Carolina Raptor Center has some raptor fun and raptor science for you!

Raptor Fun!

Computer Wallpaper Now you can enjoy raptors all the time! Click the link below to see the wallpaper images you can download. »View wallpaper images

Raptor Silhouettes Raptors and windows don't mix. Put these silhouettes on your windows so our feathered friends don't crash. »Get raptor silhouettes  (134K)

Pine Cone Bird Feeders Help feed the birds by making your own pine cone bird feeder. See how many different birds visit for a snack. »Get pine cone bird feeder instructions  (51K)

Grades K-3

Coloring Book Show your creative talent! Color all four birds: a bald eagle, falcon, great horned owl, and a hawk. »Get coloring book  (256K)

Finger Puppets Make your own feathered friends finger puppets. »Get finger puppets  (204K)

Memory Game Just print and cut out the squares and you are ready to play the memory game. »Get memory game  (358K)

Grades 3-6

Bird Mask Make your own bird mask. »Get bird mask  (63K)

Name That Raptor Quiz Match raptor pictures with names. Print and bring your answers to Carolina Raptor Center for a prize! »Get quiz  (62K)

Raptor Question Finder Make a cool raptor question finder! »Get raptor finder  (46K)

Grades 6-9

Raptor Anatomy Quiz How much do you know about raptor anatomy? Take this quiz and find out. Complete and bring in for a prize! »Get raptor anatomy quiz  (44K)

Suncatchers Make your own raptor suncatchers to hang on your windows. »Get barn owl suncatcher  (58K) »Get great horned owl suncatcher  (48K)

Word Search Good at puzzles? Try solving our word search. »Get word search  (29K) »Get word search answers  (41K)

Grades 9-12

Raptor Crossword How well do you know your raptor trivia? Try this crossword and find out! »Get raptor crossword  (59K)

Raptor Quiz A tougher quiz for those who really know their raptors! Print and bring your answers for a prize. »Get raptor quiz  (95K)

Raptor Science

Interested in raptors and science? Carolina Raptor Center has some ideas for your science projects!

What is a science project?

Science projects are based on observation, investigation and scientific thinking. A good project is one that interests you! A true science project is an investigation of a question involving research, planning and application of scientific methods to find the answer to the question. What is the scientific method?

You must observe, plan, experiment, and explain what happens in the project. A series of steps within the scientific method include 1) Observing a single event or a group of events and recognizing a problem. 2) Identifying a question to be asked. 3) Formulating a hypothesis or attempting to explain what should happen. 4) Designing and planning for experimentation or testing of the hypothesis.

To come to a conclusion the investigation must include a number of observations of the events being investigated.

When conducting an experiment make sure to keep daily records, recording observations. This can be done with charts and tables. You should be sure that observations include the units of measurement being used.

Your conclusion should make sense of what has been observed. Make a generalization based on observations and results. Elementary-Grades 3-5

• »Do all birds fly? An investigation of birds and how they get from here to there.
• »Are all raptors the same? A comparative study of the differences and similarities in raptors.
• »Can birds survive all types of weather? The observation of daily weather changes and the effects on birds.
• »Are raptor populations changing? An investigation of raptor population.
• »How strong are raptor talons? How do you measure the strength of raptor talons?
• »How do birds survive during the winter? The insulating effects of feathers.

Junior-Grades 5-9

• »Are human and owl eyes similar? A comparative study owl and human eyes.
• »Do power lines effects raptor flight? The effects of power lines on raptors.
• »How does increased road use effect raptor population? An investigation of road use and raptor population.
• »Why don't all birds fly and dive?
• »Why don't all birds have talons, is there a trade-off involved?

Senior-Grades 9-12

• »Can imprinting occur at different ages? An investigation of imprinting on chicks at different ages.
• »How do birds fly? The physics of flight.
• »Do weather patters effect migration? The effects of weather patterns on migration.
• »Has the Greenhouse Effect affected migration patterns in the last two decades?
• »Migration: Inherent or learned behavior?
• »Friend or foe? Male songbirds, such as the mockingbird, will aggressively defend its territory, but only on certain occasions. Do these songbirds recognize their neighbor's songs? Is there a game of tit-for-tat being played?