I have uploaded 41 photos of this nature center and raptor refuge located in Bellevue, Nebraska. This facility is about 10-15 minutes south of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and consists of around 17 miles of woodland trails, a ropes adventure course, and several indoor terrariums and the Raptor Woodland Refuge which houses around a dozen rescued species of raptor on display.
Despite living in Omaha for the better part of the last 15 years, I've never visited this facility until this past Sunday and I have to say that it was more than I expected. I was not aware of any inside exhibits until I arrived, and the diverse array of raptors and how close you were able to get to them was pretty cool.
Here is a complete species list from the tags on the terrariums and signage:
Inside Nature Center (13 individual terrariums and 1 fish tank)
Smooth Softshell Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Western Tiger Salamander
Speckled Kingsnake
Prairie Kingsnake
Woodhouse's Toad
Western Hognose Snake
Western Fox Snake
Bull Snake
Nelson's Milk Snake
Corn Snake
Northern Leopard Frog
Gray Tree Frog
(There were unlabeled small fish in a separate tank from the species above)
Raptor Woodland Refuge (13 Exhibits)
Red Tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Peregrine Falcon (x2 Exhibits)
Prairie Falcon
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Turkey Vulture
Rough Legged Hawk
Some of the raptors on the list are not very common in zoos around the US it appears as I was looking through the species lists in the North America General forums.
The neat thing about the signage in the Raptor Woodland Refuge is that they show the names of each of the birds and their story on where they were rescued and from what. Really provides you with a connection to each animal and for me, a lot of the locations around the state of Nebraska are where I grew up out in central Nebraska. Those of you who may read the Omaha World-Herald may also be familiar with the Peregrine Falcons that made their home at the top of the Woodmen Tower in downtown Omaha, well one now resides here as she was found at street level struggling to fly and find food.
If you are a nature lover that loves taking hikes, then I highly recommend a visit to this facility. Along the many trails here, I'm sure you will see many different species of wild birds. There is also a pretty nice little "Birder" room in the Nature Center where you can sit and watch wild birds come to the feeders near the windows. It is a nice little place to burn an hour, or more if you wander the trails.
Despite living in Omaha for the better part of the last 15 years, I've never visited this facility until this past Sunday and I have to say that it was more than I expected. I was not aware of any inside exhibits until I arrived, and the diverse array of raptors and how close you were able to get to them was pretty cool.
Here is a complete species list from the tags on the terrariums and signage:
Inside Nature Center (13 individual terrariums and 1 fish tank)
Smooth Softshell Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Western Tiger Salamander
Speckled Kingsnake
Prairie Kingsnake
Woodhouse's Toad
Western Hognose Snake
Western Fox Snake
Bull Snake
Nelson's Milk Snake
Corn Snake
Northern Leopard Frog
Gray Tree Frog
(There were unlabeled small fish in a separate tank from the species above)
Raptor Woodland Refuge (13 Exhibits)
Red Tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Peregrine Falcon (x2 Exhibits)
Prairie Falcon
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Turkey Vulture
Rough Legged Hawk
Some of the raptors on the list are not very common in zoos around the US it appears as I was looking through the species lists in the North America General forums.
The neat thing about the signage in the Raptor Woodland Refuge is that they show the names of each of the birds and their story on where they were rescued and from what. Really provides you with a connection to each animal and for me, a lot of the locations around the state of Nebraska are where I grew up out in central Nebraska. Those of you who may read the Omaha World-Herald may also be familiar with the Peregrine Falcons that made their home at the top of the Woodmen Tower in downtown Omaha, well one now resides here as she was found at street level struggling to fly and find food.
If you are a nature lover that loves taking hikes, then I highly recommend a visit to this facility. Along the many trails here, I'm sure you will see many different species of wild birds. There is also a pretty nice little "Birder" room in the Nature Center where you can sit and watch wild birds come to the feeders near the windows. It is a nice little place to burn an hour, or more if you wander the trails.