About RCTB
Who’s Who at RCTB
To report a sick or injured bird, please call our hotline at 813-205-1851
Meet Our Board of Directors
Although we are a small organization, our operations are extensive. Long before our official establishment in 2018 as a 501 (c)(3), The Raptor Center of Tampa Bay has played an outsized role in local efforts to meet the enormous (and growing) need to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured and sick birds of prey. The Center’s tireless leadership, with the invaluable help of its dedicated volunteers, has long been committed to this mission doing so very much over the years for injured and sick birds, with so very little.
Throughout that time and even today, a small group of rescuers and one rehabilitator have selflessly depleted their own financial resources, used their home as makeshift clinics and holding pens, and transported birds in their personal automobiles. They did so, while simultaneously reaching out to educate the community, collaborate with local authorities, and attract volunteers and donors, so that they can continue to respond to the community’s calls for help on behalf of injured or sick birds.
As the calls for help multiplied, it became clear the only way effectively to address the need in the long term was to come together formally in 2018 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and operating the Tampa Bay area’s first raptor rehabilitation facility.
Nancy Murrah
President
Nancy Murrah spent many years as the Director of Learning for the one of the largest insurance companies in America. Today she dedicates her life to rehabilitating wildlife, especially birds of prey. Always while exploring, learning and growing others knowledge of wildlife she teaches the importance of conserving wild lands and clean water for animals and people alike. She is currently a Federally and State Permitted Wildlife Rehabilitator and the President of The Raptor Center of Tampa Bay where, in addition to many duties, she designs and delivers Nature Programs.
A native of Tampa Florida she has spent the great majority of her life outside learning about nature. She is a local writer of children’s stories, facilitator, photographer and illustrator. Nancy has written stories for both education and entertainment. Her stories include Tilly the Gopher Tortoise, The Eagles’ Forest, Paige Eagle Ambassador and Ollie the Alligator. Most of the illustrations in the programs were also drawn by Nancy.
She serves as a citizen scientist for EagleWatch, an Audubon Florida program, she is on the board of directors for Tampa Audubon, Volunteers for both JayWatch and ColonyWatch projects, as well as participating in the Christmas Bird Count, Migratory Bird Count, Hawk Watch in the keys when she can and The Great Backyard Bird Count. Nancy spends the fast majority of her time rescuing and rehabilitating raptors and is building a Bird of Prey Rehabilitation and Education Center.
Kat Harnest
Volunteer Coordinator
Kat is a Florida Master Naturalist, as well as being certified in Kayak instruction for people with disabilities. She keeps track of all our volunteers and their related documents! She works for American Hero Construction and has been instrumental in helping us work to get the center ready for patients to move in.
Kat also has recently taken on the responsibility of making sure all permits are properly executed.
Ed Karlander
Director
Ed is our financial conscience. Ed helps us with the center, rescue, finances, and so much more!
Whitney Erb, Director
Whitney came to us as an intern several years ago while she was working on a degree in environmental science. She headed up our Barn owl Project and now has a Vet Assist Degree and is working at a local animal emergency hospital.
Jenn Graff, Instagram Manager
Jenn has boosted our followers and helped guide us on Instagram. With a background in radio, Jenn has media experience we need to continue to increase our followers on all social media platforms.
Kim Rexroat
Director of Merchandising
With her eye on the money Kim has been a dedicated volunteer for over two years. Kim has individually held the most successful individual fundraising efforts. Every week Kim has come helped clean cages, fill water bowels and feed the birds in rehabilitation. She has driven over 11,000 miles, this year alone to help us help the birds. Kim oversees merchandise sales.
Check out our FaceBook and Instagram pages.
You can learn more about our volunteer program and download important volunteer docs, just click below.
