White Memorial Conservation Center

A powerful part of White Memorial’s educational mission quite literally takes flight on the wings of our Avian Ambassadors.

At White Memorial Conservation Center, two remarkable non-releasable birds of prey help us connect thousands of visitors each year to the wonder of the natural world: Zelda, our Barred Owl, and Irie, our Red-tailed Hawk. Through them, children experience their first close look at a raptor. Adults rediscover awe. Conversations about conservation become personal, powerful, and lasting.

If you’ve visited Zelda and Irie in their aviary just outside the Museum, you’ve seen how special they are.

But their current home is not.

Built in the 1990s, the existing aviary is worn, outdated, and in urgent need of complete replacement. It no longer reflects the level of care, respect, and excellence these birds deserve — nor does it meet the evolving needs of the dedicated staff and volunteers who provide their daily care.

Our Avian Ambassadors deserve more than adequate.

They deserve extraordinary.

We have a new, thoughtfully designed, state-of-the-art aviary plan ready to go — one that will provide:

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  Enhanced safety and security

  
  


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  Enrichment features that support natural behaviors

  
  


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  Proper landscaping for a more natural habitat

  
  


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  Running water and electricity for optimal care

  
  


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  Safe, accessible space for staff and volunteers

  
  


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  Room to welcome a future Avian Ambassador

  
  

Thanks to the generosity of a major lead sponsor, we are already partway there. But constructing a modern aviary — built to the highest standards — requires significant resources.

Your gift to Give Local 2026 will help transform this vision into reality.

With your support, we hope to break ground in 2026 and give Zelda and Irie the home they truly deserve — while creating a new space that will inspire generations to come.

Every gift matters. No donation is too small.

Together, we can build a future where conservation education continues to soar.

Thank you for helping our mission take flight.