Buffalo Bill Center of the West

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Buffalo Bill Center of the West

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  • Visit
    • Current HoursDecember 1–February 28: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday–Sunday
    • Hours and RatesPlan your visit to the Center of the West.
    • Group SalesBook a commercial or non-commercial tour with us.
    • Facility RentalsHost your event in one of our indoor or outdoor spaces.
    • Visiting YellowstonePlan your visit to Yellowstone National Park.
    • LodgingSelect from a variety of local accommodations.
    • ItinerariesDiscover some quick day trips in and around Cody.
    • DirectionsFind driving directions and check road conditions.
    • StoriesFind your story among ours.
    • Calendar of EventsSee what events are happening during your visit here.
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  • Learn
    • School Programs & ResourcesEssential info and resources for teachers and students.
    • Family ProgramsFamily-friendly programs, activities, and craft ideas.
    • InternshipsCollege students may apply to gain museum experience.
    • Skype in the ClassroomLive, interactive K–12 field trips.
    • WorkshopsExplore hands-on programs for kids, families, and adults.
    • Conservation InternshipsTraining for conservators from all over the world.
    • Pre-K ProgramsSet up a guided tour for your preschool class.
    • Field TripsInvestigate outdoor adventures for adults and children.
    • Highlights MapsDiscover collection highlights in each of our museum.
    • Games and InteractivesLearn about the collection through online interactives.
    • Lectures & FilmsPlan for future talks and view past program videos.
    • Western EssaysDelve into historical information on western topics.
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Clothing and Accessories
    • Gifts
    • Native American Replicas
    • Fine Art
    • Quality Leather
    • Native American Jewelry
    • Navajo Rugs
    • Pottery
    • Prints
    • Media
    • Baskets
  • Research
    • McCracken Research LibraryFind books, photos, archives, media, and more.Buffalo Bill Center of the West
    • Digital CollectionsExplore our extensive photo and manuscript collections.
    • Archival Collection List and Finding GuidesBrowse inventories of archival collections.
    • The Papers of William F. CodyDiscover scholarship on the man and the myth.
    • Fellowship ProgramContribute to new scholarship using Center collections.
    • Buffalo BillUncover in-depth information about William F. Cody.
    • Greater Yellowstone Natural HistoryLearn more about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
    • Western ArtDelve into the lives and works of western artists.
    • Plains IndianDiscover more about Plains Indian tribes and collections.
    • FirearmsFind a firearms bibliography, glossary, and more.
    • ConservationFind out how we preserve Center collections.
    • Rights and ReproductionsLicense or reproduce images from our collections.
  • Support
    • Planned GivingLeave your legacy with a bequest or estate gift.
    • Patrons BallAttend our annual gala fundraiser.
    • MembershipBecome a supporter and receive great benefits.
    • VolunteerSupport the Center with your time and talent.
    • 1966 Pontiac GTO winner: Ticket # 4206Our winner: Ticket number 4206 from Bozeman, Montana!
    • Give TodayMake a donation to programs and operations.
    • Why I SupportSee what motivates donors to give to the Center.
    • A.P. Proctor bronze winner: Ticket # 1115407Our winner: Ticket number 1115407 from Dayton, Ohio!
    • Raptor ExperienceHelp provide care for our avian friends.
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Home > Newsroom > Draper Museum Raptor Experience celebrates seven years at Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Draper Museum Raptor Experience celebrates seven years at Buffalo Bill Center of the West

November 13, 2018 by Nancy McClure

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Draper Natural History Museum celebrates the seventh anniversary of its Draper Museum Raptor Experience this year. The Raptor Experience presents educational live-raptor programs to thousands of Center of the West visitors every year.

Jade, the Draper Museum Raptor Experience's bald eagle.

Jade, the Draper Museum Raptor Experience’s bald eagle.

During the winter when Center visitation slows, the Draper Museum Raptor Experience partners with schools in Wyoming and the surrounding region to teach students of every age about these magnificent birds of prey and human interaction with their ecosystem. Raptor Experience staff tailor lessons to fit the birds and the age group of the students that have come to visit, or who meet the raptors in their classrooms—or other settings away from the Center.

The Draper Museum Raptor Experience is unique from other live-bird presentations you might visit around the country for two reasons: these raptors can be found in the local region while other presentations include birds from around the world, and these raptors are disabled—meaning that they cannot be released into the wild.

Today, the Raptor Experience raptors are no longer injured, they simply healed in such a way that they will never be able to care for themselves in the wild. In some cases, they cannot fly or see well enough to hunt. Suli, the turkey vulture, was raised by humans from two weeks of age, so she never learned how to use all the skills a turkey vulture needs to survive in the wild.

Now, the birds live in the Draper mews at the Center, essentially a barn for birds where each raptor has their own individual stall designed to meet its unique needs. They are out of the public view in the news because that is their home and sanctuary. It is important to remember that, all the raptors who now make their home and sanctuary. It is important to remember that, all the raptors who now make their home in the Draper mews are wild animals. Staff and volunteer are trained to put the safety of the raptors and our visitors first.

Monte, the Draper Museum Raptor Experience's eastern screech owl.

Monte, the Draper Museum Raptor Experience’s eastern screech owl.

Each of the 11 Draper Museum Raptor Experience raptors has unique needs and characteristics which make them the perfect ambassadors for their species. The Center’s natural science staffers study raptors because they are a window to the world and are often indicator species for the larger environmental picture.

Learning about local birds of prey and viewing them up close and personal, allows students and visitors to identify the raptors they will see in the Greater Yellowstone Region, as well as gain a newfound respect for wildlife. Those who wish to make a difference in the Draper Raptor Experience program may do so by adopting one of the raptors online or by making a donation. One-hundred percent of donations made to the program go to providing care, food, and necessary medication for the raptors.

The Raptor Experience program is funded in part by the Nancy-Carroll Draper Foundation, the W.H. Donner Foundation, the University of Wyoming, the Donner Canadian Foundation, and Leighton and Linda Steward.

For more information about Draper Museum Raptor Experience programs and presentation opportunities for parents and educators, please contact the Assistant Curator in Charge of Live Raptors, Melissa Hill at [email protected] or 307-578-4111.


Since 1917, the award-winning Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, has devoted itself to sharing the story of the authentic American West. The Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. For additional information, visit centerofthewest.org or the Center’s pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Filed Under: Newsroom
Tagged With: Draper Museum Raptor Experience, draper natural history museum, Greater Yellowstone region, raptor mews, turkey vulture

 

About Nancy McClure

Nancy works with electronic communications, including website, events, news, images, and social media. She produces the e-newsletter Western Wire, writes news releases, and assistant edits Points West magazine. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys photography, plays the flute, and is attempting to learn to play the piano.

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