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September 2019 | Raptor News

Osprey | photo: Ben Knoot

We are thankful to announce that Hurricane Dorian skipped by our location at the Center for Birds of Prey. We hosted mild winds and storms but were lucky to escape its path. We are thinking of those affected by the storm and hope the recovery process starts soon. In Florida, we know all too well the impacts of hurricanes on our beaches and inland locations for Centers, Sanctuaries and science offices. We hope you enjoy our news highlights below and look forward to seeing you at Audubon Center for Birds of Prey this fall. We have new exhibits on display, new faces to see, and new events to attend. Hope to see you soon!

New Raptor Care Assistant, Sue Hills with Maple, a Barred Owl

Staff Update

The Center is excited to announce a new staff member has arrived at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. Welcome Sue Hills! Sue, a Certified Vet Tech, is the Center’s new Part Time Raptor Care Assistant. She also works at specialty clinic Affiliated Veterinary Specialists (AVS) in Maitland. Sue has broad experiences in the veterinary field and we are excited to have her expertise and background to add to the Center’s Raptor Care programs!
Sue is looking forward to working with one of her favorite Florida bird species, Great Horned Owls.

Uff-da, Black Vulture and Tabitha Smith

The Center bids farewell to Tabitha Smith as she moves to Treehouse Wildlife Center in Illinois to be their new Clinic Supervisor. Tabby joined us as our seasonal employee from February–August this year. We wish her the very best of luck in her new adventure. Staff, volunteers and her favorite bird friend, Uff-da the Black Vulture, are sure to miss her!

Bald Eagle | credit: Ruth Elwell Steck

Florida’s Eagle Nesting Season is Approaching!

Audubon’s EagleWatch Program is a statewide network of community science volunteers who monitor eagle nests from October through May. EagleWatch provides valuable information on nesting activity and current Bald Eagle population trends in Florida. The data collected by volunteers helps eagle biologists determine the right conservation measures to ensure the success of the species.
EagleWatch is currently recruiting new volunteers! Volunteer trainings will be held around the state in the coming weeks, including one for the Central Florida region to be held Sept 15th from 1:00-3:00pm at the Central Florida Zoo. Please visit this link for additional details and to register to attend (space is limited so registration is required).

Contact Shawnlei Breeding, EagleWatch Program Manager, at (407) 644-0190 or eaglewatch@audubon.org for more information.

CLI students and mentors

Conservation Leadership Initiative

Audubon is hiring! Audubon’s Conservation Leadership Initiative (CLI) is growing into a year-long program. CLI is a unique, intergenerational experience uniting Audubon’s leaders with some of the best and brightest college students. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to lead this effort. Click here if you know someone who might be interested.

While we’re hiring for a CLI Program Associate, we’ve also begun recruitment for this year’s CLI participants. CLI takes the best and brightest college students from across the state and pairs them with conservation leaders for a year of co-mentoring. Through this experience students are introduced to Audubon conservation initiatives while Audubon leaders learn how to better engage, communicate with, and develop the next generation of leaders. The application is available here, spread the word to any Florida college students you may know! Deadline for applications is September 20th.

Dianna Flynt and Katie Warner in the van to release an Eagle!

Wheels Beneath Our Wings

The Center needs working vans to cover the vet trips, bird releases, and educational offsite programs. However, our beloved old 'Screamin' Eagle' van is on its last leg (err, wheel?).
We are currently raising funds for the Wheels Beneath Our Wings! Please consider a donation to help us purchase a new van and continue our essential bird programs.

Barred Owl | photo : Shayna Hartley

Upcoming Fall Events

- The Center will celebrate 40 years of conservation on October 19 by offering free admission that day from 10 a.m.– 2 p.m..

- 2019 Audubon Assembly - Save your spot and join us October 25-26 in Gainesville for Florida’s premier conservation gathering, where grassroots leaders from around the state connect with Audubon’s professional staff and partners to grow their knowledge and skills to protect Florida’s precious natural resources.

- We have a new holiday event this year, Owl Be Home for Christmas! Mark your calendars for November 16^th, and stay tuned for more details to come!

- Owl Prowls are back again this fall, look for the kick-off event of this series in November!

Check out upcoming events and programs as you plan your next trip to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.

Support Us

Your support is an investment in the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey’s work of conserving and preserving Florida’s magnificent raptors. In addition, your contribution supports education programs for kids, Bald Eagle conservation through programs like EagleWatch, and rehabilitation of sick and injured raptors. Thank you.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
1101 Audubon Way, Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 644-0190 cbop.audubon.org

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