Afternoon boo and buffs.
I just reread Lori's thread again. It's been a while plus I didn't see the new post from yesterday until now. I love the story. Such a story of hope.
There's a couple of red tails that live near me too. One time one of the juvies came and was lookin at my chickens who were free ranging and my they were makin a fuss out in the bushes. I ran out to see what the heck and there on the gutter of the house sat a very curious juvy hawk all side cocked lookin down at those tastey chickens hiding themselves in the bushes. The hawk visited and scared and scattered my chickens several times before venturing elsewhere. Every time I heard the alarm call, I'd send the dogs out and come outside and tell the hawk it was naughty and then all the little neighborhood birds would swoop down and make it fly off. I think they are majestic birds...I was thrilled to find a great horned owl recently in my coop...wierd perhaps...but wow, how many times does one get THAT close to a wild bird that can snap your fingers off in one bite and do some serious damage? They can't help it they are hungry...I'd just rather them hunt somewhere else but I don't mind viewing them.
We have a place called Hoo Haven that takes in rescues and rehabs and releases if they are able or lets them live out their lives there if unable to. It's a neat place. I wouldn't mind volunteering there sometimes. They have all sorts of birds--eagles, hawks, vultures...owls and swans and geese and a pelican (from Iowa that was on a regular migratory path and didn't follow cuz he had sick feet)....and foxes, rabbits, coyote, possum, goat, donkey...and then smaller cages for small creatures inside. I saw old ladies choppin vegetables and I saw a cat playin with a dead mouse it stole out of the box of dead mice and a middle aged guy helping clean cages...it was a really neat place to visit and they really do need help financially by donors...to help tend to the animals they go out and rescue and the animals that are brought to them.... a very worthy cause in my book.