Written by Alexis McMurtry

At the end of a rugged, unpaved mountain road in Trenton, Georgia, John Stokes and Dale Kernahan’s home stands as a sanctuary surrounded by the wild beauty they work to protect. Outside, hand-built enclosures house majestic birds of prey, while bird feeders invite a chorus of smaller birds. Here, nature is more than a backdrop – it’s the heartbeat of their lives.

Wings to Soar, a nonprofit organization founded by the duo 11 years ago, serves as a sanctuary for birds of prey that can no longer survive in the wild alone. These raptors – many of whom are injured or have imprinted on humans – are given to them by various wildlife veterinarians and rehabilitation facilitators. This organization also focuses on education by offering programs that help the public understand the vital role these birds play in maintaining the balance of nature.

The idea for their organization came about unexpectedly when they were visiting Chattanooga from Santa Barbara, California, and learned that a Dollywood-based initiative called Save Our American Raptors was disbanding. Despite initially feeling uncertain about taking over due to being located in California at the time, they soon decided to do so and moved forward with their plans. 

“As soon as we got back to California, we found a property online, bought the house, moved, built the enclosures, and got the birds. It was a slow start, you know, but we just knew we could do it. We knew we could.” said Kernahan.

Though their start was challenging with limited funds and no jobs, their determination led them to establish the organization. After a long and windy road of trials and tribulations, they landed on their feet and made a nest for themselves.

The most rewarding part of their work, however, isn’t just the sanctuary and the birds themselves. For Stokes and Kernahan, it’s the ability to inspire future generations. Their educational programs, especially those in urban areas, offer children a chance to see and understand birds of prey up close, something many have never experienced before.

“The most amazing thing, though, is the children,” Kernahan said. “The [programs] we do in Morgan City, that’s kind of an inner city situation, they have never seen a bird of prey. We get the birds right next to them and they can look at their intricate beauty. We talk about the interwoven balance of birds of prey in nature, and hopefully, we’re planting some seeds for [future conservationists].” 

These interactions often leave lasting impressions, and the birds themselves serve as ambassadors for the cause. One of the most touching examples is Atsha, an eagle who is missing a wing. The sight of Atsha, and the story of her resilience, frequently moves people to tears.

“Atsha is missing a wing. A lot of the times we walk out with her, we talk about Atsha, and the children start to cry. Even adults cry because it impacts them so much to see a bird without a wing. It’s the birds that are ambassadors.” said Kernahan.

Stokes and Kernahan’s devotion to their birds goes beyond the educational programs they run. The couple has made it their life’s work to rehabilitate and care for birds of prey, even when the task becomes physically and emotionally taxing. Despite the obstacles they’ve encountered while building their nonprofit, the love they have for nature is what drives them forward.

“It’s definitely been a lot less ordinary, you know, and looking back, I wouldn’t trade anything,” said Stokes.

Their sanctuary is home to a diverse group of raptors, including peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks, Harris’s hawks, American kestrels, two screech owls, a barn owl, an albino barred owl, a regular barred owl, and a black vulture. Each of these birds plays a unique and vital role in the ecosystem.

“Birds of prey are predators,” Kernahan said. “They keep nature in balance by eating the weak, the sick, and the extra. Like vultures, they have a super important role. They’re nature’s sanitation engineers. Every organism in nature has a specific role, and humans tend to feel separate from the balance of nature but we’re not, we’re all woven into nature.”

Stoke and Kernahan’s sanctuary is more than just a home; it’s a call to protect nature and its delicate ecosystems. In this place, where the silence of the raptors speaks volumes and the songs of small birds fill the air, they know their work is far from over. With every new generation of bird watchers they inspire, with every life touched by their passion, and every child who watches their birds take flight, they hope to leave a lasting legacy of conservation and a deeper connection to nature.

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Meet the Storyteller

Alexis McMurtry is a senior Communication major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, with minors in Psychology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies. McMurtry’s experience lies in multimedia journalism with experience as Photo Editor for the University Echo and as Assistant Editor for Rising Rock. She is passionate about her leadership roles and advocates for those that are hidden on the fringes of society. McMurtry believes that everyone has a story to be told. To tell your story through her lens, reach out to wzv284@mocs.utc.edu.