The Iowa Raptor Project — part of UI WILD in the University of Iowa College of Education, with support from Kirkwood Community College — will be featured during live segments on ABC’s “Good Morning America” this Friday, Jan. 30, as part of the show’s “50 States in 50 Weeks: America the Beautiful” series.
The live segments will be broadcast from Hancher Auditorium, due to the bitterly cold, low temperatures predicted for Friday morning – and to showcase Iowa City's crown jewel performing arts venue with a stunning view of Bald Eagles soaring over the Iowa River.
For the Iowa Raptor Project, the spotlight is a chance to share what drives the work every day: connecting students and Iowans to the conservation of birds of prey and their natural habitats through transformative educational experiences and collaborative research.
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce is expected to interview Iowa Raptor Project Director Dave Conrads and Assistant Director Katie Ibsen during the live broadcasts. Raptors Hercules and Shiloh will be featured, and it’s possible other raptors will appear as well. IRP staff, volunteers, and university and community partners, including school mascot Herky, are expected to be in the live audience. Meet all the raptors on the Meet Our Birds web page.
The “50 States in 50 Weeks” series is designed to spotlight people and places that make each state special as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. Iowa’s wintertime timing isn’t random: the series follows the order in which states joined the United States.
The segments also come with a full-circle connection for the production team. The segment’s producer, Ellen Van de Mark, participated in a UI WILD-assisted program as a child through Mann Outdoor Education and credits that experience as a meaningful early influence. Adding to the moment, her sixth-grade teacher at Mann Elementary School, Alexis Stigge — a University of Iowa alumna — is expected to be in the audience for the live segment.
Viewers can tune in Friday between 7 and 9 a.m. Central Time. Segments are expected near the top of the hour, pending breaking news, with a third segment expected around noon.
If you miss the live broadcasts, the segment is expected to be posted afterward on "Good Morning America’s America the Beautiful” website and shared on University of Iowa, College of Education, and UI WILD websites and social media platforms.