Visitor Programs
Get to know our avian ambassadors through a variety of programs with our expert staff. All Visitor Programs are included with admission unless otherwise noted. Check with our Visitors Center staff to find out where each day's programs are located.
Note: Onsite programs change seasonally and may be moved, canceled, or postponed due to weather and keeper schedules. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Note: To protect the safety of our avian ambassadors, some programs may have limited capacity.
Summer Schedule
Valid May 22, 2026 through September 7, 2026
Sunday
11:00 AM:
Meet a Raptor
1:00 PM:
Behind the Scenes Hospital Tour (Advance Tickets Required)
2:30 PM:
Keeper Chat
Tuesday
11:00 AM:
Keeper Chat
Wednesday
11:00 AM:
Keeper Chat
1:00 PM:
Bird Show
2:30 PM:
Hospital Chat
Thursday
11:00 AM:
Keeper Chat
1:00 PM:
Bird Show
Friday
11:00 AM:
Keeper Chat
1:00 PM:
Bird Show
Saturday
11:00 AM:
Meet a Raptor
1:00 PM:
Bird Show
2:30 PM:
Hospital Chat
Program Descriptions
Behind the Scenes Hospital Tour
Our Raptor Hospital treats 800 to 1000 sick, injured, and orphaned birds each year. In our Behind the Scenes tours, you can get a peek into what it takes to care for these feathered patients. Learn how we prepare food, provide treatment, and ensure every patient receives the best possible care. Space is limited. Only open to ages 11 and up. Closed-toe shoes required. The Raptor Hospital is not ADA accessible and requires comfort in small spaces and using stairs.
Hospital Tours are offered on Sundays and Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day at 1 PM. Advance tickets are required. No same-day online sales available.
Bird Show
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of nature up close at our Bird Shows. Watch as our team of avian ambassadors showcases their incredible talents, from soaring flights to expert camouflage skills and a few surprises in between. Don't miss the chance to witness these birds steal the show!
Bird Shows are offered Wednesday to Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Fly By
There's nothing quite like feeling the rush of air as a bird flies over your head! Experience this exhilarating moment during our Fly Bys, where a free-flighted avian ambassador shows off the natural behaviors that make them special. The birds starring in Fly Bys vary. Fly Bys last roughly 15 minutes.
Hospital Chat
Learn from a member of our rehabilitation team about what it takes to rehabilitate 800+ birds of prey in our Raptor Hospital each year. These programs take place on the Raptor Trail, but feature hands-on ways to understand all that goes into rehabilitating sick and injured birds. Hospital Chats last approximately 15 minutes.
Keeper Chat
Learn about our avian ambassadors from the people who know them best: their keepers! In these programs, you'll get to know the birds on the Raptor Trail from a member of their care team. Locations vary, so you may watch a training session with an owl one day and see a feeding for an eagle the next. Keeper Chats last approximately 15 minutes.
Meet a Raptor
What actually is a raptor? Find out with a member of our education staff while meeting one of the raptors who call the Carolina Raptor Center home. This seated educational program is engaging for all ages and provides the opportunity to learn more about our avian ambassadors in a unique setting. Meet a Raptor programs last approximately 20 minutes.
