Our Board's mission

Barbara’s dedication to raptor conservation began in 2003 with Audubon Florida’s flagship EagleWatch program. Barbara grew that program on a statewide basis and mapped new eagle nests in 4 counties prior to bald eagles being delisted. During her tenure at Audubon, Barbara was awarded Volunteer of the Year in 2012, and in 2017, she was awarded the National Audubon Society’s Dutcher Award for Service.  Barbara presided over two chapters and received a board service award from Audubon Florida for 3 years of statewide board service. Her passion led her to complete comprehensive courses through the University of Minnesota on raptor management and rehabilitation, and completion of courses on managing a raptor center through the World Bird Sanctuary. Recognizing that osprey conservation in urban areas is particularly challenging, Barbara pioneered an osprey program with the support of Duke Energy, empowering the thriving presence of these magnificent birds.  Barbara continues to develop the bird of prey program at Moccasin Lake Nature Park and is a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. Her future endeavors include research on ospreys and kestrels with a focus on the latter, aiming to make a profound impact on the conservation of this threatened species.  As an active member of the Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Association, National Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Association, and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, Barbara continues to inspire transformative change, with the osprey remaining her beloved bird of choice.

Chad Roberts grew up about 20 minutes south of Kansas City in Spring Hill and Olathe. As part of his education, he played saxophone in band. With his high school band, he marched in the 1991 Rose Bowl Parade. Chad earned the rank of Eagle Scout and loves to tent camp. He attended a National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virgina and a World Jamboree in Australia. He has a BS in Computer Systems Technology, a Minor in Business and a MS in Adult Education. Chad has 20+ years experience in the field of information technology and is currently working for Hillsborough County Head Start on their IT Team. He moved to the Tampa Bay area from Kansas in June of 2018 because of his love for turtles and the volunteer opportunities available with them. Little did he know there was an opportunity to work with birds of prey. When Chad is not volunteering, he enjoys his new found home of Florida. Volunteering with birds of prey is a dream come true for Chad. Soon after high school, a local community college offered a falconry class where they were going to do a mock hunt with American kestrel falcons at the end of the class. This did not happen, Chad was devastated and eventually, he forgot about this passion. Fast forward 30 years and he is now living his dream to work with the birds of prey with Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue at Moccasin Lake Nature Park.

Françoise (Fran) M. Haasch is the founder of the Fran Haasch Law Group, a dedicated advocate for personal injury victims with over two decades of experience. Known for her commitment to justice, Fran fights tirelessly for her clients, ensuring they receive the medical care and compensation they deserve. Beyond the courtroom, Fran is passionate about wildlife conservation and is honored to serve on the board of Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue. She is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured raptors, as well as promoting education and conservation efforts to protect these majestic birds. A longtime Florida resident, Fran is deeply involved in the local community, supporting various charitable causes. When she’s not advocating for her clients or raptors, she enjoys time with her family and many rescue animals.

Lani Walker’s experience with raptors began at just 9 years old, learning under her mother, a wildlife rehabilitator. When Lani turned 13, after expressing an interest in the performing arts, her mother connected her with a falconer who educated audiences at Renaissance fairs. This experience ignited a deep passion, showing Lani a unique way to combine her love for conservation with her passion for performing. At 17, she completed her first Renaissance fair on her own, managing a small team of birds selected by the falconer to ensure her learning, success, and the thorough education of guests. It was during this period that Lani began working with eagles, caring for a Wahlberg's eagle for a few months at a time over a three-year period. Around the same time, she assisted with educational raptor experiences at the Florida Aquarium, gaining valuable hands-on experience with both a Bald Eagle and a White-tailed Sea Eagle. After starting college, Lani continued working alongside her mother at Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue. Since then, she has worked with four Bald Eagles and personally trained a handful of avian ambassadors. Today, she uses these ambassadors to educate hotel and resort guests, teaching visitors to Florida about the state's local wildlife.

coming soon!

Mikell Kilgore is a college student currently attending Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) in their professional piloting program. He has been working with Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue for a little over three years, taking on a wide variety of roles during his tenure. His work began with the fundamental care of the birds, including cleaning, feeding, and managing enclosure maintenance to ensure each resident’s size, enrichment, and safety needs were met. As his skills grew, Mikell was entrusted with greater responsibilities. He particularly enjoys the hands-on rehabilitation process—helping animals recover and watching a bird take flight after a long course of care. However, his largest role has been in training, where he works one-on-one with permanent residents on daily care and handling to ensure they live long, happy lives. Recently, Mikell was entrusted with the care of a new resident: Miss America, a Bald Eagle who arrived at the rescue in September 2025 following a car accident. After her initial recovery, Mikell began working with her in early January 2026. Because she had broken both wings, she suffered from muscle atrophy during her recovery. Through six months of daily, rigorous training and exercise under Mikell's guidance, she regained her strength and is flying beautifully once again. Having developed a strong recall with Miss America, Mikell is now able to fly her on a tether up to 250 feet. She has become one of the rescue's strongest ambassadors, continuously demonstrating resilience and confidence. Mikell remains deeply grateful to Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue for the opportunity to be a part of their team.