‘Sky Hunters’ takes flight at the High Desert Museum just in time for Spring break

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The High Desert Museum will begin its Spring break programming on Saturday, March 21st, featuring the return of live flight demonstrations and several new exhibitions. The museum will also transition to summer hours, staying open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

The seasonal schedule includes the Sky Hunters bird of prey program and interactive history at the museum's ranch and sawmill. These activities are paired with daily wildlife talks and scientific exhibitions focused on regional geology and biology.

The Sky Hunters program will be hosted in the E.L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. The demonstration features raptors flying overhead to showcase their agility while educators share information about the birds' lives in the wild. The program runs daily from March 21st through March 28th at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available at admissions for $7, and museum members receive a 20% discount. Fly Redmond and the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon provide funding support for the program.

Daily talks regarding High Desert flora and fauna are included with museum admission. These scheduled events include a Nature Walk at 10:30 a.m., an Otter Encounter at 12:30 p.m. and a Mammal Encounter at 3:00 p.m.

The High Desert Museum is also featuring several temporary exhibitions, including "Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration." Located in the Spirit of the West Gallery, the exhibit combines history and geology with interactive storytelling. Visitors can view lava rocks, study a volcanic hazard map and hear simulated volcanic rumbles. The display highlights the scientific significance of volcanoes and the local impact of the Mount St. Helens eruption on May 18, 1980.

The Brooks Gallery houses "Soil Alive!," a subterranean-themed exhibition presented in both English and Spanish. The family-friendly installation uses muffled underground sounds and interactive activities to show how microorganisms turn dirt into living soil. Features include a giant magnifying glass for viewing digital illustrations and a motion-activated experience where visitors help a ponderosa sapling grow.

Artist Hilary Baker is featured in the Desertarium Gallery with an exhibition titled "Prophets." Baker, who grew up in Los Angeles, lost her longtime home to the Palisades Fire in January 2025. Following the fire, she began painting moths as spiritual messengers. The exhibit includes 18 of her artworks, which use bright renderings to encourage closer observation of the insects.

Another original exhibition, "Drawn West: A History of Promoting Place," examines a century of western salesmanship. The collection features more than 50 maps, advertisements and artworks that explore the growth of cities along High Desert railways and the first Pendleton Round-Up in 1910. Additionally, the "Forest at Night" exhibition provides an immersive virtual tour of the forest after dark, highlighting the constellations and nocturnal animals.

The High Desert Ranch and Sawmill will offer historical demonstrations from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. These areas will be open from Saturday, March 21st through Sunday, March 29th, though they will be closed on Monday, March 23rd. Visitors are invited to ask questions about the historical buildings or participate in ranch activities.

The Sky Hunters flight demonstrations will conclude on Saturday, March 28. The "Soil Alive!" exhibition is scheduled to close on Sunday, March 29.