Whoosh. An owl soars past my head after stepping into a wooded aviary with the team at the Carolina Raptor Center (CRC).

Fun fact: "Raptor" means bird of prey — including eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures.

The owl doesn't fly far before being carefully caught for a medical examination. After being found tangled in a soccer net, the bird has been in rehabilitation at CRC before its upcoming return to the wild.

A Carolina Raptor Center volunteer gently examines a rehabilitated barred owl. | Photo by CLTtoday

This owl is one of thousands of birds admitted into The Raptor Hospital every year. This medical facility provides care for sick, injured, and orphaned raptor patients 365 days a year. Every bird is treated with the goal of returning to the wild. Since being established more than 40 years ago, the hospital has treated 26,000+ birds.

Editor's note: The public can monitor the progress of current raptor patients online.

"I think a lot of people think working with animals mean you spend lots of time to cuddle with them, but I knew very early on it was a lot of hard work," said Sunny Cooper, the CRC's Hospital Manager.

The 57-acre center found in Latta Nature Preserve took flight in 1981. It was founded by UNC Charlotte ornithologist Dr. Richard Brown and student Deb Sue Griffin after treating an injured broad-winged hawk.

Today, CRC serves as a lead organization in rehabilitation, education, and research for birds of prey native to the Carolinas and has grown to host 30+ resident raptors from across the world — including an African fish eagle and an Andean condor — serving as "avian ambassadors."

Hospital manager Sunny took City Editor Jack in the field to see a rehabilitated barred owl be released back into the wild. | Photo by CLTtoday

Curious about the owl we mentioned? Cooper released the owl a few days later.

Carolina Raptor Center welcomes the public to visit + provides opportunities to donate, volunteer, and contribute to raptor conservation.