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!”
This fall, that famed tradition turns 25 years old, and the AURC, which is housed in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is celebrating with a campaign — from now through the Iron Bowl on Nov. 29 — to raise awareness and philanthropic support for the training and care of its raptors and community education efforts.
While many football fans are familiar with the center because of the famous pre-game flights, most do not realize it’s one of the top raptor rehabilitation centers in the Southeast.
Each year, staff members provide expert veterinary care to rehabilitate more than 300 injured or ill raptors — hawks, owls, falcons and eagles — with the goal of releasing them back into the wild whenever possible.