October 3, 2019

An End of Era: Beloved Academy falcon mascot dies at age 23

(U.S. Air Force Academy photo) Story by Ray Bowden, Oct. 3, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Aurora, a White Phase Gyrfalcon and the Academy’s official mascot, died midday Oct. 2. She lived to be 23, roughly twice the age of falcons in the wild. “Our hearts go out to our master-and cadet-falconers, who lovingly cared for and trained Aurora for more than two decades,” said Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, Academy superintendent. “Emblematic of the beauty and majesty of our Falcons, Aurora will be greatly missed by generations of cadets, graduates, faculty members and so many others.” Aurora was...

Continue Reading An End of Era: Beloved Academy falcon mascot dies at age 23