I'm about to head out the door to do a Showcase Minnesota segment on "Yes, it is perfectly normal to see robins in Minnesota in winter."

In the meantime, The Raptor Center is all over the news. There's a piece on snowy owls at the StarTribune, complete with a video of a snowy owl exam--you even get to see its giant ear hole!

Also, TRC has some participation of the upcoming Inauguration:

It is gearing up to be one of the biggest events in American political history and, if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll be able to see a part of the University of Minnesota among the festivities. At the request of the federal government, 11 white bald eagle tail feathers from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center will be used at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in Washington D.C.

The feathers will adorn a treaty stick that the chairs of the 11 Minnesota tribes will carry with them during the inauguration celebrations.

"We are honored to provide the feathers for this historic occasion," said Juli Ponder, executive director of the Raptor Center. "These feathers are from the same eagles that have graced countless classrooms and events throughout Minnesota as a highly visible part of the university's outreach."

Shortly after Obama won the election, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contacted Ponder for her assistance in acquiring the rare feathers. For this special occasion, Raptor Center eagle handlers selected and sent tail feathers molted from the ambassador eagles in the education program.

"While our contribution certainly won't be the center piece of the day, we are still greatly privileged to be a part of this moment in American history," said Ponder.

Established in 1974, the Raptor Center specializes in the medical care, rehabilitation and conservation of eagles, hawks owls and falcons. In additional to treating approximately 800 birds a year, the internationally known program reaches more than 240,000 people each year through public education programs and events.