Meet the Ambassadors at ORC
During this immersive 75-minute experience in the scenic Ojai Valley, guests will meet some of the Center’s raptor ambassadors up close—both on the glove of their trainers and in the presentation aviary. Each ambassador’s unique story, natural history, and fascinating species facts will be shared through live demonstrations that highlight natural behaviors and species-specific adaptations.
Guests will also explore our biofact collection, examining talons, wings, skulls, and taxidermy to learn how different raptors are built for survival—and then see those same adaptations come to life during ambassador demonstrations.
As you learn, keep an eye to the sky: the property is home to many wild raptors who frequently make an appearance onsite, offering a rare chance to compare their behaviors to our ambassadors.
Guests must be a minimum of 6 years old.
Spots are limited for Community Days so try and register early!
Booking Options:
Private Group Sessions
$500 for up to 16 guests (maximum of 15 with additional $33 per person).Community Days
$33 per person. Held on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month from 11 am - 12 pm.
Schedule your visit through one of the online booking calendars or purchase this experience as a gift certificate.
MEET OUR EDUCATION AMBASSADORS
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Ash the American Kestrel
Like many of our ambassadors, Ash is incapable of surviving in the wild because he imprinted onto humans instead of his own species, likely from being raised by an unlicensed member of the public.
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Topa the American Kestrel
Topa was hatched in the Spring of 2022 and admitted as a malprint in the Fall. He was likely found as a young chick and illegally raised and released by an unlicensed member of the public.
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Juniper the Great Horned Owl
Juniper came to Ojai Raptor Center in the Spring of 2020, in the beginning of nesting season as a young nestling with both head and eye trauma from a fall from her nest.
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Wonder the Turkey Vulture
Wonder was found freezing and starving in a field in Michigan, due to visual impairment and his inability to thermoregulate because of a pigment disorder. He suffered from frostbite and lost two digits as a result.
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Handsome the Turkey Vulture
Handsome was found as a nestling and was illegally held by a member of the public before being turned over to the Ojai Raptor Center. By the time he arrived he was already malprinted, or too habituated to humans to be released to the wild.
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Willow the Barn Owl
Willow came to us in 2019 after she was illegally raised in captivity by a member of the public, which resulted in her malprinting, or becoming too habituated to humans to be released to the wild.