Raptique

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