Rehab & Release
SOAR provides care for well over 300 birds each year that have been injured or orphaned, primarily from western Iowa.
Do no harm
We should all observe good raptor viewing etiquette, not only during the nesting season, but also during migration and the winter months when many raptors will gather together in good hunting areas. Snowy owls are migrating and are in the usual haunts along the coast in New England. Check out the picture with this Facebook
2020 year-end fundraiser
#GivingTuesday is on 1 December 2020! Giving Tuesday also marks the start of SOAR’s year-end fundraising. Our fundraising needs this year are not all that “exciting,” but very necessary! Your year-end donation will help us replace an aging washing machine – we know… not sexy, but oh so necessary – with a commercial grade machine
Year-end 2020
2020 has been a memorable year, albeit not one we’d like to repeat. In 2020, SOAR was again awarded a “top-rated” status from Great Nonprofits and has earned the GuideStar Bronze Seal of Transparency. Scroll to the footer to see both of these badges! What do these designations mean for the donor? Click over to
Release to say thank you!
SOAR has conservation partners across Iowa that help with rescue and transport. We often talk about “the village” that it takes for raptor rehabilitation. These folks from Winneshiek and Fayette County Conservation are some of the faces of our “village.” Not only do we need to say thanks to the rescuers… but also to their
2020 Release Party – Virtual
This is not the release party WE wanted, but on the sunny side, many folks from outside Iowa tuned in for the live broadcast. Thank you one and all. While it was a feel-good to have you watch as seven raptors were released to fly the skies once again, WE missed the interactions with the
Decorah – A day in the life!
It’s been six years since D20 was admitted to SOAR after a too-soon-fledge (22 June 2014), enjoy this video compilation of Ambassador Decorah to commemorate! Check out this FAQ (and answers) all about Decorah! Decorah is showing us all how to take it easy during this time of human health concerns, working from home, and
Checking on eaglets
SOAR volunteer Deb is taken upriver by anglers that came upon two hatch-year 2020 bald eagles that were perched on their downed nest tree in the river. Dawson 1 and Dawson 2 were admitted to SOAR the evening of 8 June 2020.
Research to help raptors
University of Minnesota Raptor Center researchers are evaluating raptor’s response to sounds. Funding from the US Department of Energy is allowing researchers to determine what sounds eagles and red-tailed hawks can hear in hopes of finding a noise deterrent to add to wind turbines in hopes of preventing injuries. The full story here from Minnesota
Additions to programs
With the help of an Avangrid Foundation grant, SOAR will be able to add to and update our teaching collection and enhance our educational outreach portion of our mission. Education programs stress our mission of raptor rehabilitation, education, and research and are planned with schools and organizations and also for public events. SOAR education programs
Beak Issues
SOAR has admitted two bald eagles in 2019 that have beak damage. Update: Both these bald eagles were released in April 2020! Did you know that like our fingernails, the outer portion of a bird’s beak is made of keratin and is always growing. The keratin covers the bony structure of the maxilla (upper jaw)