On June 14, 1979, Audubon staff member Doris Mager climbed into an inactive Bald Eagle nest in Central Florida. She stayed there for six days and five nights, to raise awareness of the plight of the Bald Eagle and to raise funds to build the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. The Center opened on October 19, 1979 in Maitland, thanks to a generous donation from the Baldwin Family in loving memory of Madalyn Baldwin. Sixty-six sick, injured and baby raptors were admitted for care in 1979. Today, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is the largest raptor rehabilitation facility east of the Mississippi River treating nearly 600 raptors of 21 species annually, with the support of our dedicated donors, supporters and volunteers.

Charles Lee, Sr., Director of Advocacy for Audubon of Florida, and member of the myregion.org Board of Directors, invites you to join Audubon Center for Birds of Prey to celebrate 30 years of Conservation, Raptor Rehabilitation and Education in Central Florida at Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.  Commemorate the past and take Flight into the future as we head into the next 30+ years. 

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey will be honoring Charles Lee, Director of Advocacy, Audubon of Florida at the Wind Beneath our Wings event- With Charles’ 37 years of commitment and dedication to conservation in Florida, Audubon has been instrumental in its efforts to preserve the abundant resources throughout our state, in addition to the preservation of Florida’s raptors.  Please join us to honor this outstanding conservationist.

Conservation Milestones:

• 374 Bald Eagles released since 1979
  
  
• 13,000+ patients admitted including more than 1,000 Bald Eagles
  
  
• 25% of the states Bald Eagle nests monitored through the Audubon EagleWatch program
  
  
• More than 40,000 individuals reached through educational activities

Wind Beneath our Wings Anniversary Event

November 12, 2009, 6PM
UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center
Individuals $100/plate
Sponsorships available – Contact Katie Warner kwarner@audubon.org or 407-644-0190.

Visit http://www.audubonofflorida.org/who_centers_anniversary.html for more information.

Click here to download the flyer.