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College of Veterinary Medicine

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.
 
A bald eagle staring intensely
In 2016, an injured golden eagle was found near Selma, Ala. She was in a daze and scared, and her injured wing meant she couldn’t fly. The eagle was brought to the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC), where experts from the center, the College of Veterinary Medicine and student volunteers began her long rehabilitation.

Over time her strength returned, though it was clear that she could never again survive in the wild. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fly again, for her story in the air was only beginning.

Two years after she was found dazed and injured, that same golden eagle soared over Jordan-Hare Stadium in front of nearly 90,000 screaming fans. Now named Aurea, the famous eagle quickly became a symbol of the Auburn spirit to fans everywhere.

A Tradition of Care

Founded in 1972, the AURC has become one of the Southeast’s leading raptor rehabilitation centers. It works year-round to release raptors back into the wild by restoring them to health with expert veterinary care.

Each year, the AURC treats more than 300 injured or ill raptors, including hawks, owls, falcons and eagles. While many of these birds are released back into the wild, some, like Aurea, are deemed unfit for release.

Aurea’s journey speaks to the heart of the AURC’s mission. Andrew Hopkins ’11, who had the privilege of working closely with Aurea, was the one to choose her name. “Aurea means ‘gold’ in Latin. It’s even got the little A-U, which is the symbol for gold and of course a nod towards Auburn,” Hopkins said.

The AURC is currently home to four eagles that have flown in Jordan-Hare Stadum: Nova, Spirit, Independence and Aurea. In addition to the War Eagles, it houses 23 permanent raptors which serve as ambassadors of the AURC.

In the wild, these raptors’ survival would not be guaranteed. The AURC ensures that they are not only cared for but are also able to be living representations of Auburn’s values and traditions.

a student volunteer shows off a raptor to the crowd

Raptor Duty Calls

Now the administrative coordinator at the AURC, Hopkins’ love for raptors began early on in his time at Auburn. As a first-year student, he found himself researching the AURC for an English paper. “After speaking with them, I had to ask, ‘How can I volunteer?’” he said. “They told me the process, and I immediately became involved.”

The AURC has a variety of student volunteers, some with majors unrelated to animal sciences such as English or engineering. Any student who can make the time commitment is welcome to help. Student volunteers are assigned a certain bird to assist in its day-to-day care. “It’s a unique environment where students are very involved in the raptors’ care. It’s not just cleaning,” said Hopkins.

Gabe Hallmark ’25 also has an exciting story of how the Raptor Center changed his life. The AURC was what originally drew him to Auburn, where he earned his degree in animal sciences. He began as a student volunteer and eventually became the primary caregiver of a Eurasian eagle-owl named Freya.

Hallmark’s passion for the AURC is clear. “I think I had almost 2,000 volunteer hours” he recalled. “Every single day I helped people train their birds. Each bird is in their own unique stage of learning and has their own process.”

After his graduation, Hallmark will be moving to Alaska to work for the American Bald Eagle Foundation.

More Than Gameday

The eagles begin daily training in Jordan-Hare from June until the end of football season. They are taught that they will receive food when they land on the leather lure of their trainer. Their eagle eyes can easily spot their trainer, even in a full stadium crowd.

However, the AURC does much more than stadium flights and on-campus opportunities. The AURC team conducts approximately 300 educational demonstrations per year. These programs connect people of all ages with all the raptors and their conservation needs. And they aren’t one-size-fits-all. They’re tailored to each audience. For example, a show for a group of cardiologists highlighted information on raptor hearts.

an eagle soars over the crowd at Jordan-Hare stadium
“We want to bridge the gap between people and wildlife,” said Amanda Sweeney ’21, assistant director of education and training at the AURC. You might recognize her on the football field during eagle flights.

“These raptor ambassadors tell powerful stories that connect the audience and inspire them to want to protect these birds,” said Sweeney. “We want to build a foundation for lifelong respect for wildlife.”

Each program also provides the audience with information on what to do if they encounter an injured raptor. The focus is not only on education, but also action and awareness. 

The Future Of Flight

Throughout the years, the Auburn Family’s generosity has created a powerful impact seen on and off campus through the work of the AURC. The 25th anniversary celebration of eagle flights highlights future opportunities for growth and impact that will only be possible through philanthropic support.

The AURC will launch a fundraising campaign on August 18 that will end during the Iron Bowl weekend.

“This is a fundraising campaign, but it’s also an invitation to rally our community behind this iconic symbol of Auburn University,” said Robyn Miller ’18, the director of the Raptor Center. “It’s a celebration for anyone who’s ever felt inspired by an eagle flight.”

Gifts received during this campaign will be used to expand and modify the educational amphitheater area, allowing the center to host more diverse and frequent educational programs. One current show is called “Football, Fans, and Feathers” and takes place on Friday afternoons in the fall before home football games. A portion of the funds raised will be used to invest in a covered space for the amphitheater so that the raptors can soar, rain or shine.

Through gifts to support the care, training and education efforts of the AURC, the Auburn Family can invest in the future of eagle flights and raptor care at Auburn. There will also be opportunities to sponsor eagle flights and matching funds, as well as eagle-themed events, content and celebrations. With additional funding, the AURC can do more work than ever fostering the Auburn spirit by helping the raptors that embody it.

“You can’t help but recognize the importance of the eagles,” said Hallmark. “They’re our battle cry and they’re a part of everything we do at Auburn.”

Give to the 25th anniversary of eagle flights fundraising campaign and help the AURC take Auburn’s iconic eagle flights to even greater heights during the next 25 years.

By Hayden Hairston ’25

Give to the AURC

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