Velma Morrison Interpretive Center
Imaging by Thomas Hayden – Click and drag to look around.
The Velma Morrison Interpretive Center is waiting to welcome you into the exciting world of birds of prey!
Explore and discover the amazing world of raptors eye to eye. Come experience our courtyard full of native and non-native birds. Continue your experience inside with daily raptor presentations, interactive exhibits, and tours of the Archives of Falconry.
Call 208-362-8687 for information.
Our exhibits
- The Courtyard is a shady lawn with four bird chambers on the north and west sides.
- Condor Cliffs is our newest exhibit, completed in 2010.
- Indoor Birds: Several of our avian ambassadors can be viewed in their chambers indoors
- Education Rooms: Six rooms are dedicated to different aspects of education about birds of prey.
- Art Gallery: Take a close look at an impressive original art collection. Complete with oil on canvas originals and numerous bronzes, this raptor art collection is one of a kind.
Planning a group trip
All education programs at the Velma Morrison Visitor Center are designed to:
- Be developmentally appropriate
- Meet state required standards and curricular objectives
- Emphasize active participation of students
- Feature our fascinating raptors as a "lens for learning"
If you are planning on bringing a group of 15 or more, call to reserve a spot at least two weeks in advance. Your group will be scheduled with a personal tour guide, and receive a discounted admission.
School Groups
Students and school personnel for all school groups of 15 or more that schedule in advance are FREE. Parent chaperones are $5, and grandparent chaperones are $4.
Non-school Groups
For a non-school group of 15 or more scheduling at least two weeks in advance with a paid $30 deposit, prices are $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (62+); and $4 for youth ages 4-16.
Behind the scenes tours
Secret Lives of Raptors Tours – Behind the Scenes at the World Center for Birds of Prey Interpretive Center
Cost: $45 /per person for members, $75 /per person for non-members (includes a $25 membership to The Peregrine Fund). Limit 5 people per tour, ages 8 and up.
When: Wednesday - Saturday
Time: Tours last 1 to 1 ¼ hrs and begin promptly at 4pm at our Interpretive Center, It is recommended to arrive 15 minutes early.
Scheduling: To ensure your place in the tour, make a reservation and pay at least two weeks in advance. To arrange a tour, contact the Interpretive Center Operations Manager: 208-362-8257 or email npiccono@peregrinefund.org
“Secret Lives of Raptors” tours provide a rarely-seen glimpse at tricks of the trade and techniques implemented by our trainers to keep our 25 education birds healthy and performing. What most audiences see is the tip of the iceberg. Diet, enrichment, positive reinforcements, falconry techniques, and clean safe chambers all play an integral part in the maintenance of our raptor ambassadors. You will accompany our expert staff as they feed our birds at the end of the workday and discover what they eat, how diets are planned, how the food is obtained, how it’s prepared, and watch as a bird is weighed. Enter several raptor chambers to meet the occupant eye to eye and have your photo taken with one of our avian ambassadors. You will even have a chance to leave a meal for some of them!
Watch a training session, and learn what keeps a bird flying in front of an audience daily, or how a bird is trained to ‘chase’ a man-made lure while free-flying outdoors. Or discover how we trained our American Crow to collect donations from guests! You may even get to witness a bird or two at play – enrichment is a huge part of our program here.
Each of our birds, from the 5 oz. American Kestrels to the 13 pound Harpy Eagles, have unique histories and specific niches in the wild. Your guide will tell you the intimate details about each of the birds, and answer any questions you may have in a user-friendly, easy to understand manner. We’re passionate about our birds and eager to share our knowledge!
Interpretive Center links
- Velma Morrison Interpretive Center
- October Flight Demonstrations
- Exhibits
- Daily Programs
- Upcoming Events
- Education Programs
- Behind the Scenes Tours
- Meet our Raptor Ambassadors
Hours
Summer hours (March – October) :
9 am – 5 pm daily
Winter hours (November – February):
10 am – 4 pm Tuesday through Sunday
(closed Mondays during winter hours)
Admissions
- General $7
- Seniors (age 62 +) $6
- Youth (ages 4 – 16) $5
- Free to members and children under age 4
- Reduced rates for advanced booking of large groups
Contact the Interpretive Center
- 208-362-8687
- tpf@peregrinefund.org
Map
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Combined Federal Campaign # 10639
