Avoid The Black Friday Frenzy

With the Black Friday shopping frenzy quickly approaching we just wanted to remind our readers that the World Bird Sanctuary has many unique and environmentally friendly options for that “hard to buy for” person on your Christmas list. 

If a t-shirt is on your shopping list come and browse our large selection

 By surprising your family and friends with these one-of-a-kind gifts they will feel special because their gift will also help the World Bird Sanctuary fulfill its mission through wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education.  Your gift may help to save the life of a wildlife hospital patient, feed one of our birds for the year, or present an educational program to an underprivileged child.

Shop Green on Black Friday and give a gift with meaning!

Below is a selection of special gifts available from World Bird Sanctuary this holiday season. 

Return to the Wild! Buy a gift certificate for the release of a rehabilitated bird back into the wild.

Return to the Wild gift certificates help to treat injured birds in our hospital, such as this one

Treating a wild bird of prey admitted to our wildlife hospital can cost more than $1,000.  This special gift certificate entitles the recipient to take part in the release of a rehabilitated bird back into the wild.  Invite family and friends to release a bird of prey at your home or nearby park.  The World Bird Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital is a cornerstone of the World Bird Sanctuary, and is entirely funded by donations from the public. Help us give our patients a second chance to fly. Buy a Return to the Wild! Gift Certificate today! 

Be the one to release a rehabilitated bird of prey back to the wild!

$150.00.  Click here to order your Return to the Wild! Gift Certificate, or email Callie Plakovic, or call 636-225-4390 ext. 0 and tell the person answering that you want to purchase a Return to the Wild.

Help us Pave the Way!   Buy-a-Brick and help us pave our amphitheater while leaving a lasting impression of your environmental values!

Have your inscribed brick installed in our amphitheater

Your brick will be laid in our amphitheater.  Each year our environmental education programs teach thousands of people how to make small everyday changes that will have a lasting environmentally sustainable impact for years to come.  Your purchase of one of our engraved bricks will allow us to achieve this goal, while providing you with a new and lasting way to recognize loved ones or commemorate special occasions.  Donor certificates are available to be presented in person or to be mailed to the recipient.

For just $7.50 you can present this certificate with your inscription on it to the recipient of a brick

Options range from $125 - $425  Click here to order your Engraved Brick.

Adopt-a-Bird! Make someone special the proud adoptive parent of one of over 200 animals at World Bird Sanctuary!

Minerva, just one of the animals available for adoption

Your adoption fees help us to care for your animal for one year, as they live at the Sanctuary and travel around the country, teaching thousands of people about how to protect their friends in the wild and their habitats!  Your adoption packet includes a Certificate of Adoption, photographs and natural histories of your adopted animal and special visiting privileges.

Adoption fees range from $50 for small animals such as a Screech Owl to $150 for a majestic eagle

Adoptions range from $50 - $150.  Click here to see our gallery of animals available for adoption. In addition to the animals in our photo gallery there are dozens more that have yet to be added to our web page.  Just call Marion at 636-861-3225 if you don’t see a particular animal that you wish to adopt.

Give the Gift of Friendship!  A "Friend of World Bird Sanctuary" Gift Subscription is the gift that keeps giving all year!
Give the gift of friendship by giving your friends or family a gift subscription as a World Bird Sanctuary Friend.  WBS Friends receive invitations to "Friends only" events, and a membership card gives Friends a 10% discount on program fees at World Bird Sanctuary and on any item in our gift shop.
 

"Friends" subscriptions help to keep our birds flying

"Friends" subscriptions range from $35 - $100.  Click here to sign a friend or family member up for the "Friends" program.

Special gifts to Help our Wildlife Hospital!  All proceeds from the sale of these products go directly to treating and caring for animals in our wildlife hospital.

”Save the Future” CD

World Bird Sanctuary's in-house band, The Raptor Project’s, first CD, Save the Future. It consists of original songs about birds, the environment, and taking care of our planet.  This fun and entertaining children's CD comes with lyric sheets and education sheets embedded in the CD.  Proceeds from the sale of this CD go directly to our wildlife rehabilitation hospital to provide care of injured wild birds of prey.

Save the Future CD - $12 plus $3 shipping and handling for online orders.
Click here to order.

The Raptor Project's CDs both entertain and educate at the same time

“All Along The Watershed” CD

World Bird Sanctuary’s in-house band, The Raptor Project’s, second CD, All Along The Watershed.

This CD tells the story of the creatures that live within a watershed and stresses the importance of clean water through fun, and sometimes hilarious songs, such as The Food Chain Blues, The Greatest Possum, Mr. Frog Blues, and many others.  All proceeds from the sale of this CD go directly to our wildlife rehabilitation hospital to provide care of the 400+ injured wild birds of prey that cross its threshold each year.

All Along the Watershed CD - $12 plus $3 shipping and handling

Click here  for online orders.

“Beak to Beak” Book by Walter C. Crawford, Jr.

This book by World Bird Sanctuary Executive Director, Walter C. Crawford, Jr., is filled with his musings on wildlife, conservation, and life in general, told through a collection of short, sometimes hilarious, true-life stories. 

A great gift for the bird lover/book reader on your list

This book is available in the WBS gift shop or online.  To order online Click Here 

$10.00 on site plus $3.00 shipping and handling for online orders.

Visit our gift shop for other unique items.

Bring your Christmas list and check out the wide array of merchandise in the gift shop

Gift shop merchandise includes a large array of bird of prey themed merchandise, such as: T-shirts, jewelry, sculptures, coffee mugs, bird I.D. books, bird themed books for the kids, coloring books, and many other items too numerous to mention.  Proceeds from all gift shop items help to feed and house our birds.

Come browse our gift shop to fill out your shopping list.  The World Bird Sanctuary is open from 8 am to 5 pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas (barring closures for inclement weather).

The World Bird Sanctuary is a 501 (c) (3) organization and receives no federal or state funding.  All funds are raised through corporate grants and donations from individuals like you.

SHOP GREEN ON BLACK FRIDAY

It’s almost here—that ultimate of all shopping days—BLACK FRIDAY!  This year why not avoid the crowds and at the same time help the environment and the World Bird Sanctuary by shopping green?

Just one of the many jewelry items available for purchase at the gift shop

For those adults and children on your list who love the outdoors and wildlife we have a well-stocked gift shop in our Nature Center.  Here you can find gifts ranging from stocking stuffers to great t-shirts and outdoor wear—all with a nature related theme.  All of these items may be purchased in person while enjoying all that the Sanctuary has to offer.

Choose from a large selection of bird of prey related t-shirts

Don’t have time to visit in person?  Other gift options that may be purchased on-line include:

BUY A BRICK

What better way to give a lasting gift--one that will survive for generations

For those on your list that fall into the “hard to buy for” category consider giving them a lasting gift – an inscribed brick to be installed in our amphitheater with your holiday wishes or other sentiment permanently etched on it.  Two brick sizes are available with the option of including a presentation gift certificate for gift giving.  To purchase a brick click here or call 636-225-4390 Ext. 0.

ADOPT A BIRD

Tigger the Tawny Owl--just one of the many animals available for adoption

All of the birds and other animals that call World Bird Sanctuary home are available for adoption. Your adoption helps to care for your animal for a year, and adoption fees include:

•            Certificate of Adoption with a full color photograph of your special animal

•            World Bird Sanctuary sponsorship for one year

•            One year’s subscription to our newsletter – the Mews News – printed three times per year

•            Natural history and life history of your special adopted animal

•            10% discount on all World Bird Sanctuary merchandise in our gift shop

•            10% discount on all public programs offered at World Bird Sanctuary, such as Owl Prowls, Nature Hikes etc.

•            Visiting privileges and photo opportunities with the special new member of your family  (just call ahead first to make sure your adopted animal will be here on the day of your visit).

To adopt your bird  select the category of bird that you want to adopt, and then click on the individual bird within that gallery and complete the adoption form.  Don’t see your desired bird or animal on the website?  Call 636-225-4390, Ext. 0.  All animals at the sanctuary are available for adoption.

RETURN TO THE WILD

Take part in the release of a rehabilitated bird!

Give the gift of freedom--release a bird back into the wild

Returning a bird of prey back to the wild can cost up to $1,000 in care and rehabilitation. Your contribution of only $150 helps our patients and gives you the opportunity to participate in the release of a wild bird of prey.

Invite family and friends to release a bird of prey at your home or nearby park.  Celebrate a wedding, birthday, anniversary, family reunion, school or corporate function with this special gift.

The World Bird Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital is a cornerstone of the World Bird Sanctuary, and is entirely funded by donations from the public. Help us give our patients a second chance to fly. Sponsor a release today!

Questions about Return to the Wild? Call: (636) 861-1392 or email: credfern@worldbirdsanctuary.org

A WBS Friend Membership

Your WBS Friend Membership includes:

•            One year’s subscription to our newsletter – the Mews News – printed three times per year

•            Reusable WBS shopping bag

•            10% discount on all World Bird Sanctuary merchandise in our gift shop

•            Invitation to Friends-only events like Camera Day offering unique photographic opportunities featuring live birds of prey. Bring your cameras for rare shots of raptors in natural settings

•            10% discount on all public programs offered at World Bird Sanctuary, such as Owl Prowls, Nature Hikes etc.

•            Invitations to members-only events held at World Bird Sanctuary

To purchase a WBS Friend membership click here. 

RAPTOR PROJECT CD

For the youngsters on your list there is a selection of two audio CDs by our in-house band, The Raptor Project.  These CDs also contain encoded lyrics and teacher activity pages.  Enjoy songs such as “Mr. Frog Blues”, “Those Wonderful Birds”, “The Food Chain Blues” and many more.  All proceeds from sale of CDs supports the Wildlife Hospital.  To purchase a CD click here  or visit the  Raptique Gift Shop in our Nature Center.

BEAK TO BEAK

For the book lover on your list purchase “Beak To Beak”, a book by our Director, Walter C. Crawford, Jr.  This book is filled with Walter's musings on wildlife, conservation and life in general told through a collection of short, true-life stories.

The book is available for purchase  for $10.

Any of the above items may also be purchased in person at the World Bird Sanctuary’s Nature Center, or call 636-225-4390 Ext. 0 for further information.

Join Us For A Sing-a-long

Learning CAN be fun with World Bird Sanctuary’s Sing-a-Long Programs!

 Children are invited to sing along with a live band member

Are you looking for a new and entertaining way to teach children about the environment?  Something that will hold their attention AND teach them about the creatures that share our planet?  Have you considered a Sing-a-Long  Program?

The World Bird Sanctuary’s in-house band The Raptor Project has released two popular environmental education children’s music CD’s.  “Save the Future” features songs about birds that share our sanctuary with us, and includes favorites like Turkey Named Fred, The Vulture Song, The Owl Song, Hawk of the Highway and Wonderful Birds.

The new CD, “All Along the Watershed” explores wider environmental themes with songs about watersheds and the importance of water in our everyday lives.  These important topics are covered in an entertaining way through songs like Clean Water, Mr. Frog Blues, White Pelican, Birds in my Backyard, Animal Noises and What’s the Matter.

 Educational facts are presented in a unique and entertaining way

These themes are explored in a unique sing-a-long program where children can sing along to the songs performed live by a band member, interspersed with more information about the animals in the songs.  This program uses live animals to help interpret the messages in the song, and includes your choice of “Save the Future” or “All Along the Watershed” CD.

Call our Education Department at 636-225-4390 ext. 0 to book your Sing-a-Long program today! 

You can sample songs from each CD here:

“Save the Future” 

“All Along the Watershed” 

If you are interested in purchasing either of the CD’s, you can do so here .  100% of the proceeds of Raptor Project CD sales go directly towards the care and treatment of birds admitted to our wildlife hospital.

Submitted by Joe Hoffmann, Sanctuary Manager

Battle of the Bands

It was purely by coincidence that I stumbled across a notification of a Battle of the Bands contest to be held at a local music store. 

They were looking for the top 10 local bands in 2011.  So on a “wing and a prayer” I entered WBS’s house band The Raptor Project and an original song written by Joe Hoffmann, Sanctuary Manager, called What’s the Matter.  I hoped for the best and thought that if nothing else, it could turn out to be some great exposure for The Raptor Project and for World Bird Sanctuary.

I was elated and rather surprised when I received a notification that The Raptor Project was one of the top 10 finalists and would be competing in a live Battle of the Bands contest on 10/1/11.

When the day of the contest arrived, spirits were high and we performed three songs that were painstakingly and carefully selected: Save the Future, Red River and What’s the Matter.  The band gave their all, as well as the performance of their life, despite a bad case of nerves and adrenaline.  We had an absolutely awesome time! The crowd seemed to enjoy it as well.

After our set, there was food to be had and other performances to enjoy.  It was a gorgeous day and a fantastic experience.

Sadly, we did not place in the top 3, but as the say in the “biz” – “It was an honor just to be nominated!”

The Raptor Project has two CD’s available, Save the Future and All Along the Watershed, with many songs written by our Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital staff members Roger Holloway, Director of Facilities, and Joe Hoffmann.  They have both poured years of themselves into making The Raptor Project and our Wildlife Hospital what it is today.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play drums and percussion on the latest CD titled All Along the Watershed, which WBS recorded in a professional studio located right here in St. Louis.

If you would like to hear a sample of The Raptor Project’s music, go to www.worldbirdsanctuary.org under the “Support WBS” tab and scroll down to “The Raptor Project CD’s”.  Click on a few tracks for a listen and if you like what you hear you can order copies online, or visit the Raptique Gift Shop at our Nature Center.

Proceeds from every CD sold will go directly to our Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital to provide care for injured wild birds of prey.

Submitted by Billie J. Baumann, World Bird Sanctuary Outreach Coordinator

Water

NATIONAL DRINKING WATER WEEK IN REVIEW

As we come to the conclusion of National Drinking Water week it’s time to reflect on how we use this precious commodity.  Science tells us that we can go a week without food, but only three days without water.

Don's Bayou, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Since only about 1% of the earth’s fresh water is usable by humans, animals and plants, it’s time to ask ourselves what we are doing with this life sustaining resource. 

Brown Pelican, Jacksonville, Florida

The water we get from our faucets can be drawn from groundwater, surface water from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, or desalinated seawater.  It’s time to ask ourselves what contaminants we are adding to our water table in the form of motor oil, old prescriptions, cleaning solutions, etc.  Even when these are dumped on the ground, they end up in our water sources because of runoff and absorption into the ground. 

Dorothy Falls, New Zealand's South Island

The next time you need to dispose of any of these contaminants, stop a moment and think before you dump.  Most municipalities now have recycling programs for these types of items.  I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to be drinking someone’s old motor oil, prescriptions or insecticides. 

Americans use around 100 gallons of fresh water per day.  Most of us take our clean water for granted, even abusing the privilege, believing it is a right which has no consequences.  We need to ask ourselves now--sooner rather than later--what we are doing to conserve our most precious commodity. 

A wise little cartoon character--a possum named Pogo. who lived in the Okefenokee Swamp--summed it all up when he said in a 1971 cartoon strip, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Audubon Swamp backwater in the Francis Biedler Forest

Now is the time to start training our generation and the next to practice water conservation.  Children are never too young to learn good conservation practices.  Even a 3-year old can learn the lesson of conservation if it is presented in the right context.  The Raptor Project’s CD, “All Along The Watershed” is a perfect vehicle to teach this important lesson to the youngsters.

Clean water.  We can’t live without it and neither can our wildlife.

A Yellow Crowned Night Heron stalking crayfish 

Let’s not stop thinking about this problem at the end of “Drinking Water Week”.  Let’s make Drinking Water Week a lifetime practice.

Submitted by Billie Baumann, World Bird Sanctuary Outreach Coordinator

"Water Water Everywhere And Not A Drop To Drink"

This line from The Rime of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, first published in 1798, seems somehow strangely prophetic in this day and age, when there are so many concerns about our water systems becoming contaminated.

The eastern coastline of New Zealand's South Island

Water is everywhere, but there is a shortage of fresh water.  Much of our world is covered by water, but most of it is full of salt.  Only about 2.5% of the water on our planet is fresh, and about half of that is in the form of ice.  This only leaves about 1% or so for mankind, animals, fish, plants -- for life forms as we know them.

A Great Blue Heron devouring a catfish caught in the shallow waters of the Audubon Swamp Garden near Charleston, S.C. 

Come join us on May 1, 2010 from 11 am - 2 pm when the World Bird Sanctuary and Missouri American Water kick off Drinking Water Week by releasing our new CD, "All Along the Watershed".

A Snowy Egret hunts along the waters edge in the Audubon Swamp Garden outside Charleston, S.C.

Mark your calendars for this special concert that celebrates water and the creatures that live in it, on it and around it.

Spring Fever!

Okay, so the weather outside could still be described as frightful, or at least not very pretty. 

It seems a little early for thoughts of flowers and sunshine, but last week a little ray of light happened in my window.  I received a copy of the first mix, or edited version, of the Raptor Project’s upcoming CD, “All Along the Watershed.”  As one of the “Hot Wings” backup singers on the album, I couldn’t wait to hear how all of those long hours in the studio back in December had come together. 

Dana checking out the mixing board

The process of putting together all the individual pieces of a song and an album is really amazing.  Technology allows so much freedom in the ability to mess with one chord or to move something around, little things that in the past would have caused you to have to do that section again (and AGAIN…)  Not that there weren’t a fair amount of redo’s!  For many of the individuals in the band, it was the first time in a studio, making the situation, at times, a little overwhelming.  Standing there in front of your peers, headphones on, staring into the big dark window separating you from them…yikes!  You want to sound perfect every time, hit the nail right on the head, be brilliant!...well, let me tell you, THAT doesn’t always happen.  Luckily, our group is very supportive of each other and great with brainstorming new things to try, so even if you splatter a note here and there, it at least ends in laughing, not crying!

Roger in the studio laying down one of his tracks

There were several recording days in the studio that I couldn’t attend, as I was busy doing programs and such in the Education Department, so there were also chunks of music that had been laid down that I had never heard until yesterday.   There were moments that took my breath away.  There were moments I laughed out loud.  And, I have to admit, there was at least one song that sounded so different with all the components put together, I actually didn’t know what song it was until the singing started.  What an amazing transformation!

So, where does spring fever come into this tale of transformation, you might be asking?  Transformation is what spring is all about, after all, and our much-loved and nurtured album will be making its debut on Saturday, May 1, 2010.  More information about its coming-out-party festivities will be made available as the date nears.  In the meantime, I hope this ray of light whets the appetites of new and old fans alike.  You can expect more funny tales about fabulous animals and more songs that get stuck in your heads for days!  (Those are the parents’ favorites, I know!)  As for me, I have to shove off and finish painting, so that our CD can have a cover as excellent as what’s inside!

Submitted by Dana Lambert, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Raptor Kids

What has 20 legs, hoots like an owl, and howls like a wolf?  Why it's the Raptor Kids of course!

Is that a hoot or a howl?  Find out at our Spring Concert later this year

Shortly before Christmas the ten youngsters who make up the Raptor Kids chorus assembled at the Music Masters Recording Studio to record their portion of the new, soon to be released, CD by our ever popular in-house musical group, The Raptor Project.

Rehearsing one of their songs with Joe and Roger

The youngsters range in age from fifteen to nine years old.  Some of them were old hands at this recording business, since they had already performed on the group's first CD, "Save the Future".  However, some were new to the group, and this was an exciting new experience.

Being coached by Roger

After being coached by lead singers Roger Holloway and Joe Hoffman on the use of the headsets, and where their part fit into the songs, they began the job of becoming real recording artists.  Now, this wasn't your usual run-of-the-mill recording session!  How many recording studios get performers that hoot like an owl, howl like a wolf, and sing about frogs and possums?

The kids taking a break between songs

Even though they had been practicing their parts at home, and already knew the words, they soon found out that being recording stars could be hard work.  However, they know that when the CD is finally released late this spring all their hard work will be worth the effort.

Greg Trampe, owner, producer, engineer of Music Masters, showing the kids how the sound mixing equipment works.

Watch this blog for information about a special concert to kick off the release of the new CD later this Spring.

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer