Under the umbrella of the Avian Conservation Center, the Center for Birds of Prey and the Avian Medical and Oiled Bird Treatment Facility near Charleston, S.C., identify and address vital environmental issues through avian medicine, educational outreach and conservation initiatives.

Description:
Since its founding, The Center for Birds of Prey has expanded steadily in size and scope and now operates as the comprehensive Avian Conservation Center. Display aviaries, two flight demonstration fields and a planned education, science and conservation building offer the public a chance to better understand avian science and environmental conservation.

Located on a 152-acre campus just twenty minutes from Charleston, and adjacent to the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge and Francis Marion National Forest, the Avian Conservation Center combines medical care, environmental education and scientific research. A newly constructed $1.8 million, state-of-the-art Avian Medical and Oiled Bird Treatment Facility is the only one of its kind on the East Coast. This 7,000 square foot facility is designed to provide the highest quality medical care available for injured or orphaned birds of prey and other birds. It is also equipped to provide the most efficient response possible in the event of an oil spill affecting native bird populations and their fragile breeding habitats along the Southeastern coastline.

Recognizing that birds of prey provide important insight into a growing number of environmental issues, the organization combines medical care, environmental education and scientific research, and has treated thousands of injured birds since its founding in 1991. With its June 2008 opening, the center now provides visitors a rare opportunity to experience live birds of prey in a natural setting.
Volunteers play a vital part in the functioning of all aspects of the Center.

History:
The center was founded in 1991 as the Charleston Raptor Center. In 1995 it became the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey as the scope of programs and services expanded. In 2008, it became The Center for Birds of Prey.

Contact people:

Laura Buchta, Office Manager, (phone), (email) Joe Kowalis, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (843) 971-7029

Address:

Post Office Box 1247 Charleston, SC 29402 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org

Directions:

Physical location address is 4872 Seewee Road, Awendaw, SC 29429. This is the next community past Mt. Pleasant going northbound on highway US 17 towards McClellanville/Georgetown.