Behind the flights: Students, recent grads help advance Auburn University Raptor Center’s mission
While fulltime staff and veterinarians anchor the Auburn University Raptor Center’s rehabilitative care and educational programming, an army of volunteers plays a vital role in training and caring for the center’s resident birds of prey.
While the AURC frequently engages community members as volunteers, it’s common for Auburn University students and recent graduates representing a wide range of programs and academic interests to help carry out educational programming (including Friday “Football, Fans and Feathers” programs) and football gameday “War Eagle Flights.” Education unit volunteers commit to working five times each week, while student volunteers interested in avian medicine and rehabilitation commit to at least one 2-hour shift per week each semester.
Meet some of the current Auburn students and recent graduates who help care for everything from golden eagles to barred owls:
Christina Carter
Hometown: Destin, Fla.
Education: Auburn University senior majoring in psychology.
What inspired you to get involved with the Auburn University Raptor Center?: “I was inspired to get involved with the Auburn University Raptor Center because I had watched the pregame flights as a little girl and always dreamed of being part of them when I got to Auburn.”
What does it mean to you to be able to contribute to AURC programming during the 25th anniversary of War Eagle Flights?: “Being able to contribute to AURC programming during the 25th anniversary of War Eagle Flights is incredibly meaningful — it represents a full-circle moment for me. I grew up in awe of those flights, and now I have the privilege of helping care for the very birds that inspire thousands of Auburn fans each year. It’s an honor to play a small role in carrying forward a legacy that means so much to our university and community.”
What’s your favorite gameday or “Football, Fans & Feathers” moment?: “My favorite gameday memory is catching Aurea for the Georgia game this year. I was deeply grateful for the opportunity to be on the field with her for her debut flight of the season, and it is a memory I will always cherish.”
Which bird do you work with most frequently and what is your favorite raptor trait?: “On a daily basis, I work closely with Tiny, the red-shouldered hawk, and Petey, the red-tailed hawk. I am continually impressed by their intelligence and the way each bird develops a distinct personality and bond with their trainers. For example, Petey often begins building his nest whenever I walk by during rounds or educational tours.”
What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned about raptors since becoming an AURC volunteer?: “One of the most fascinating things I have learned since joining the Center is that red-shouldered hawks perform a remarkable “sky dance” during courtship, rolling upside down midair to impress their mates—a striking reminder of the grace, adaptability, and complexity of these incredible birds.”
What are your longer-term career goals?: “After graduation, I hope to continue working at the Auburn University Raptor Center. This experience has become one of the most formative parts of my college journey, and I hope to remain involved in the center’s mission of rehabilitation, education, and conservation for years to come.”
Noah Griffin
Hometown: Originally from Prattville, Ala., but also did part of his growing up in nearby Deatsville before coming to Auburn.
Education: Earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in 2024 in wildlife ecology and management from the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment.
What inspired you to get involved with the Auburn University Raptor Center?: “I have always had a passion for raptors and for working with them eventually. I really wanted to start volunteering at the center when I started college, but I was not quite old enough yet. Once I met the age requirement, I didn’t have enough time to volunteer until my last year in college. Luckily, I have been able to stay with the center as a volunteer post-graduation, and I am truly grateful for [the center] letting me do so.
What does it mean to you to be able to contribute to AURC programming during the 25th anniversary of War Eagle Flights?: “It means a lot to be a part of this anniversary season. I love being able to share my knowledge of these animals with people who may not know much about them, and to show how they can help protect these birds. Also, I enjoy being able to pass on my knowledge to future generations. I have always loved the War Eagle flights, and it has been my favorite part of every Auburn football game. It is truly an honor to be a part of such a special tradition.”
What’s your favorite gameday or “Football, Fans & Feathers” moment?: “My favorite moment from gameday was when I got to release Independence. It was my first on the field experience and to get to do it with the Raptor Center was truly special. It was also the first time that I got to hold an eagle, and that was awesome.”
Which bird do you work with most frequently and what is your favorite raptor trait?: “I have worked with multiple birds at the center such as Vega the turkey vulture, Captain the American Kestrel, and most recently Ophelia, the Great-Horned owl. Ophelia is such a sweetheart and most definitely one of my favorite birds at the center. I love owls’ plumicorns and how these feather tufts help them camouflage from predator and prey, but also, I love the malar stripes in falcons as well.”
What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned about raptors since becoming an AURC volunteer?: “There are so many things that I could say but one of the coolest is that Great-Horned owls have super strong grip that is almost comparable to an eagle’s grip strength.
What are your longer-term career goals?: “The long-term goal for me is that I would love to be a game warden in Alabama along the Gulf Coast, eventually, but for right now I work full time at Winter Timber Outdoors here in Auburn, Ala.”
Will Johnson
Hometown: Phenix City, Ala.
Education: Earned a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Auburn University in 2024.
What inspired you to get involved with the Auburn University Raptor Center?: “I was inspired to get involved with the Raptor Center because, at the time, I wanted to work with as many animal species as possible. I had already worked with dogs, cats, pigs, cows, etc., and I knew that Auburn had raptors because I had been watching the eagle flights in the stadium ever since I was a kid. What I didn’t know is that I would fall in love with raptors and raptor education and make it my life’s work to show people their importance.”
What does it mean to you to be able to contribute to AURC programming during the 25th anniversary of War Eagle Flights?: “It means a lot to me to be able to contribute to AURC programming during the 25th anniversary. It feels like just yesterday that I was getting trained on raptor care and now, all these years later, I am able to train new volunteers as well. I hope to be able to give them the care and teaching that was given to me so we can all be a part of a great team that continues to push for appreciation of raptors in our community as well as abroad.”
What’s your favorite gameday or “Football, Fans & Feathers” moment?: “My favorite memory is tough because there are so many choices. It would have to be the first Football, Fans and Feathers this year. I handed over Cypress, our barred owl, to a volunteer named John after being her primary trainer for the last few years. It was incredible to watch him progress as a trainer and continue to grow with her as their bond strengthened. A truly bittersweet moment I am grateful to have experienced.”
Which bird do you work with most frequently and what is your favorite raptor trait?: “The bird that I work with the most frequently is Cypress and my favorite raptor trait is when she moves her head around to take in all her surroundings. It always looks like she is dancing and never fails to make me laugh.”
What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned about raptors since becoming an AURC volunteer?: “As far as the coolest raptor related thing I’ve learned I would go with the fact that vultures have a stomach PH of roughly 1. This helps them handle diseases that we could not be able to handle while eating road kill.”
What are your longer-term career goals?: “Career-wise I wish to continue working with birds of prey in an education setting. I truly can’t imagine my life without them. Maybe one day I will be able to be a director of a raptor center myself.”
Payton McCaleb
Hometown: Dora, Ala.
Education: A member of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2026. Earned an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Montevallo.
Tell us about your involvement with the Auburn University Raptor Center: “I have been involved at the Raptor Center for the past three years. I am a veterinary student and aspiring wildlife veterinarian.
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned about raptors through your involvement? “The Raptor Center has taught me so much about the importance of having wildlife resources in a community. Auburn is known for the eagles that fly in the football game, but what about the eagles that get hit by cars? Or the red tail hawks, barred owls, and Cooper’s hawks that acquire similar injuries? Without the Raptor Center, these birds would not stand a chance. I have seen how much the Auburn community cares about its raptors, and with their support the Raptor Center can continue its mission of healing injured raptors and getting them back to the sky.”