Independence is going back to Philadelphia.

After flying before a primetime Philadelphia Eagles game on Thursday, Sept. 14, the university announced Auburn’s bald eagle Independence, better known as Indy, will make two return trips to Lincoln Financial Field in October.

AL.com reported earlier this week that the Sept. 14 flight would not be Indy’s last with the Eagles or outside of Auburn in general. However, the school did not yet have dates ready to announce for those trips.

Indy will fly this Sunday, Oct. 1, for the Eagles’ noon central time game against the Washington Commanders. The second trip will occur on Oct. 22, for a primetime Sunday night Eagles game against the Miami Dolphins — a game that should feature two former Alabama quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa watching an Auburn tradition.

According to an Auburn press release, Indy’s flight during the national anthem will not be shown on television but will be filmed to either be shown later in the broadcast or posted on social media channels.

In a previous AL.com article, Auburn Raptor Center Director Wade Stevens said Indy will largely be the bird the program takes to venues outside of Auburn. Being a bald eagle, she better fits the patriotic themes of a flight during the Star Spangled Banner. Aurea, War Eagle VIII, is a golden eagle as as the official War Eagle, will fly the Auburn tradition of the pregame flight around Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Stevens said it is important to him to fly the official War Eagle whenever possible. Indy has flown at several Auburn games after making her debut in 2021. She flew the first eagle flight at Plainsman Park.

Auburn’s pregame eagle flight tradition dates back to 2000, with Tiger being the first eagle to fly across the stadium. Tiger also made occasional trips outside of Auburn, including flying at the 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies in Salt Lake City.

But taking Indy to the Eagles — and plans for other future venues across the NFL, other sports or even political rallies — is meant to help drive a new revenue stream for the Raptor Center, which does not receive funding from Auburn’s athletic department despite its heavy ties to football.

Stevens hopes to turn the three flights with the Eagles this season into a long-term partnership in the years to come as the Raptor Center continues to expand. It hopes to use the funding to build a new facility in Auburn.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]