Alaska Raptor Center Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Alaska Raptor Center

Type	Raptor rehabilitation center
Location	1000 Raptor Way Sitka, Alaska
Area	17 acres (6.9 ha)
Created	1980
Operated by	Carol Bryant-Martin (director)
Other information	Exhibit: Eagle rehabilitation center

The Alaska Raptor Center is a special place in Sitka, Alaska. It helps injured birds of prey, also known as raptors. These birds include eagles, hawks, and owls. The center is located on 17 acres of land next to the Tongass National Forest. It also borders the Indian River.

The main goal of the Alaska Raptor Center is to help wild birds. They do this by giving care to injured birds. They also teach people about these amazing animals. And they do research to learn more about them. While they mostly help raptors, they will take any bird that needs care.

Helping Injured Birds
- How Birds Travel to the Center
- Getting Ready for Release
Resident Birds and Education
- Volta the Bald Eagle
Visiting the Center
Images for kids
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Helping Injured Birds

The Alaska Raptor Center helps many birds each year. They usually take in between 100 and 200 birds. Many of these birds have been hurt. Their injuries can come from different things. This includes getting shocked by power lines or hitting cars. Some birds are hurt by traps or suffer from lead poisoning. Others might be sick or starving.

How Birds Travel to the Center

Many birds needing help come from outside Sitka. They often fly in on Alaska Airlines. Smaller local airlines also help transport them. The birds travel in special dog kennels. These kennels are covered to keep them calm. Blocking out light helps the birds feel safe during their journey.

Getting Ready for Release

When an eagle gets healthy, it moves to a special area. This area is called the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation Bald Eagle Flight Training Center. It is a large indoor space. Here, eagles can fly around and bathe. They can also interact with other eagles. This helps them get strong before they are set free.

Some birds cannot live in the wild again. This is usually because their injuries are too severe. These birds find new homes in zoos or wildlife centers. They become "ambassadors" for their species. This means they help teach people about their kind.

Resident Birds and Education

The Alaska Raptor Center is home to some birds permanently. These are birds that cannot be released back into the wild. They help the center teach visitors. More than 100,000 people visit the center every year. They come to see the two dozen resident birds. These include eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, and even ravens.

Volta the Bald Eagle

One of the most famous resident birds was Volta. Volta was a bald eagle. He was hurt in 1992 when he hit power lines. This caused permanent damage to his shoulder. Volta helped with education programs for many years. He retired from these programs in 2020. He then lived in the Bald Eagle Habitat at the center. Volta was at least 37 years old. He passed away in January 2024. He was humanely euthanized due to his declining health.

Visiting the Center

The Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka is open to the public. Visitors can take daily tours. It is a great way to learn about raptors. You can also see the amazing work the center does.

The Alaska Raptor Center is a private organization. It is a nonprofit organization. This means it uses all its money to help birds and educate people.