Birds of Prey

Say hello to our magnificent birds of prey!

Our raptors are housed outdoors, and you can walk right up to their enclosures seven days a week during daylight hours. Discover the origin of their name "raptor" which means "to seize or grasp" with their powerful feet and talons. Observe their feathers, beaks and so much more.

Most of our raptors have been adopted from the River Raisin Raptor Center education program. Our regal and beautiful birds have each suffered a permanent injury that makes them unable to survive in the wild, where even a seemingly small injury spells the difference between predatory dominance and certain death. You can read more about them here!

As avian ambassadors these non-releasable wild birds have been trained to help educate people about their natural history and  issues facing raptors today. They visit schools, scouts, businesses, fairs/festivals, conferences, birthday parties for adults and children, fundraisers, retirement celebrations, assisted living facilities, hospitals, weddings, memorial services, and many other special events. They are also amazing to watch in our on-site programs.

See what's on the menu for our birds of prey
Drop by and see how their feet and beak work together.  Every Saturday from 1-3 p.m., volunteers will be feeding the birds and answering your questions — after watching the birds in action, you'll likely have quite a few!

Please note: this is a free drop-in event. Please be aware birds may or may not be coming out of their enclosures to eat during feeding times, depending on the species and time of feeding.

Adopt our birds of prey!
Provide direct support to our non-releasable birds of prey through our Adopt-A-Raptor program. This is a unique and personal way to connect your favorite person, organization, teacher, or class to the hunters of the sky.

Our partners
In 2006, the River Raisin Raptor Center in Manchester, Michigan chose Leslie Science & Nature Center to be the permanent home for its injured, educational birds. We are thrilled by this honor and take the responsibility of caring for the birds very seriously. Thank you Dody Wyman for your confidence in us and your continued support!