Excellent staff. They knew all the info on each bird. So very helpful. We got to see an eagle up close. So many raptors to see and experience.

This is a great little gem of a spot. The tour is only about 30 minutes, but you get up close and personal with knowledgeable volunteers and their birds. There were no children in our group, but the center seems to have something for all ages and the content and duration of the tour seem perfect for any age. The people we met seem to really love what they do, and that kind of enthusiasm is always a little infectious.

BE AWARE! If you don’t register for a tour in advance, you will not get to see the birds, except for 2 that are kept in the entrance hall. The website says, Public and Walk-ins Welcome, but if the tour is full when you arrive, you don’t get past the door to the birds. We had driven a long way on a hot day and the 3 grandchildren were very disappointed to be turned away.

Since the weather was cool and rainy on May 2, I chose an indoor site to see while visiting St. Paul. The Raptor Center did not disappoint. First, the receptionist, Libby, was very kind. Though I was the only visitor that morning, Libby arranged a tour for me, nevertheless. The guide, Sarah, was outstanding. While escorting me, she provided detailed explanations of the raptors that included owls, eagles, a buzzard, hawks, and kestrels. The latter I had never seen before; at first glance they looked like parrots, small, colorful and beautiful. I really learned a lot from Sarah, such a personable and knowledgeable guide. Upon leaving I asked Libby what else there was to see in the vicinity. She spent time advising me where to walk (I didn't have a car) and gave me a very useful map of the University of Minnesota campus where the Raptor Center is located. What a great day.

The raptor center is associated with the University and does a lot of great work rescuing and doing research with raptors, accepting those that are injured or found nearby and rehabilitating them where they can.We signed up/reserved a time in advance online, and then upon arrival paid ($8 per person) for our tickets and met the tour. We had a group of about 10 and a very well-informed volunteer guide. He shared the story of the center and several of the birds it has helped. We learned about their mission and the stories of several of the birds we saw. There is one bird (when we were there, a juvenile bald eagle) in the main area (where there is also a small shop) and then we want into the back area where many more are housed.We weren't able to handle or touch the birds, but we could see them up close in their enclosures, and ask any questions we had about them to the guide. The entire tour lasted about 45 minutes and was a lot of fun and quite interesting for anyone who is interested in these magnificent birds.