Situated within the Nature
Center at World Bird Sanctuary is the “Raptique” – the WBS gift shop. The Raptique offers a
variety of bird-themed gifts and keepsakes for every age group.
Every dollar earned at the
gift shop stays right here at the sanctuary to help with the care of the
sanctuary buildings, grounds and equipment as well as the animals themselves.
Some of our best selling
items are t-shirts and sweatshirts, all of which feature the World Bird
Sanctuary name. We are currently
stocking a full line of shirts featuring owls, hawks, eagles, vultures,
falcons, kites and osprey.
This shirt features our very own eagles (photo: Dawn Griffard)
Two of the t-shirts in our
line have attracted some national attention. One custom shirt featuring photographs of our very own eagle
species that live here at the sanctuary (bald, tawny, long-crested, golden,
bateleur) has been very popular. However, the similarly designed shirt that features our vultures (black,
Egyptian, hooded, king, turkey and Andean condor) has garnered even more
attention. The national clothing
company that printed our order of that shirt has requested the ability to make
it a part of their regular catalog line!
Our kids are going to be famous!
This unique shirt featuring our very own vultures is being sold nationwide (photo: Dawn Griffard)
Our newest t-shirt is “The
Raptor Project” tee. The Raptor Project
is the sanctuary band which performs every Thursday night in August at 7:00
PM. Come celebrate the close of
the summer with us by singing and dancing to bird songs at the Ludwig
Foundation amphitheater (near the nature center) while our birds of prey fly overhead! Tonight is the last performance for the summer. The Raptique will be offering special
fun toys for sale during the performances to make the nights even more
enjoyable.
The shop also regularly
stocks popular and well-priced toys, including plush animals. We have carefully chosen animals that
you will see right here on the sanctuary grounds including: eagles, owls,
hawks, turkey vultures, squirrels, chipmunks, armadillos, rabbits and fox.
We also have collectible
“Safari” brand toys. This line features
sanctuary animals, but also includes velociraptors and the storied phoenix.
Birdcalls, kaleidoscopes,
arrowheads, geodes, wearable wings and mood rings are among the other
best-sellers in the toy department.
The “wearable wings” are child-sized plush wings that slide onto the
arms so the child can flap around as their favorite winged creature. Wing choices include: bald eagle,
condor, parrot, bat and pteranodon!
Christmas ornaments for the raptor lover (photo: Cathy Spahn)
Many local artists have
donated their work or a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their work to
us. The gift shop has beautiful
photographs, note cards, drawings, hand painted glassware and even bird-themed
hand cut framed snowflakes. Our
glassware artist, Kathy Arnold, will be showcased at our upcoming open house
with her brand new collection of hand painted Christmas ornaments (see photo). We are very excited to receive new
pieces into our shop! She will be
a busy woman for the next few months as she will be trying to keep up with the
demand for her beautiful work.
Our jewelry and book
collections are also quite popular.
Each item included in the shop has been carefully chosen with our guests
in mind.
Please stop by the
Raptique and browse our unique inventory.
We hope you’ll find something for every member of the family.
Purchase our World Bird
Sanctuary t-shirts and spread the word about our mission wherever you go!
If you have items that you
would like to donate to the sanctuary to sell at the Raptique, please contact
us at the Nature Center 636-225-4390. We welcome your animal themed pieces. Remember – all proceeds benefit the sanctuary directly. Our animals need you!
Submitted by Dawn Trainor
Griffard, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist
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