I was amazed at how well maintained the facility is and what a personal relationship Ken Lockwood has with each of the birds. To be able to see hawks, owls, eagles, vulture, & other species this close is a unique experience. As a bonus, it was also very educational. Instead of reading a sign board (like at the zoo) Ken would share the traits, habits, what it does in nature about each of the birds. EVRC is an advocate for keeping raptors in the wild. He spends hundreds of hours each year rescuing and rehabbing injured birds plus providing a safe haven for the young when they are displaced by Mother Nature. Once they are ready, he releases them back to Nature. This was a lifetime experience for me and one I would recommend to any animal lover.
Learned a lot about raptors and getting my picture taken next to a Bald Eagle was priceless! Would be a great place for students to visit on a school field trip
I have had multiple experiences with Eagle Valley Raptor Center. The Peregrin Falcon program he does is fantastic, I saw it at the Botanica, but he will go to schools as well. A perfect program for the Air Capital, as it shows how airplanes are designed after this beautiful incredibly fast and aerodynamic raptor. I recommend families with older kids to go see his Center, as they will be respectful of the birds and have first hand experiences they will remember for the rest of their lives. Ken does a wonderful job taking in the masses of injured birds of prey and rehabilitating them. Last Spring, he took in dozens of babies that were ejected from their nests due to the tornado that passed through Wichita. He made them strong and released them back to nature. A beautiful heartwarming story. This "attraction" will make your heart happy and build your memories with your teenagers. And the small fee goes directly to feeding the birds, so I feel very good about repeat visits, because I can make a difference.
Eagle Valley Raptor Center is by far the one of the best rescue and rehab center for our birds of prey. The facility is clean and well kept and the birds are absolutely beautiful and very well cared for.
If you are in Kansas, you owe it to yourself to make the trip to Eagle Valley Raptor Center. It is an experience you and your children will never forget. Ken's love for the birds is obvious and infectious. Ken takes great care to engage everyone there in a one on one type of experience and when you leave you will have made a new friend. You will laugh and smile and find yourself in awe of these incredible birds. You will see the birds up close and personal, not from seats in a grandstand 50 feet away. Stand next to a Bald Eagle for photos! How cool is that??? The facilities are First class and able to accomodate nearly anyone including those who may be making use of a wheelchair. On top of the fact that you will have a once in a lifetime experience, you also get to help Ken help these beautiful birds. Ken and his staff of volunteers give their time and money and a lot of hard work to help injured raptors all over Kansas. They depend on donations and the help of those who visit.Contact Ken for details on tours available.
After spending a summer in Kansas and finally making a long trip out to Eagle Valley Raptor Center, I'm delighted to say that it was indeed the highlight of our time there. There is so much to learn and experience here. Ken is a down to earth and passionate man, whose dedication to the birds is seen in every aspect of the tour. My boyfriend and I made a drive to Cheney for a birthday. When I booked our tour I thought I was just booking a "tour." But it is so much more than that!He took time to answer all of our questions, and shared what he knew on each bird, on raptor rehab, on falconry, on their diets, their habitats, their individual personalities, etc. The tour was so conversational and relaxed, yet we left with a wealth of knowledge on raptors and how individuals can make a difference in the lives of these incredible birds. We were there while the birds were being fed and so we got to see each of them eat their meals up-close, something I'd never have expected! We were even taught how to properly and safely hold a bird with a glove on. Ken was so positive and clearly wanted to make sure that we saw a glimpse of what he sees everyday in these amazing birds. The grounds were all well kept, and there was a nice place to sit down after the tour. All of the birds cages were clean and there are comfortable walkways through all of the grounds. There is a large eagle's nest that has been built that you can have your photo taken in front of. After our tour was over Ken even gave us a special gift of a photo of a red tailed hawk to us, which was so dear to remember the experience by. The Eagle Valley Raptor Center left us with more than just a nice day out and a way to experience raptors. It made us think about the amazing differences that just one person can make in life if they have the passion and put in the hard work. The entire experience left us inspired to try to cultivate our own ideas and dreams, as well as to remember to share our world with nature and be more selfless, especially when it comes to animals/the environment. It was amazing to see the work that Ken is doing and the voice that he's become for these birds. Can't wait to return again.
I would highly recommend visiting the Eagle Valley Raptor Center....it is one of the most amazing places and Ken is a wonderful guy that loves all of his wonderful birds and it shows. What he and this center provides is a priceless treasure that everyone should experience
We went on a homeschool field trip in the fall of 2010. The rehabilitator engaged the children of different ages equally with questions, hands on experiance, and informative lectures with funny stories. Highly recommended for school trips and anyone with an interest or love of birds.
We went with about 8 ten year old boys for a birthday party and my son has not stopped talking about it since. The close up experience with birds of prey were fantastic. Every child should see this. The facility is beautiful and very family friendly. There are tables to sit and eat in the shade. Ken loves his birds and it shows. We highly recommend it!
Eagle Valley Raptor Center is a great destination, not just for those who love Birds of Prey, but for anybody wanting to experience something new and unique! Ken is not only knowledgeable about these beautiful birds, but he loves them! The experience is not only educational but enjoyable. I have now been to EVRC twice. Once as a group tour and the 2nd as a private tour. Both were equally educational but if you are looking for that little something extra the private tour is the way to go! I plan to attend at least once a year to keep meeting the new additions and continue helping these amazing animals! Keep in mind any Fee you pay and any donation you can make is GREATLY appreciated and used to help feed and care for many different species of Eagle, Owl, Hawk and Falcon. Please help Ken and all of these lovely creatures!