Raptor Ambassador Program

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Athletics Department and the Iowa Raptor Project, a program of the College of Education, have partnered to introduce the Raptor Ambassador Program.  The raptors involved in the program attended Iowa Hawkeye football home games at Kinnick Stadium and will make a number of appearances at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

At Kinnick Stadium, Hercules II (a dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk) was trained for pre-game flighted programs, as well as on-glove presentations. Participating in these public events amplified the Iowa Raptor Project’s educational mission by inspiring thousands of Iowans from diverse backgrounds to conserve raptors and their natural habitats.

The Iowa Raptor Project is involved in research projects to help better understand the needs of the raptor populations that nest, migrate, and overwinter in Iowa. Sixteen birds of prey are currently part of the educational display at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area. Each bird requires daily feeding and care.

A host of University of Iowa students and other volunteers help with care, but there is an on-going need for financial assistance related to food, housing, equipment and travel.  The Iowa Raptor Project is dependent on program fees and donations to cover the costs of its educational and research mission.  

The raptors will make appearances at upcoming events at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including men’s basketball, women’s basketball, wrestling, and women’s gymnastics. The Iowa Raptor Project will be on the concourse for educational activation prior to the games.  

Raptor Ambassador Appearances

Men’s Basketball

• Jan. 22 vs. Penn State
• Feb. 6 vs. Minnesota
• Feb. 13 vs. Nebraska
• Feb. 17 vs. Michigan
• Feb. 22 vs. Michigan State

 Women’s Basketball

• Jan. 16 vs. Nebraska
• Jan. 23 vs. Indiana
• Feb. 10 vs Minnesota
• Feb. 14 vs. Maryland
• Feb. 27 vs. Michigan

Wrestling

• Jan. 7 vs Minnesota
• Jan. 9 Purdue
• Jan. 28 vs Penn State
• Feb. 5 vs Wisconsin

Women’s Gymnastics

• January 29 vs Nebraska