Fans wanting to get a closer look at birds of prey, including Auburn's eagle mascots Spirit and Nova that are kept at the Southeastern Raptor Center, will have their chance at the Football, Fans and Feathers events this fall.
Football, Fans and Feathers is an educational program held every Friday before home football games at 4 p.m., according to Marianne Hudson, assistant director of the Southeastern Raptor Center.
"We give folks the chance to see our eagles and our other birds up close," Hudson said.
Admission to the first Football, Fans and Feathers event, which will take place at Plainsman Park on Aug. 29, will be free. However, a special memorial will be held for Tiger, War Eagle VI, who passed away June 18, and donations in Tiger's honor will be accepted.
"We have the eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures for people to see," Hudson said.
All other Football, Fans and Feathers shows will take place at the Southeastern Raptor Center's Edgar B. Carter amphitheater, and admission will be $5, according to Hudson.Fans will get to see up to 12 different raptors during shows in the 350-seat amphitheater at the Southeastern Raptor Center.
"We teach the attendees interesting information about each species and talk to them about the types of birds they may find in their own neighborhood," Hudson said. "Also, we fly the birds right over the crowd's heads."
Before the shows, raptors are housed in cages on raised platforms above the amphitheater, according to Andrew Hopkins, raptor specialist at the Southeastern Raptor Center.
"We move the birds down here from their permanent housing before the show," Hopkins said.
The Southeastern Raptor Center admits injured birds from all over the Southeast. Birds are cared for by the veterinarian staff until they are well enough to be released. Birds that wouldn't survive if released become members of the center's permanent population.
Birds shown during Football, Fans and Feathers are from the Southeastern Raptor Center's permanent raptor population. A raptor has to see, hear and fly well in order to survive in the wild, according to Hudson.
"Sometimes our birds are admitted with injuries, such as being hit by a car, a gunshot or any variety of other issues, such as being orphaned or ill," Hudson said. "Often times, if those birds aren't mended back to 100 percent, they can still have a useful life here as educational birds."
Support for the Southeastern Raptor Center comes from the College of Veterinary Medicine and outreach programs put on by the center all over the Southeast. Hudson and Hopkins travel to schools, scout groups and churches to educate the public about birds of prey.
"This amphitheater is great place to come and learn about the birds," Hudson said, "We hope people will come and learn more about the raptor center and give us their support."
Large groups wanting to attend Football, Fans and Feathers can contact the Southeastern Raptor Center to see if they qualify for group discounts.
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