Mission Statement:

It is the purpose of The Illinois Raptor Center to provide environmental education about native and migratory wildlife found in Illinois through our "Education On The Wing" programs. The IRC provides additional environmental education through public events, newsletters and instructional materials. The IRC participates in habitat restoration through our "Partners in Education" project.

The Illinois Raptor Center is a non-profit wildlife and environmental education center located near Decatur in central Illinois.   For solutions to common wildlife problems, see our "How To Help Without Hurting" guide. You can help keep wildlife in the wild. The Illinois Raptor Center presents educational programs with live birds of prey to thousands of people across Illinois each year. Twenty-one permanently injured birds of prey live full time at the IRC. Programs focus on natural history as well as the dangers facing wildlife in our expanding civilization. The IRC also reminds audiences to respect and observe conservation laws. Learn more about "Education On The Wing." Nearly 200 species of birds photographed in Illinois are depicted in two easy-to-use sections. Refer to "Birds of Prey" and "Illinois Birds" to help make identifications and learn about behaviors you may witness in the wild. We have created a step-by-step diary of the restoration of the IRC's 15-acre property. Our Habitat Restoration Diary chronicles the efforts to bring back prairie, woodlands, savanna, wetlands and bottomland forest. Already, we are using our property as an outdoor classroom with a goal of hosting more and more educational programs on-site. We hope this diary inspires others to undertake restoration of their own property.