A bald eagle has appeared at Auburn football games dating back to 1892. In 2000, when the school started the tradition of have an eagle circle Jordan-Hare Stadium prior to kickoff, it was War Eagle VI, otherwise known as Tiger, that took the initial flight.

On July 18 of this year Tiger died at 34-years old. The golden eagle spent seven seasons gliding in the wind above the field at Jordan-Hare. Believed to be one of the oldest living bald eagles, Tiger also flew as part of the opening ceremonies at 2002 Olympics Games. War Eagle VII, Nova, officially took over the stadium duties on Nov. 27, 2006.

A public memorial will take place for Tiger at 5 p.m. Friday inside Plainsman Park. In addition to Auburn athletics director Jay Jacob being on hand, so will Marianne Hudson, the assistant director of raptor training and education at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Southeastern Raptor Center as well as the college’s dean Calvin Johnson. An educational program and flight demonstration will also take place.

The role of Auburn University’s eagles is to promote wildlife conservation as a part of education initiatives of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the  Founded in the mid-1970’s, the center developed when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service brought six injured birds to the Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine and asked that the school become a rehabilitation hub for the Southeast. Since then it has treated and released  thousands of birds of prey. The center has provided educational programs for thousands.