AUBURN — Before the eagle circles Jordan-Hare on a fall Saturday, there are months of training flights. The Auburn University Raptor Center opened a media day on Thursday, Sept. 10, featuring Independence — “Indy” — a bald eagle and one of the center’s raptor ambassadors.
Raptor Center specialist Andrea McCravy told reporters the birds are prepared much like the football team. “We consider them professional athletes, just like our football players,” she said. “They also require that repetition so they are ready for game day.”
Training generally begins in early June, when the eagles return to the empty stadium for regular practice flights ahead of performing in front of nearly 90,000 fans.
The full feature, by Gator Kincaid, is at the Opelika Observer.
Source: Opelika Observer
Opelika Daily News — Thursday Report, Sept. 17, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
