Your visit to the Center’s primary operating division, The Center for Birds of Prey, generously provides operational support for the Center’s educational, medical, conservation, and research initiatives. We hope that your experience with us will inspire an appreciation for all wild birds and genuine concern for the diminishing habitat upon which they, and we, depend.
Educational programs that include a compelling flight demonstration are offered each week in the Center for Birds of Prey outdoor amphitheater (this program usually lasts about one hour), guided walking tour through the outdoor campus. The Center currently offers these programs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30 am.
The flight demonstration program is often cited as the highlight of a visitor’s experience at the Center. Seeing hawks, falcons, owls, eagles, kites, and vultures perform their natural flying and hunting techniques provides a fascinating insight into their unique evolutionary adaptations. The natural behavior of raptors soaring, gliding, and diving in close proximity to audiences young and old represent a most unique and memorable learning experience.
Following the program and flight demonstration, visitors can enjoy a guided tour. Guests have the opportunity to learn more about key avian species as they follow natural paths accentuated with subtle interpretive signage and attractive aviaries housing nearly 50 species of eagles, falcons, hawks, owls, kites, vultures and other birds of prey from all parts of the world. This includes the Countess Alicia Paolozzi Owl Wood, home to the Center’s international collection of owls. Funded through a generous grant from the Spaulding Paolozzi Foundation and encompassing approximately two acres, the Owl Wood allows visitors to experience owls from around the world in a refined and tranquil setting.
*Please note due to the nature of our center and for the safety of our resident birds, service dogs are not allowed on our campus without prior arrangements made through our administrative office. Please reach out to info@thecenterforbirdsofprey.org to request a visit involving a service dog. Thank you for understanding.
Safety Guidelines & Update
As you may be aware, the Avian Conservation Center / Center for Birds of Prey recently elevated our biosecurity protocols to help ensure the health of the birds in our care after Avian influenza was detected in low levels in wild waterfowl in Colleton County. In order to minimize the risk of the virus entering or leaving our campus we wanted to share more information about avian influenza (AI) as well as some biosecurity recommendations with our guests.
AI can be spread to and from wild birds and domestic flocks through contamination with any bodily secretions. Therefore, there is an increased risk for any guest that may own or come in contact with domestic poultry to spread the virus to or from their flock. This risk can be reduced by showering and changing your clothes and shoes after working with your flock and before visiting the Center. Please also wash your hands or use hand sanitizer stations while visiting our campus.
We appreciate your cooperation in taking these additional steps to help protect the birds in our care as well as for the protection of your backyard flock.
If you are looking for more information on HPAI, the following link has great information: https://scdhec.gov/health/diseases-conditions/insect-or-animal-borne-disease/avian-influenza
We thank you for your patience as we work to maintain the health of our birds and look forward to your visit.
Read our recent HPAI Closing Announcement.
The Center is conveniently located on Highway 17N in Awendaw, just a short ride from Mount Pleasant and downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Our entrance is designated by a large metal gate with our logo on it, a giant eagle in flight.
If coming from the Charleston area, go north on Highway 17 towards Georgetown. Our entrance is located approximately 16 miles north of downtown Charleston and approximately 8 miles north of the intersection of Highway 526 and Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. Our entrance will be on your right shortly after the brown directional signage indicating that you are approaching the Center.
If coming from the Grand Strand or Myrtle Beach area, take Highway 17 south approximately 78 miles passing through both Georgetown and McClellanville. Our entrance will be on your left shortly after the brown directional signage indicating that you are approaching the Center.
Please use the following link to Google maps for more help finding us:
