The Southeastern Raptor Center, in collaboration with the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department, will release owls and hawks into the wild at Town Creek Park on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. as part of the Farewell Summer Block Party.

“The screech owls were healthy fledglings that were mistaken for orphans,” said Liz Crandall, raptor rehabilitation specialist with the Southeastern Raptor Center. The public is invited to see these beautiful birds as they are released into the wild and to participate in a group photo that will be published in the October 29 game issue of “Auburn Football Illustrated.” The photo will be taken at 6 p.m. followed by the release of the raptors.

The block party, which lasts from 6 to 8 p.m., features a free concert by Summer Breeze, door prizes, and goody bags filled with Auburn merchant coupons and specials for the first 400 attendees.

A mission of the Southeastern Raptor Center is to rehabilitate injured, ill, or orphaned birds of prey. Annually the center takes in between 200 and 275 birds of prey from across the Southeast. Birds are generally brought by members of the public, a network of southeastern rehabilitators and educational facilities, and state and federal agencies.

The Southeastern Raptor Center is part of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Auburn Parks and Recreation provides the community with quality recreational facilities and activities. For more information, call 334-844-3698 or 334-501-2936. Town Creek Park is located at 1150 South Gay Street.

Contact: Tara Lanier, 334-844-3698, tara.lanier@auburn.edu