Our History
The Sutton Avian Research Center was founded in 1984 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to honor the legacy of Dr. George Miksch Sutton—one of America's most respected ornithologists. For more than 40 years, we have grown from a small research facility into a national conservation leader.
Our Mission
We restore the native birds of the grasslands by recovering endangered and declining species through science, conservation breeding, and education-bringing the sounds of life back to our prairies. The Sutton Center is a private, nonprofit organization located near Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Our Vision
Facilitating healthy, enduring bird populations and habitats through science-based management and conservation, while educating and inspiring humans about the essential ecological relationships that sustain life on Earth.
How we lead
- Conservation breeding — Recovering endangered species like the Attwater's prairie-chicken and masked bobwhite quail for release into the wild.
- Statewide bird monitoring — Tracking long-term changes in Oklahoma's bird populations through the Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas.
- Bald eagle stewardship — Monitoring nesting territories and educating the public through the BEST volunteer program and Eagle Cam.
- Wildlife education — Bringing hands-on STEM learning to more than 30,000 Oklahomans each year
