Adopt-a-Raptor Program

Raising Raptor Awareness

Callaway Gardens’ Birds of Prey program is presented with the permission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Since its debut in 2000, the program has helped educate more than 1 million visitors about man’s impact on raptors and other forms of wildlife.

These magnificent creatures – which cannot be released into the wild, due either to injury or having developed an unnatural association with humans, known as “imprinting” – demonstrate their strength, speed and natural instincts in daily free-flighted shows. Several birds appear at each show, swooping overhead and giving guests an up-close look “on the glove,” while our raptor experts explain how man’s actions affect their wellbeing.

You can join our feathered ambassadors in sharing this important story. Our Adopt-A-Raptor initiative enables you to help support the feeding, training, housing, husbandry and medical care for one of our resident raptors. These symbolic adoptions are an exciting way for your family, business, organization or class to participate in wildlife stewardship while creating a personal connection with one of nature’s unique creatures. Adoptions also make unique gifts.

Donation levels range from $50 to $1,000 per year. To begin supporting one of Callaway Gardens’ Birds of Prey, please complete and return the attached application. For more information on Callaway Gardens’ Birds of Prey program, please call 706.663.5153 or email education@callawaygardens.com.

Donation Levels

By “adopting” a raptor, you participate in Callaway Gardens’ mission of “connecting man and nature in a way that benefits both.” In addition to your symbolic adoption, your donation helps support raptor feeding, training, housing, husbandry and medical care. Each Adopt-A-Raptor donor receives the following:

Certificate of adoption
5x7 photo of your adopted raptor
History and fact sheet on your adopted raptor
Quarterly email updates on your adopted raptor
Tax receipt for the deductible amount of donation

Donors at the Patron level also receive a “Trainer for a Day” outing with their adopted raptor.

Donors at the Guardian level also receive a “Behind the Scenes” tour of our Birds of Prey facilities.

Every donor has the option to forego the fulfillment package described above and direct their full donation to raptor care. Donors who choose this option will receive a letter of appreciation and tax receipt.

Patron: $1,000 per raptor

Adoption choices:

Any of the raptors listed below.

Guardian: $500 per raptor

Adoption choices:

Vinnie (Black Vulture)
Orbit (Gyr/Peregrine Falcon)

Advocate: $300 per raptor

Adoption choices:

Rohmann (Harris’ Hawk)
Autumn (Red-Shouldered Hawk)
Tilden (Red-Tailed Hawk)
Guinevere (Red-Tailed Hawk)

Raptor: $100 per raptor

Adoption choices:

Olive (Barred Owl)
Willow (Barred Owl)
Cedar (Great Horned Owl)
Juniper (Great Horned Owl)

Talon: $50 per raptor

Adoption choices:

Hershel (Eastern Screech Owl)
Daucet (Broadwing Hawk)
Whisper (Barn Owl)

To begin supporting a Callaway Gardens Bird of Prey, please contact the Education Department by phone at 706.663.5153 or by email at education@callawaygardens.com.