CVM News

Apr 16, 2026

On a wing and a Jordan-Hare

For a raptor in the wild, the inability to fly isn’t just an injury—it’s an emergency. Ten years ago, a female Golden Eagle was found severely hurt on the ground near Selma, Alabama.

Mar 26, 2026

Storm-swept bald eaglets now on the road to recovery at Auburn

As heavy storms swept through lower Alabama earlier this month, two bald eaglets and their nest fell from a tree in Gulf State Park. Orange Beach Wildlife Center staff and park residents — who kept a close eye on the well-known eagle nest — immediately launched a search. Thanks to their efforts, both chicks were located and brought to the wildlife center for initial care.

Feb 16, 2026

The hawk who wanted to be a Tiger

The Auburn University Raptor Center helped the Auburn football program deal with an unexpected walk-on — or fly-in — recruit who bypassed college football’s transfer portal and traditional recruiting processes. In early February, a Cooper’s hawk found its way inside the football team’s indoor practice facility but couldn’t find its way out.

Feb 6, 2026

Auburn University Raptor Center hosts Talons, Taps, & Trivia on Feb. 17

Fans of birds, brews and bites are invited to the Auburn University Raptor Center’s Talons, Taps, & Trivia event on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Auburn-Opelika Tourism, the event will be hosted by New Realm Brewery inside Hey Day Market. The interactive event will include trivia and opportunities to meet the raptor center’s winged ambassadors. Raptor Specialist Katie Pnewski will quiz attendees on birds of prey, the War Eagle tradition and all things Auburn.

Nov 19, 2025

From rescue to release: Raptor Center manages growing caseload of injured and ill birds of prey

They have arrived from all corners of Alabama, in all manner of containers. Turkey vultures wrapped in blankets and towels, burrito-style; bald eagles and hawks caged within pet carriers. Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) Director Robyn Miller even remembers a golden eagle with lead toxicity being delivered to the center in a pair of taped-together packing boxes [the AURC offers preferable guidance on how Good Samaritans can transport a wild bird that is injured or ill].

Nov 17, 2025

Eyes on the sky: The technology that safeguards an Auburn tradition

Working with wild animals -- even human imprinted ones -- can offer unpredictability. The Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) works carefully to build trust with its raptor ambassadors, but also relies on technology as an additional precaution when it takes to the skies for "War Eagle Flights" before Auburn football games.

Nov 13, 2025

Crafting a flight plan: An eagle’s eye view of raptor training

Ever wondered how a bald or golden eagle can calmly soar around a football stadium filled with nearly 90,000 noisy fans and nail its landing at midfield without deciding to take a detour for a fishing trip at the nearest lake? Our video series with the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC), a unit of the College of Veterinary Medicine, offers a bird’s (and trainer’s) eye view of the process that makes War Eagle Flights possible before Auburn football games.

Oct 31, 2025

A sky-high partnership: Auburn’s Raptor Center and College of Veterinary Medicine unite conservation, education, and rehabilitation through one of the university’s most beloved traditions

Auburn’s Raptor Center and College of Veterinary Medicine unite conservation, education, and rehabilitation through one of the university’s most beloved traditions. At Auburn football games, the iconic pre-game eagle flights aren't just a spectacle—they're a soaring tribute to the mission of the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC).

Oct 23, 2025

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.

Sep 16, 2025

Everything Auburn: Just Wingin’ It Birds of prey, football fame and a whole lot of tradition—meet the duo behind Auburn’s high-flying legacy in this edition of Everything Auburn Podcast.

With a name like Robyn, some might say you’re destined to soar through life, working with all things winged and wonderful. “Spelled slightly differently, but yes, my life is absolutely for the birds,” said Robyn Miller. Miller, who was named director of the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) this past January, first came to the Plains a decade ago to study 19th century English literature. While earning her doctorate, she volunteered in the center’s rehabilitation and education departments.

Sep 2, 2025

Repetition, reinforcement, trust: How Raptor Center training keeps eagles gameday ready

Just like a coach considers the starting lineup before a football game, choosing which eagle from the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) will make the famous pre-game flight in Jordan-Hare Stadium is a game time decision. “About an hour before the game, we kind of look at their game face and decide,” said Andrew Hopkins, the center’s administrative coordinator. “We don’t know until an hour before kickoff who will be flying.”

Aug 18, 2025

Supporting tradition in flight: Raptor Center celebrates 25 years of eagles soaring over Jordan-Hare

It’s a pre-game tradition that’s not to be missed: an eagle from the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) circles Jordan-Hare Stadium before landing midfield to a booming chorus of “War Eagle, hey!” 

Jul 28, 2025

Auburn’s Famous Eagle Flights

For more than two decades, Auburn home football games have featured an iconic War Eagle soaring over the cheering stadium. All this summer and fall, The Auburn University Raptor Center celebrates the 25th anniversary of football’s most famous flight.

Nov 18, 2024

Auburn University Raptor Center – Champions of Conservation

The Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC), a division of the College of Veterinary Medicine, is motivated by its mission of raptor rehabilitation, education and conservation. Over the past 50 years, the AURC has delivered the highest quality medical care and rehabilitation for wild raptors, supported conservation efforts, and enhanced public understanding of these magnificent birds.

Sep 28, 2023

Indy to again take flight in Philadelphia

Auburn University’s bald eagle, Independence, will soon embark on a return flight to Philadelphia — a trip that marks a heightened relationship between Auburn and the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Fly, Indy, Fly

Sep 16, 2022

Auburn’s War Eagle VIII, Aurea, Preparing for Stadium Flight After Digit Removed

Aurea, Auburn University’s War Eagle VIII, will be on the Tiger’s injured reserve list briefly at the beginning of the 2022 Auburn football season.

May 20, 2021

Auburn’s Southeastern Rehabilitation Center Suggests Rules for Raptor Rescue

It is a rite of the season as surely as March winds and April showers. When spring arrives, so does an increase in the number of raptors, or birds of prey, “rescued” by well meaning Good Samaritans. But do most really need rescuing at all, or are they better off being left where they are?

Sep 4, 2019

Southeastern Raptor Center Lure and Jess Auctions Return this Fall

The Southeastern Raptor Center’s annual online auctions for the jesses and lures used by the eagles during game day flights will begin for the upcoming season with Auburn’s first home football game against the Tulane Green Wave on Sept. 7, 2019. The auctions are a way for Auburn fans to obtain a one-of-a-kind piece of […]

Aug 27, 2019

Auburn Pre-Game Flights to Introduce Golden Eagle “Aurea”

A new golden eagle will join Auburn’s famed eagle roster this season to soar over Jordan-Hare Stadium before the Tigers hit the field. Golden eagle Aurea, which actually made her stadium flight debut last season prior to the Liberty game, will join gameday veteran Spirit, a bald eagle, as one of two eagles that will […]

Apr 23, 2019

Auburn’s Southeastern Raptor Center reminds public what should be done if you find an ‘orphaned’ raptor

Spring is nesting season for birds, including raptors, and the Southeastern Raptor Center, or SRC, at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine wants people to know what to do if they encounter a young or orphaned raptor on the ground. Orphaned is the term applied to a young raptor that has been abandoned and […]

Nov 14, 2018

Auburn alumnus Malkoff supports Raptor Center with latest work, ‘Spirit of Auburn’

Artist Stephen Malkoff has teamed up with Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Southeastern Raptor Center to create a new, limited-edition print, Spirit of Auburn. This commemorative pencil drawing of bald eagle Spirit is the latest work from Malkoff, who has also created representations of golden eagles Tiger and Nova, as well as the […]

Nov 5, 2018

Bald eagle set for release Nov. 10 at Mt. Cheaha State Park

Auburn University’s Southeastern Raptor Center will release an adult bald eagle Saturday, Nov. 10, at Mt. Cheaha State Park in Delta, Alabama. The release is open to the public and will take place at 10 a.m. on the back deck of the park restaurant. This eagle was found at Anniston/Calhoun County Regional Airport, grounded and […]

Sep 4, 2018

Popular Football, Fans and Feathers Show on Fridays Before Home Football Games

One of Auburn University’s most popular fall programs returns to offer fans the opportunity to see a raptor show and flight demonstration—the Southeastern Raptor Center’s Football, Fans and Feathers educational program will be held each Friday before home football games. This year, seven shows will coincide with home football games, giving fans the opportunity to […]

Sep 4, 2018

Southeastern Raptor Center Readying for Eagle Lure and Jess Game Day Auctions

Tara Durboraw is a senior at Auburn University, majoring in wildlife ecology and management. The New Market, Alabama, native also volunteers for the Southeastern Raptor Center, where she works with the eagles and other raptors. At other times, she is an artist who is sharing her love for the raptors and designing the game day lures […]