Birds of Prey

The Birds of Prey exhibit features bald eagles, hawks, and owls native to the Southern Appalachian region in spacious flight enclosures on the mountainside. Educational presentations showcase the hunting adaptations and ecological roles of these magnificent raptors in the Smoky Mountain ecosystem.

Bald eagles were once on the brink of extinction in the lower 48 states due to DDT pesticide contamination, which thinned their eggshells and caused reproductive failure. Since the banning of DDT and protection under the Endangered Species Act, bald eagle populations have recovered dramatically — one of America's greatest conservation success stories.