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Banner design: Gigi Stewart

OCTOBER 2022

On September 21, our spirit bird, our matriarch, Ruby, peacefully left this life. All of us at Soarin' Hawk feel her loss, and we celebrate and honor the life she shared with us and all of you. She was a one-of-a-kind bird.
Fly high and free, beautiful girl. We thank you.


Below are some personal farewells from some volunteers who loved and worked with Ruby.
Fly free, dear Ruby, clear of pain,
Our tears for you we can't contain.
You gave us joy and led the way
and brought us where we are today.
Live on in our hearts, all together.
Oh precious bird with a white tail feather.


Ruby had a way of creating calm; she just made you feel good being around her as you looked into those tranquil brown eyes.
She would be my model for first-, second- and third-year raptors when her tail was completely molted out. 
During a lecture, I’d I hold up the three model raptor tails we had made up for education, and she just stood there ‘tailless’ on my glove allowing me to hold each age year where her tail should be. I can’t say for sure that she knew what I was doing, but she held there like a statue, and it felt like she was proud as she looked at the kids.
I’ll also remember her perfect voice… she missed her calling as a Hollywood ‘voice over’ for eagles! 
Ruby was a remarkable bird. She will hold a special place in my heart always. Fly free beautiful spirit hawk.
~ Jeannie Smythe

Ruby, was universally loved by all. Most of the Soarin’ Hawk handlers have had the pleasure to hold her. 
As for myself, Ruby showed me many lessons… how to enjoy the breeze on a windy day by spreading her wings and “flying”. How to enjoy a sunny day by basking in the sunshine. She knew when to be serious, like the time we brought her to a funeral. She knew exactly that it was her place to be stoic and mournful to sooth the hearts of the bereaved. And she knew when to be silly, like the time she made a class of first graders roll on the ground with laughter with her antics! Ruby instinctively knew the right behavior for each moment in time. 
She was a special gift to all who met her. Ruby will always have a big place in my heart and I will always remember the lessons she showed me. 
Ruby, thank you for being Ruby
~ Gigi Stewart
Photo: Danielle Schley

~~ Gigi Stewart


I will never forget the joy I had the first time I held Ruby! The first time she umbrella-ed me those many years ago! I always enjoyed her spreading her wings to catch the wind. Ruby also enjoyed going out on presentations and showing off her two tail feathers. She was a great ambassador for us. 
~ Nancy Wilder
RELEASES - THIS IS WHY
Red-Tailed Hawk - RTHA 08082022 - Watch Release Here
Red-Tailed Hawk- RTHA 08192022 - Watch Release Here


Thanks to people like you, we were able to rescue, rehabilitate, and release this beautiful Red-Tailed Hawk. After a few weeks in our facility, she was released in her home territory, to continue life in the wild. Won't you make a donation, so we can help others like her? No contribution is too small!

Your donation is tax deductible.