Now that my craaaaAAAAaaazy day is over...
Owls! Yes!
A few years ago my friend and I did a Birds of Prey experience and it was FANTASTIC. The highlight was when I was allowed to handle one of those huge bald eagles. He was so heavy I had to rest my elbow on my hip in order to hold him up. You know, it says on wikipedia they're not very heavy, but he lived at the bird sanctuary and was well-fed to keep him calm for handling so maybe he was heavier than the average. He was about a metre tall. Magnificent. We were told he could take a human finger off real easy, so keep our hands well out of his line of sight - that didn't stop one ninnny from fidgeting about with his camera in his lefthand and the eagle on his right. The Eagle made one of those super-fast "I'm going to grab that" gestures but then he chilled out. That ninny was so lucky to keep his fingers.
But we were talking about owls... that day I also had the privilege to handle an elderly barn owl who flew with such efficiency and grace, and who landed gently on my hand. Wonderful.
They also did a display with a kestrel - far out that thing was fast!
Such a great day.
It's a big deal for sure, I totally understand your attitude. It's a heart-breaking place.
I adore owls! Now there's somewhere I would love to visit ~ along with MaryJanet's cat cafes!
Owls! Yes!
A few years ago my friend and I did a Birds of Prey experience and it was FANTASTIC. The highlight was when I was allowed to handle one of those huge bald eagles. He was so heavy I had to rest my elbow on my hip in order to hold him up. You know, it says on wikipedia they're not very heavy, but he lived at the bird sanctuary and was well-fed to keep him calm for handling so maybe he was heavier than the average. He was about a metre tall. Magnificent. We were told he could take a human finger off real easy, so keep our hands well out of his line of sight - that didn't stop one ninnny from fidgeting about with his camera in his lefthand and the eagle on his right. The Eagle made one of those super-fast "I'm going to grab that" gestures but then he chilled out. That ninny was so lucky to keep his fingers.
But we were talking about owls... that day I also had the privilege to handle an elderly barn owl who flew with such efficiency and grace, and who landed gently on my hand. Wonderful.
They also did a display with a kestrel - far out that thing was fast!
Such a great day.
It's a big deal for sure, I totally understand your attitude. It's a heart-breaking place.
We've had osprey shower us with fish bits, a kite take a pigeon over our heads & shower us with blood & feathers, & kestrel stoop & kill in the paddock [& yes, they are super fast!!!] a whistling kite strike & kill under our moving car...we've seen osprey take mullet so large they can't get airborn, black winged kites do their hover thing... I have a couple of sea eagle feathers in my collection; they honk like geese as they pass overhead. And I had a lovely time chatting with the wild life man @ the mall who had an eagle ~ the most MASSIVE wingspan! I'm a bit besotted with raptors.
Can you tell?
I was corrupted young; I read Antonia Forest's Falconer's Lure & fell in love. We get a lot of different owls too & I'm nearly as crazy in love with them too. We had barn owl chicks nearby one year & it was pure luck I eventually figured out what was making all the peculiar noises!
Gross in parts but awesome all the way through. We don't get many raptors near my place, just brown goshawks (I think that's what they are). Saw one the other day floating on the air currents, beautiful.
