path to see many of the birds who live here, both temporarily and permanently.
The purpose of Cascades Raptor Center is two-fold. First, the nature center works to educate the public about these magnificent creatures. The large aviaries on the property help visitors observe birds up close and learn more about them.
If you're visiting with a group (or for a birthday party), you can participate in a bird program. You'll get to visit with one of the resident raptors for 30 minutes before you take your self-guided tour.
The center also operates as a wildlife hospital for birds of prey who are injured, sick, or abandoned. The center accepts as many as 300 birds every year, and works to rehabilitate them so they can return to the wild.
Birds are brought to the center for a variety of reasons. Some are hit by cars or are injured by power lines. Others get tangled in fencing, ingest poison, or are caught in leg-hold traps or illegally shot.
Veterinarians provide care to every bird that comes in, which includes first aid, ongoing care for injuries, lab work to determine illness, and rehabilitation.
The birds who can be rehabilitated are returned to their natural habitats once they're healed. Other birds are no longer able to live in the wild, so they live the rest of their lives here at the center.
Cascades Raptor Center works closely with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and the US Fish & Wildlife Service, as well as several wonderful veterinarians who donate their time and skills.
Admission to the center is $9 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $6 for children ages 2-12. Consider purchasing a membership for free admission all year long!
Learn more about Cascades Raptor Center and the work it does on its website, and follow its Facebook page to see the events it’s hosting this month.
