Every spring, the U of M’s Raptor Center hosts an annual tradition – the Spring Raptor Release, which celebrates the release of rehabilitated raptors back into the wild. Raptor is a general term for a group of predatory birds consisting of eagles, falcons, hawks and owls. Dr. Julia Ponder, associate director of the Raptor Center, encourages Minnesotans to attend this exciting event, and watch the birds as they soar into the sky.