Join us for our fall release party at Story County Conservation Board’s McFarland Park, north of Ames!

The event includes an opportunity to meet a few of SOAR’s education ambassadors, talk with SOAR educators, and learn about current SOAR projects. The highlight of the afternoon are the raptor releases! McFarland Park is family-friendly area perfect for a picnic and raptor releases! Please bring your lawn chairs and a small table if you like. There are a limited number of picnic tables available.

Guest speakers will include Mike Cox, Director, with Story County Conservation and Ryan Anthony with US Fish & Wildlife Service Moline Field Office. Mike Cox will talk about the recent adoption of a non-toxic ammunition only policy for their county-managed hunting areas fits into their approach for responsible environment and wildlife stewardship. Ryan Anthony will talk about a bald eagle telemetry study that tracks local and migratory movements of each eagle to learn how these birds use the land away from the big rivers.

SOAR will provide light snacks and desserts, too!

The Irregulars will provide a musical backdrop to this relaxing day. This trio features Cedar Valley musicians Roger Bernard, Kevin Paar, and Dave Morse. They have performed around the Cedar Valley with audiences enjoying their crisp harmonies and their accompanying guitar and mandolin. Their musical influences include Neil Young, the Grateful Dead, the Eagles, and more. They are great SOAR ambassadors.

SOAR – Saving Our Avian Resources is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1999 dedicated to saving avian resources through raptor rehabilitation, education, and research. SOAR maintains all necessary US Fish & Wildlife Service and Iowa DNR permits to rehabilitate birds and educate the public.

SOAR’s mission is three-fold — raptor rehabilitation, raptor education, and raptor research. The facilities of SOAR are designed for the safe and quiet rehabilitation of feathered patients, and to ensure low-stress rehabilitation for these wild birds, SOAR is not open to visitors. Events such as this release party provide the opportunity to learn more about SOAR and help celebrate the return of raptors to the Iowa sky.