Rock City Raptors

Back for its 6th year in 2010, come and see hawks soaring in the sky above Rock City. Get a glimpse at a nocturnal hunter, the owl. Meet a vivacious vulture! Enjoy this rare opportunity to witness these powerful and majestic birds up close. A unique learning experience high atop Lookout Mountain at Rock City!

Buy Tickets Now!!

 

	Click Above for Slideshow

 

Memorial Day – Labor Day
Thursdays - Sundays
Show Times are 11am, 1pm, an 3pm
(additional show Saturdays at 4:30pm)

Buy Tickets Now!!

• The Rock City Birds of Prey show is presented by S.O.A.R (Save our American Raptors) in the Critter Classroom
• This show includes several birds flying and walking through the crowd and provides great information on these Birds of Prey including hawks, owls, bald eagles, and vultures.
• The Critter Classroom is a stadium seated, outdoor facility located just inside the entrance to Rock City.

 

 

Peregrine Release Project:

On July 12, 2010, two peregrine falcons were placed in a hack box at Rock City Gardens by John and Dale Stokes with Save Our American Raptors (S.O.A.R.). to be prepared for their release on July 28. The month-old birds flew here (by plane) from Minnesota, bred by Andy Kramer. Fitted with transmitters, the birds are expected to take flight back into their natural habitat, hopefully to make this region their home, since there are currently no nesting pairs in this area.

One bird is named Ted. Rock City opened up the naming of the other bird to our Facebook Fans - who chose Zenith as the name for one of the falcons. As Amy, who first offered Zenith as an option, explained the name suggestion - "Rock City is ATOP Lookout Mountain, so it is very fitting for a high-flying falcon to be released from the zenith, or top, of such a great place."

 

The crow-sized falcons are admired for their incredible speed, seldom matched by any other bird in the world. Able to dive up to 275 miles per hour in pursuit of prey, Peregrines feed primarily on birds such as doves and pigeons, which they take on the wing. In 1999, they made a remarkable comeback and were released from the Endangered Species list. The Peregrines have suffered from exposure to the highly toxic insecticide, DDT, since the 1960's. Only several hundred pairs of these birds exist in the U.S.

 

This Peregrine release program is an ongoing project for Rock City Gardens. Previous releases have included birds named "Garnet and Frieda" after the founders of Rock City, Garnet and Frieda Carter, as well as "Rocky." This is the third hacking effort at Rock City since 2006. More photos and updates are available on our Facebook page.

Two New Additions in 2010:

Meet Theo the Owl and Bonnie the Peregrine Falcon - two new additions to the Rock City Raptors show this year!

Theo the Owl	Bonnie the Peregrine Falcon

In summer, check out all of our summer annuals blooming all summer long.

 

Rock City is proud to work with S.O.A.R. – Save our American Raptors in bringing this Birds of Prey Show to Rock City Gardens.

S.O.A.R – Save our American Raptors


*Additional charges apply for food, drinks, some activities, & accessories.  

 

 

More