Education Programs: Fur, Feathers & Scales

World Bird Sanctuary is dedicated to interactive, entertaining environmental education. Each year, WBS' Education Department reaches over two million people with an important message of survival. With amazing animals and professional Naturalists, WBS programs are second-to-none.

Our Fur, Feathers & Scales program for children ages pre-school through third grade, includes a visit with some of our friendly critters. Children can see and touch a live bird, mammal and reptile to help them learn the basics of what makes certain animals different from others. This program is great for daycare centers and organizations with active youngsters. It accommodates a maximum of 30 children. The following photographs were taken at one of our Fur, Feathers & Scales programs:

Talking about the different kind of eggs

Meeting one of our Guinea Pigs and talking about what kind of animals

are appropriate as pets

Meeting one of our Cochin chickens

Learning that contrary to popular belief, snakes are not slimy

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Vlad (Loggerhead Shrike)

Vlad's Story

Vlad arrived at the World Bird Sanctuary on September 9, 1997 from a Panama City Beach, Florida rehabilitation center. He joined several other shrikes of the same species at WBS as part of a breeding and behavioral studies program. Loggerhead Shrikes are endangered in Missouri, mostly due to habitat loss. Unfortunately, our program did not meet with great success, even after teaming up with another shrike researcher from Canada. Like some other animals, shrikes just do not breed well in captivity.

Having lived well past the normal life expectancy for this species, Vlad is a permanent resident of our Education building where visitors can learn about the unusual storing habit of this species.

Vlad takes his name from Prince Vlad III Dracula, or Vlad the Impaler, who, in 1290, was a prince of Walachia. However, legend suggests he was born in Transylvania, which at that time was ruled by Hungary. Can you guess how Vlad the shrike got his name? Read the natural history below to find out!

Feel free to visit Vlad anytime. We are thrilled to be able to introduce people to him and tell them the importance of a species like shrikes!

To adopt Vlad, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $50 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: VLAD. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

loggerhead shrike
Lanius ludovicianus

Description gray, black and white bird with an oversize head; heavy hooked bill equipped with a tomial tooth for dispatching prey; distinctive black mask; body is gray above and white below; wings are black, marked with a white patch; narrow black tail with white outer feathers

Sex: both sexes similar in appearance; female plumage somewhat darker; juveniles brownish-white beneath with breast and sides transversely barred with dark grey

Age: unknown in the wild; one study in Illinois recorded a banded bird of 6 years

Length: 8-10”

Wingspan: 13’

Weight: slightly smaller than a robin; 44-61.10 grams

Habitat: semi-open country with lookout posts, wires, trees and scrub

Status: extinct in 2 states; endangered in 11 states; threatened in 2 others; 3.5% decline per year decline nationwide; 6.3% per year decline in Missouri

Range: southern Canada to southern Mexico; migratory in the northern half of it’s range

Behavior: they nest in a thick shrub or low tree, usually between 3-15 feet above ground; nest is a bulky cup of long twigs, weed stems and rootlets, lined with plant down, bark, hair and feathers; 4-5 greenish-white eggs are laid; incubation is 14-16 days; young fledge at 14-21 days and generally become independent 15 days later; best known for it’s unique behavior of impaling prey on thorns, barbed wire and similar projections

Diet: insects, mice, small birds and other vertebrates, such as frogs and snakes

Vocalization: no song; utters a shrill, clear, creaking prolonged note, similar to the grating of a rusty hinge moved to and fro; heard only in the spring when the hen is sitting

√ It’s habit of impaling prey on thorns and barbed wire fences has earned it the common name of “Butcher Bird”

Adopt A Bird profiles are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Spring field studies...

The World Bird Sanctuary's Field Studies Staff are dedicated individuals with biology, wildlife management or related degrees. Each individual is well educated in the visual and auditory identification of avian species in the field.

WBS' Three Phase Program to Wildlife Area Enhancement:

Habitat Assessment: The first step of any project generally includes the evaluation of the property in question.

WBS field staff are able to provide an overall assessment of biodiversity, habitat quality, critical habitat identification and the presence or absence of federally or state identified endangered or threatened species as well as species of special concern.

Conservation Consultation: After a thorough assessment of the property has been completed, senior WBS field staff will develop various comprehensive habitat management plans taking into account the current and proposed land use. The identification of habitat restoration and/or enhancement opportunities can be made at this time.

Habitat Management: WBS is experienced in the development of long term habitat management programs designed to maintain an increased overall habitat quality. Based on goals and objectives developed during consultations, a detailed management plan can be put together including design, construction oversight and long term monitoring and maintenance regimes. When properly implemented, such a plan is integral to the success of any project and may bring other benefits such as increased aesthetic value and potential reductions in maintenance costs.

WBS is internationally recognized as a first-class conservation organization and has consulted on many projects for zoological institutions including international entities such as the Ecuador Zoological Park and the Guyana Zoological Park. WBS' environmental consultants have experience working with numerous government organizations including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, United States Air Force, Conservation on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and many others.

Spring is an exciting time for our field studies team. The pictures below show our staff and volunteers mist netting, weighing, and banding spring birds.

Checking the Mist nets

Carefully freeing the birds from the net

Almost free of the net

Placing the bird in a "Safe Bag"

Applying a band

Checking for feather condition and parasites

Measuring the length of the primary feathers

Weighing the bird

Explaining to visitors what we are doing

Eagle owl walkabout!

Here is a video of one of our two Eurasian eagle owl chicks taking a stroll. Doesn't he look like a muppet?



The Eurasian eagle owl is one of the largest owls in the world, standing 24-28 inches tall with a wingspan in excess of 5 feet! In England, these owls were nearly hunted to extinction in the late 19th century. The oldest recorded eagle owl lived to be 68 years old. An eagle owl weighing 6.5 - 8.5 pounds can take prey as large as a roe deer weighing 28-30 pounds.

Adopt A Bird Spotlight: Shadow (Bateleur Eagle)

Shadow's Story

Species: Bateleur Eagle
Hatch Date: Unknown

Shadow arrived at the World Bird Sanctuary on on January 18, 1987, as a young bird, from a program in Florida. He was quick to learn the routine for birds in our education program. Bateleur eagles are very striking animals, and Shadow has become a great favorite with his audiences. Since he is an exotic species, and not adapted to Missouri's cold weather, he enjoys the comfort of a heat lamp during the winter.

Bateleur eagles are known for their spectacular courtship flights, the male often performing 360 rolls while the female flies on her back. Some African tribes revere this eagle. They believe that they will be victorious in battle if the eagle flies over the enemy! Even though it is fairly common throughout most of its range, it has become quite rare in the southern part of its range due to habitat loss and persecution by humans.

Since Shadow is not always on display at the Nature Center, and often spends his summers at our zoo shows, adoptive parents should call WBS Adopt A Bird Coordinator at 636-861-3225 to arrange a good time for their visit.

To adopt Shadow, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: SHADOW. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

bateleur eagle
Terathopius ecaudatus

Description adult male—head and neck black; back, upper-tail coverts and tail chestnut; median and lesser-wing coverts brown with whitish tips; greater coverts black; primaries black above, pure white below with a black tip; body below black, under-tail coverts chestnut; under-wing coverts white; bare skin of face, cere, and legs—bright red; eyes brown; very short tails and long wings; develop adult plumage at 5-6 years

Sex: female—similar to male, but whole of upper-wing coverts brown with grey secondaries, with white on inner web; black tips on white underside of wing quills—narrower than those of the male

Age: 20-25 years

Length: 24 in.

Wingspan: 5-1/2 – 6 ft.

Weight: 4 – 6-1/2 lbs.

Habitat: open woodlands and tree savannas

Status: Threatened

Range: throughout Africa south of the Sahara, occasionally wandering to South Arabia

Behavior: monogamous; build large stick nests in trees or on top of nests built by other birds; female lays 1 egg; incubation is 52-59 days; young fledges in 3-4 months, but may spend up to 4 more months with parents; best kown for their spectacular aerial displays

Diet: mainly carrion; also reptiles, mammals and small birds

Vocalization: generally silent, but capable of making loud screams

√ The Bateleur’s feet and facial color can vary from a pale color to brilliant red, depending on the mood of the bird

√ Native name for this bird is Chapungu. They believe it is good luck if the bird flies over their house or village

Adopt A Bird profiles are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

The show's on the road!

WBS has programs at two zoos this summer, the Stone Zoo in Boston and the Milwaukee Zoo. Our Boston birds hit the road on Wednesday and I thought I'd post some pictures from last summer's show. Here are some pictures of Shadow, our Bateleur Eagle.

Flying in a program

Sunning between shows

Still sunning!

The Boston programs begin on May 24th, so if you are around the area, stop by to meet our birds! Here's the description from Stone Zoo:

Lord of the Wings: Birds of Prey
Show Opening May 24

The birds will swoop back to Stone Zoo for a return engagement of the memorable and educational Lord of the Wings: Birds of Prey live, free-flight bird show. Birds from around the world will demonstrate natural behaviors including unique survival techniques and food foraging, as well as specialized physical adaptations that make them some of the most formidable birds on the planet. This is an experience not to be missed! Lord of the Wings opens May 24 and runs through Labor Day. Daily show times are 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. All shows are free with paid admission.

How they grow…Virginia Opossum

When they were about 10 weeks old, Moose and Joey survived a car accident that killed their mother. With lots of love and care, the boys survived and grew up at the World Bird Sanctuary. They can be seen at our Visitor Center and are a popular attraction at programs. These photographs, taken by Gay Schroer, show Moose and Joey as they grew from tiny babies to adults.

84 days old

112 days old

2 years old

Harriet oh Harriet...

This is Harriet, our black vulture. To the untrained eye, Harriet may appear to be unbeautiful, but she has an inner beauty that transcends looks. She also likes to play with fish bones after she's stripped off the meat. Trust me, vulture charm is beyond description. Look at her long beautiful toes!



Black vultures are native to the United States. Perhaps you've seen them dining on roadkill? It's a pretty useful service when you think about it. They are just over 2 feet tall, with a wingspan of 4.5 feet. Although like other vultures they eat mostly carrion, large groups have been known to kill skunks and opossums. They will also use turkey vultures for their better sense of smell by following them to a carcass and then chasing the turkey vultures off the meal.

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Julie (Golden Eagle)

Julie's Story

Species: Golden Eagle
Hatched: Unknown
Update: Julie has already laid an egg this spring! I’ll keep you posted on the developing story!

Julie was found in a field in Abilene, Texas, suffering from a gunshot wound. We are not sure of the particulars of her rescue. She ended up at the Albequerque Zoo, where it was determined that she was unreleasable due to wing damage sustained from the gunshot. She was received at the World Bird Sanctuary in May of 1977.

In 1996, after several unsuccessful attempts to pair Julie with different males, she was placed in a breeding mew with Denali, a handsome male Golden Eagle. Apparently she had finally found her perfect mate! They have been a couple ever since, producing eggs and chicks on a regular basis.

Although not normally on public display, Julie & Denali can be viewed by visitors during our Open House weekend. They are available for a private visit with adoptive parents by appointment during non-breeding season. Please call to schedule your visit.

To adopt Julie, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150 ($300 if you'd like to adopt the pair), and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: JULIE. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos

Description dark brown feathers covering the body in both adults and juveniles; adults have copper-gold feathers on the back of the neck; immature birds have white patches under the wings and a white band on the tail, which gradually disappears as the birds mature; the legs are feathered all the way to their talons

Sex: females usually larger than males, as in most raptors

Age: up to 38 years in the wild; up to 50 years in zoos

Length: 30 – 40 in.

Wingspan: 6-1/2 – 7-1/2 ft.

Weight: 7 – 13 lbs.

Habitat: mountainous regions, open lands, hardwood forests, deserts

Range: mid-Canada south into Mexico; west from Colorado to the Pacific Ocean; also found in extreme Northeast—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia; winter range may extend as far south as Tennessee and east to the Atlantic; also found on many other continents

Behavior: pairs may successfully nest together for as long as twenty years; nests are built on cliff sides and in trees; constructed of large sticks, nests are lined with grasses, twigs and evergreen; same nest may be used every year with repairs and additions; normally, two eggs laid between March and May which are incubated for 41-45 days; eggs are white with brown or purple splotches; eaglets fledge 9-11 weeks later, but do not reach adulthood for about 5 years

Diet: rabbits, groundhogs, prairie dogs, turkey, grouse, waterfowl, smaller raptors, carrion

Vocalization: a series of low, hoarse “kaks”; a moderately loud series of sharp, rapid “chips”

√ Golden Eagles have been persecuted by man, in the belief that the birds prey on livestock. In reality, they remove the dead and the dying from the herds, or are seen feeding on carrion which they are mistakenly believed to have killed.

Bird's Eye View

Family Gruidae, Grus canadensis

Sandhill Cranes are tall, grey birds that are typically found in meadows, wetlands, and open grasslands. They stand anywhere between 3-5 feet, can weigh between 6-14 pounds, and have a wingspan of about 5-6 feet long. In the summer months, Sandhills migrate north to their breeding grounds throughout Alaska and Canada, and then return south to northern Mexico and the southern United States with their young. Young Sandhill Cranes, called colts, are able to walk shortly after hatching, and can feed themselves within their first day. Sandhill Cranes are omnivores, and their diet is made up of mostly grains, seeds, insects, small vertebrates, and small invertebrates.

These Sandhill Cranes came to us from Florida after they were injured and deemed non-releasable. They will be ambassadors for their species, and help educate many people about Sandhill Cranes. The two Sandhill cranes are currently on display at the World Bird Sanctuary.




Bird's Eye View is written and photographed by our volunteer Daniel.

Who's the best King Vulture in the whole wide world?

However you feel personally about snacking on dead mice, the answer to this question is always "Baton Rouge." If you don't believe me, check out this video of our King Vulture being weighed. Good bird!

How they grow…American Barn Owls

Family Tytonidae, Tyto alba

The barn owl is known by many nicknames, including sweetheart owl, ghost owl, and monkey-faced owl. They stand 16 inches tall and have a wingspan of 2.5 feet.

Owls are silent flyers because they have fringes on the front edge of their wings which quiet the passing air. Barn owls do not build a nest; instead they will nest in cavities or barns. The American Barn Owl is endangered in 7 midwestern states.

True, barn owls have their awkward phases, but the end result is dazzling! These pictures chart barn owlets from 14 to 63 days. They were taken by our photographer, Gay Schroer.

14 days

21 days

29 days

33 days

42 days

63 days

Mind altering baby barn owls...

Sometimes when I watch the barn owl chicks' heads in perpetual motion, I start to feel a little dizzy...



Hey, it's cheaper than Six Flags!

Hello Othello!

This is another video from our bi-monthly weigh-day. Othello the African pied crow says hello just before Einstein grabs the spotlight.

If you find an injured bird...

Now that it is spring, determining whether or not a bird is injured or just a normal fledgling is difficult. If you find a bird that is clearly young on or near the ground and not apparently injured, it is best to let them be. The parents will care for their young themselves. However, if the bird is injured or in immediate danger, intervention is required. Here are some tips for making this decision and for what to do next using owls as an example along with pictures of our rehab team treating a barred owl with a broken wing. Getting this owl to the World Bird Sanctuary saved its life.

Owlet found on Ground:
In the case of an owlet found on the ground in March, April or May, it is almost certain that this will be a recently fledged owl. If the owlet is within a safe area, away from traffic, passers-by, dogs and cats and is not being harassed by crows, the bird should be left alone. The parents will be close by and tending to its needs once darkness falls.

Owl hit by a car/injured:
Keep the bird quiet, warm and in darkness. No attempt should be made to feed or give it water. Contact your local wildlife rescue organization or wildlife hospital. If you are close to the World Bird Sanctuary please call the office on 636-861-1392 and arrange to bring the owl in to our fully equipped wildlife hospital. It is essential to take the bird to an experienced vet for a prognosis and treatment.

In the case of severe weather, with the youngster being in danger of chilling, please contact the World Bird Sanctuary at 636-861-1392 between 9 am - 5pm.

Owls get used to humans very quickly and then cannot be returned to the wild. Please make sure that you have minimum contact with the bird while it is in your care.

treating an injured barred owl

splinting a broken wing

checking for other injuries

administering fluids and medication