Birds are widely recognized as environmental barometers. Given their wide ranges, fast metabolism and high energy requirements, they respond more rapidly than most living things to changes in the environment. Thus, variations in the populations of bird species provide important signals of environmental well-being. This reality is the foundation of the Center’s work.
The fact is… people only care about things they understand. Research explores the unknowns of biology. Conservation preserves the diversity around us. But in order to engage the public in the importance of the Research and Conservation mission of the Sutton Center… EDUCATION is vital!
OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Sutton Award – A statewide art competition inviting high school students to tell the conservation story through art and essay. The Sutton Award is free to enter and open to all Oklahoma high school students grades 10-12. Click HERE for details, forms and to learn more from past winners and their teachers.
Sutton Award ceremony where student art contest winners are recognized.
Live Bird Education – With a 35-year history of statewide, national and international leadership in avian
research and conservation we are excited to share our expertise with your students! Our outreach programs are carefully designed to be educational and fun. Each program combines science and environmental education with other content areas including fine arts and history brought to life through interactive presentations, activities, and live animal guests. Our programs encourage curiosity about our world while helping students become environmentally conscientious and scientifically empowered scholars.
The Sutton Center’s It’s All About Birds program wowed and informed audiences across Oklahoma for 10 years.
Conservation Internships – In our highly rated internship program, high school and college students work alongside our professional staff on real projects and play a role in wildlife conservation.
Hands-on experience with studying and conserving birds is available through the Sutton Center.
Get the Lead Out! – Lead poisoning is one of the leading causes of death in eagles and other raptors. To schedule a shooting demonstration, watch videos or to learn more about what you as a hunter can do, click HERE.
Shooting demonstrations such as this one with ballistic gelatin illustrate how eagles become unintentionally poisoned by lead, and show how to easily solve that problem.
Unintentional lead poisoning is a significant and easily preventable problem for Bald Eagles.
Download our booklet for kids: My First Oklahoma Bird Guide
A close-up look at an American Goldfinch can make the need for conservation tangible in young and old alike.