Frightful's been at it again! New COOL sighting, post 191

[babylady4]

I hope you do write about your experience; and document as much as possible with photos!!!

What a great way to stumble into such a rewarding job; I know I always enjoyed it when the wildlife rehabbers would come and chat at the schools.....

Keep posting!

 

[xke4]

Editing my post to note that should you happen to pick up a kestrel or a merlin, WATCH OUT!!! . Those little beasties WILL bite you if they have the opportunity. And it hurts big time. But the big guys typically use their talons. Now, if loons are in your area, you must carry with you safety goggles as they will go for your eyes and their beeks are deadly. Add Great Blue Herons to that list. Owls, watch out for their feet and beek and keep your eyes safe then too. Always have your radio turned off during bird transport as well. You will LOVE this work. Especially when you see them fly off and be what they were intended to be. Carolyn

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
Yes, it's amazing how big she is now that she feels better LOL.

First they move her into a cage that's really high, probably 15'-20' square. They watch her fly in there and see how she behaves. If it looks like no other issues are present, they move her to a 50' long cage at another site and that's where they test her hunting skills.

They didn't go into detail about testing her hunting skills, guess they thought I'd be squeamish. I'll learn more as we all get to know each other

The raptor center is at a middle school. I don't think they want the kids witnessing kills

So they move the hunting birds to the other site where there is also more room for a larger enclosure. After she passes that test they'll crate her for release.


Frightful has a voracious appetite and isn't bashful about eating in front of people. So any bird that doesn't finish it's dinner in a timely manner, she gets the 'leftovers'. Even after eating 3 mice she was still dangerous to the fingers of the person bringing her leftovers

That's my girl!! Only the buzzard gets to leave food laying around (of the diurnal birds).


xke4, I was thinking I should put some safety goggles into my car along with big heavy leather gloves. Not just in case of beaks & claws, but because a flapping wing or a swinging branch could be just as disabling if they whacked me in the eye. I may never get to use the equipment (indeed, I hope all the birds stay safe) but it can't hurt to carry them in my trunk inside a large cardboard box. I knew about birds and eyeballs, though. Rescued a seagull as a kid and caught one HECK of a lecture from Daddy about birds pecking out eyes (and about mites and diseases as well when I said I'd be more careful next time). I was grateful there was a beach ranger guy nearby that day LOL.

I am really excited about seeing Frightful fly away and be free. While the rehab lady thinks Frightful has a mate in the same area, I watched the skies over the weekend and didn't see anyone there. Saw plenty of hawks in other locations, but not over our valley.

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
A swan can be pretty darn dangerous! Those are such big birds and not bashful about biting and battering with their wings. Wow!! Good for you!!

A lot of people have told me to write up the story and submit it for publication, including a friend who's had a couple of articles published. And I probably will try that, but not until I get 'the rest of the story'. I'm still paranoid about jinxing a "happily ever after" conclusion for Frightful.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
She knows she has some weight to make up and muscle to build!

I have been on two releases in WA state - one was a Red tail, who like you I rescued from the side of the road, also a female. Wrapped her in my jacket and drove right to the Animal preserve (I know them and had worked with them).


The first release was a bald eagle - so incredible to be close enough to feel tiny! He was not actually ready, and we had to track him thru a stream and re-kennel him. While he did fine in trials for the first release, when he left the kennel he never seemed to get a good lift and just hopped/bounced/flapped along the ground. The second time release was tried a month later, he flew true and strong.

 

[xke4]

Guaranteed!! If you have all the equipment ready, you'll never have to use it. Isn't that always the way. But that's a good thing, right>?
Here's a great video from our wildlife centre that was taken last month.

 

[wegotchickens]

Cool video, xke4!!


HorseFeatherz NV, it's good to know that just because a release doesn't go well the first time it doesn't mean bad things for the bird. That's been one of my worries in my 'What if's....'

 

[fordmommy]

That was a cool video! No broken bones. Talk about lucky! Amazing!

 

[xke4]

Thank you. In a strange way, the owl's altercation with the truck turned out to be a fortunate one for him. We discovered that he had a very painful tumour growing into one of his talons. Totally unrelated to the truck incident. A trip to the vet ended with an amputation of the painful toe. He recovered quickly with no complications and after we determined that he could still catch his own food, planned his release.

 

[wegotchickens]

Well, I had a very bad day yesterday and needed some cheering up. As I drove past the spot where I rescued Frightful I smiled a little.
Then I looked up and spotted a hawk soaring high within line-of-site of where Frightful had been. Slightly smaller and paler tail but definitely a Red-Tail Hawk. So I'd say Frightful's mate is looking for her. I hope he waits long enough