Current Happenings
Our newsletter, Wingbeats, is sent to our membership quarterly. You can download previously published editions by choosing the year of publication below.
Raptors, Rehabs, and Remarkable Women: The Midwest’s Dynamic Duo
April 22, 2025—At RAPTOR Inc., the mission has always been more than just feathers and flight. Since 1978, this Cincinnati-based nonprofit has been the region’s go-to for all things birds of prey—rehabilitating hundreds of injured hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles each year while educating thousands of Midwesterners about the wild wonders in their backyards. But behind the scenes, it’s the passionate, persistent people who keep the wings flapping and the talons tapping.
Enter Cindy Alverson and Jackie Bray—the “talon-ted” team whose leadership, compassion, and grit have made RAPTOR Inc. a force for good in the Midwest. In 2024, Cindy transitioned to Director of Avian Operations after twelve years as Executive Director. Noe leading the medical care and rehabilitation for the center’s 350-400 annual avian patients. Jackie works alongside Cindy as Director of Education, overseeing 300+ annual educational programs that RAPTOR Inc. delivers each year. These programs inspire new generations of conservationists.
Their story, recently featured in Women of Cincy, is a masterclass in teamwork, resilience, and the power of community. Whether they’re patching up a red-tailed hawk rescued from a city cemetery or captivating a classroom with the story of a turkey vulture named Orion, Cindy and Jackie prove that the sky’s the limit when women lead with heart and a whole lot of grit.
RAPTOR Inc. isn’t just about saving birds—it’s about building a flock of passionate people, from volunteers and veterinarians to the next generation of raptor-loving conservationists. The organization’s impact is felt far beyond its Milford headquarters, with public open houses, school visits, and community events that bring the wild world of raptors up close and personal.
So next time you spot a hawk circling high above the Queen City, remember it takes a village—and a couple of raptor rockstars like Cindy and Jackie—to keep Cincinnati wild and wonderful. Here’s to the fierce females leading the charge, one feathered friend at a time.
You can read the original story in Women of Cincy [here].
#WomenOfCincy #RaptorRockstars #BirdsOfaFeather #MidwestMarvels
February 27, 2025 We recently responded to an inquiry from a facilities director at a 300-acre manufacturing site in central Ohio. Some of the area is wooded, but mostly it's open. The manager wanted the acreage to be a raptor-friendly habitat, supporting raptors of various species. He came to us for guidance on this important conservation topic.
You may not have responsibility for managing 300 acres, but the guidance below can still inform your conservation actions and bring simple joys of nature to your twenty-first century life. Raptor-friendly habitats
January 17, 2025 In December, the RAPTOR Hospital admitted a merlin, like the one in the photo below. A merlin is a small, fierce falcon, and our patient likely collided with a vehicle.
The sight of a merlin in southwestern Ohio is unusual. Normally, they winter in southern states or even northern South America, but changing migration patterns may raise the number of merlin sightings in Ohio. Merlin sightings have taken place in cemeteries and urban places.
While not as famous as the magician of Camelot, our merlin and other birds of prey are essential for the ecosystem. Birds of prey help control rodent populations and maintain biodiversity.
Our team of wildlife rehabilitators is nursing this bird back to health with hopes of a positive outcome. You can check back for updates on its condition.
At RAPTOR Inc., we're committed to the conservation of birds of prey through rehabilitation, research, education, and community service. We aim to protect these birds of prey and the natural world they inhabit.
Will you join us in making a difference?
