AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) – At Auburn home football games, the stadium erupts the moment an eagle takes to the sky. The flight has become a beloved tradition for fans, celebrated with the same intensity as a touchdown.
“The reaction is instant. Everyone lights up, everyone loves the eagle flight, and the entire crowd joins in with the ‘War Eagle’ chant,” said Amanda Sweeney with the Auburn Raptor Center.
Auburn is home to four trained eagles. Two have since retired, while the two currently flying are Aurea, known as War Eagle VIII, and the bald eagle Independence.
Preparing these birds for flight requires extensive training and consistency.
“There’s a lot that goes into getting the eagles ready,” Sweeney explained. “At the core of it all is trust and positive reinforcement.”
Speaking about Independence specifically, Sweeney added, “She has a lot of personality. She’s definitely our most vocal one.”
Recently, Independence made her first trip outside Lee County — and her first flight involving air travel. According to Sweeney, the eagle’s first non-Auburn stadium appearance took place at the Philadelphia Eagles’ home field.
If Auburn’s bald eagle was ever going to fly somewhere else, Philadelphia felt like a natural fit. Independence had time to practice before the game, and the absence of Auburn’s signature orange and blue didn’t seem to faze her.
“She handled the entire stadium atmosphere extremely well,” Sweeney said. “The crowd was loud, people were cheering, but it didn’t affect her at all. With so much repetition, location doesn’t matter — she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do and what she’s flying toward.”
Whether soaring over Jordan-Hare Stadium or Lincoln Financial Field, Independence consistently delivers a memorable show.
“I sometimes have to remind myself that I actually have a job to do,” Sweeney said. “Watching her fly never gets old.”
After her successful flight in Philadelphia, Independence returned home and is currently resting — but she’s ready for the next road trip whenever she’s called upon.
According to the Auburn Raptor Center, Independence is expected to return to Philadelphia later this year for another Eagles game.
