The High Desert Museum’s signature outdoor flight program, Raptors of the Desert Sky, returns beginning Saturday, May 24. The demonstration takes place daily during the summer at 11:30 am through Labor Day.
Hawks, owls, falcons and even turkey vultures soar from perch to perch directly over the crowd seated in a natural amphitheater nestled in the Museum’s ponderosa pine forest. A Museum expert narrates the action, sharing the hunting strategies and natural behaviors of these spectacular birds of prey, as well as what we can do to help preserve them in the wild.
The program takes place weather and air quality permitting. The Museum website will be updated to reflect any time changes, such as an earlier start time to accommodate for high temperatures that might stress the birds.
Tickets are separate from Museum entry ($8 for non-member adults, including seniors; $6 for children; members receive 20% discount) and are sold at Admissions for that day’s program until 11:00 am. They are not available online. Tickets often sell out before 10:00 am. The Museum strongly recommends that visitors arrive when the Museum opens at 9:00 am to secure tickets from Admissions.
Raptors of the Desert Sky is made possible by Fly Redmond, Avion Water Company and KTVZ News Channel 21, with support from Bigfoot Beverages. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/raptors-of-the-desert-sky.
In addition, the Museum’s summer schedule of daily talks begins on Saturday. Visitors can meet a mammal in the popular Desert Dwellers talk at 3:00 pm, and they can also learn about wolves, raptors and other High Desert species in other talks. Daily talks are free with admission. Talk details are at highdesertmuseum.org/daily-schedule.
The historic High Desert Ranger Station will be open weekends from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm starting Saturday, as well. In December 2024, the ranger station moved from its previous location at the front of the Museum to its new spot along the Fire in the Forest trail. The U.S. Forest Service ranger station was built east of the Sierra Nevada in 1933 and moved to the Museum in 2008 in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Forest Service Association of Forest Service retirees (known as the Old Smokeys). Old Smokeys and volunteers staff the station to engage with Museum visitors. The ranger station will be open daily starting July 1. The building’s history is at highdesertmuseum.org/high-desert-ranger-station.
Meanwhile, the 1904 Lazinka Sawmill will be up and running for three select days this summer: June 14, July 29 and August 28. From 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm each day, visitors can see an authentic sawmill used at the turn of the 20th century to process wood with an enormous blade slicing through thick Oregon timber. Visitors can experience the magic of the sawmill for free with admission. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/lazinka-sawmill.
On July 16, visitors are invited to Welcome the Night with Museum staff and volunteers. The event takes place after hours from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and celebrates sundown, the transition between day and night when nocturnal wildlife stirs. Participants are encouraged to bring a headlamp or flashlight and learn how a dark night sky free from light pollution is critical for wildlife. The family-friendly event includes telescope tours, insect discoveries, bat watching, a constellation tour, food and drinks for purchase, raffle prizes and more. Adults and children (3 and older) are $10. Children 2 and younger are free. Museum members receive 20% discount. Learn more and reserve tickets at highdesertmuseum.org/welcome-the-night-2025.
Visitors should keep in mind the indoor art exhibitions and galleries, as well. Patterns at Play: Fractals in Nature, an interactive and family-friendly exhibition, encourages kids and adults alike to build their own fractals and immerse themselves in the mesmerizing world of nature’s repeating patterns. The photographic artistry of Frank S. Matsura, a Japanese immigrant who set up a studio in rural Okanogan County, is on display in Frank S. Matsura: Portraits from the Borderland.
On July 5, the Museum opens its annual Art in the West juried exhibition and silent auction. Featuring more than 100 artworks ranging from watercolors and acrylics to photography and sculptures, the exhibition celebrates the landscapes, wildlife, people, cultures and history of the High Desert. Discover more about the Museum’s exhibitions at highdesertmuseum.org/exhibitions.
Learn more about visiting the Museum at highdesertmuseum.org.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM:
THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
