Wings, Talons and Community
At Magnifico Coffee Roasters, our owl means more than a logo — it’s family. Inspired by our grandmother, Viri, and her lifelong love of owls, our emblem has always carried a sense of wisdom, care, and the quiet magic of nature. So when a longtime customer mentioned she volunteers with Wings and Talons — an incredible nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates birds of prey — it felt like a rare chance to connect our story with theirs in a meaningful way.
Why Wings and Talons?
Wings and Talons is a volunteer-run organization based in Itasca, Illinois. Their team cares for injured, imprinted, or surrendered birds of prey — from hawks to barn owls — giving them a safe home and a second chance. Every hour of rehabilitation, training, and community education is done out of pure commitment, not compensation.
Their mission is simple: help people become better stewards of wildlife, especially in urban environments.
Once we learned more about their work, partnering with them felt natural. Bringing their message — and their birds — to our Magnifico community became an easy “yes.”
Bringing the Owls to Magnifico
Over the course of the year, we worked with Wings and Talons to host two of their owls at Magnifico Coffee Roasters: a stunning great horned owl and a graceful barn owl.
Our goals were clear:
- Raise awareness
- Support conservation efforts
- Bring nature into the heart of Avondale
- Honor the story behind our owl logo
- Create a moment of wonder for our community
Seeing these birds up close, with no cage between you, is unforgettable. They’re powerful and delicate all at once. It’s grounding. It’s humbling. It reconnects you to nature in a way that stops you in your tracks.
A Day Full of Learning, Wonder & Joy
Kids, adults, families, and neighbors filled our shop with curiosity and excitement. The Wings and Talons team shared stories about each owl — their backgrounds, personalities, and the journeys that brought them to the organization.
Over and over, customers told us how magical it felt to see a bird of prey this close, especially in the middle of the city.
We also brought in hands-on educational activities, including owl pellet dissection kits.
For anyone new to owl pellets:
- Owls can’t fully digest everything they eat
- The undigested parts (like bones) get compacted into a pellet
- Scientists study them
- Kids can dissect them to learn about an owl’s diet
It’s a little gross, extremely fascinating, and honestly? The kids were obsessed. The adults were too. And so were we.
Why This Activation Matters to Us
This wasn’t just another event. It felt like a full-circle moment. Our owl logo is a tribute to family. These owls are a tribute to nature. Bringing them together inside our shop created a connection we’ll never forget.
It was a reminder that even in the middle of Chicago, nature is never far away — and that conservation often starts with awareness, education, and a good story.
Looking Ahead
We’re incredibly grateful to Wings and Talons for trusting us with this activation, and we hope to make this a yearly tradition at Magnifico Coffee Roasters. Our community loved it, the volunteers were inspiring, and the energy was unforgettable.
Magnifico Coffee Roasters is proud to support organizations protecting wildlife, because coffee tastes even better when it brings people and nature closer together.