The Owl's Perch

Hey Baby

2012-02-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

You may not realize it, but spring is in the air. Actually, spring was in the air weeks ago when I first started exchanging hoots with the gorgeous wild Great Horned Owl that perches in the tree outside my cage. It's very Romeo and Juliet, except that I (Juliet) am only flirting and leading the handsome fella on. But I can't help myself--his hoots are so deep and resonant. Still, he'll be pretty surprised the day he comes down for a visit and realizes where I live.

It's not just me in a lovin' mood right now. The old Red-Tailed Hawk nest on the property is being taken over by a nesting pair of Great Horned Owls, and they're hooting up a storm every night. It's all "Hey baby" this and "Hey Baby" that. Even a couple of Great Horned in recovery cages are cozying up to each other and hooting sweet nothings in each others' ears.

Yes indeed, spring is in the air, and it's at least two weeks early. That means, of course, that what the Humans refer to as "Baby Season" is just around the corner. Then the orphans and other youngins start pouring through the doors, and the busy time of year is officially kicked off.

I can't tell what exactly the Humans think about this. On one hand they seem unenthusiastic, like they're already anticipating all the work that goes into raising raptor chicks without imprinting them. But sometime they seem excited, and I definitely overheard someone mention "the way baby owls smell" with a touch of longing in her voice.

Any way you slice it, there will be babies here at the RMRP sooner than later. And as a foster mom myself, I can assure you that some interesting stories and fun pictures will definitely be coming down the line. I'll be sure to let you know the moment our first babies come through the door!

Q&A Corner - Nicknames

2012-02-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

I reader recently sent me a question about the alternative names Humans use for common raptors. She asked, "Why do I never hear the RMRP talk about rehabilitating sparrow hawks or pigeon hawks?"

The reason is that "sparrow hawk" and "pigeon hawk" are not the real [scientific] names of those birds. Many of these names have roots in Europe, whereas others are simply based in habitat or prey items. Here's a rundown of bird 'nicknames' and where they come from (please note that I relied heavily on Wikipedia for most of this information):

Sparrowhawk = American Kestrel: Sparrowhawks really do exist, but primarily in Europe and Asia, and not in North America. When used here in the US, 'sparrowhawk' refers to the American Kestrel, which is funny because the real Eurasian Sparrowhawk looks nothing like a Kestrel, which is actually a falcon. The AOU Checklist of North American Birds mistakenly referred to the American Kestrel as a Sparrowhawk until the sixth edition came out in 1983, which is why the name has stuck around so persistently. Interestingly, some other colloquial names for the Kestrel are Grasshopper Hawk (they do like to eat grasshoppers) and Killy Hawk (based on its [annoying and loud] call).

Pigeon Hawk = Merlin: Another case of mistaken identity, the Merlin is a falcon that was called a hawk for a long time. This name didn't come over from Europe, though; it's an entirely North American invention. The first known use of the name Pigeon Hawk was around 1728, and it's definitely not an inaccurate name: the Merlin is known to take down pigeons!
Duck Hawk = Peregrine Falcon: Anyone else notice that the three most common nicknames are all falcons being referred to as hawks? I'm sure the Kestrel next door to me will notice when he reads it...and then I'll get an earful! Anyways, the Peregrine Falcon used to be commonly referred to as the Duck Hawk. The name almost certainly refers to the birds' skill at snagging and killing ducks, although, having heard our resident Peregrine when she's upset, I think it could also refer to the honking noise they sometimes make! Haha. Don't tell her I said that.
Marsh Hawk = Northern Harrier: At last, a colloquial name that doesn't apply to falcons! The Marsh Hawk is code for the Northern Harrier, also known as the Harrier Hawk. In Europe these birds are referred to as Hen Harriers. Marsh Hawk is an example of a nickname derived from habitat: marshes are one of its favorite hunting grounds.
Chickenhawk = Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Coopers Hawk, and Red-Tailed Hawk: Really, Humans? I understand not being able to tell the difference between a Coopers and a Sharpie, but saying that either of those is the same as a Red-Tailed Hawk...well, it's easy to see why Humans aren't renowned for their eyesight.

Alright, that's all I can think of for now. Know any more? Let me know in a comment!

Thank you!

2012-02-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

I wanted to send out a huge thank you to the Humans who have been posting comments on my posts, and emailing questions to me (talons of doom (one word) @ gmail . com). It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to have feedback! Well, as warm and fuzzy as a Great Horned Owl gets.

Sending hoots of gratitude your way!

Counting down...

2012-02-22T19:18:00.001-07:00

...to Auction night!

We're all atwitter (ahoot?) here at the RMRP. There are only two and a half days remaining before the epic and glamorous night commences! I'm so excited I can't even sleep during the day! We haven't yet been told who will be going, so we're all preparing just in case. I've spent all week preening my feathers and cleaning the blood off my feet so I'll look perfect for the big night. Here's what some of the other birds are saying about preparing for the Auction:

Eastern Screech Owl: "Ugh, I seriously need to lose some grams before Saturday. I won't even be able to fit into my box!"
Bald Eagle: "Excellent, an excuse to wear my favorite perfume, eau d' trout. Wows them every time!"
American Kestrel: "I'm so going to smuggle in my phone and Tweet about this."
Long-Eared Owl: "I'm surrounded by brutes. Why must I be the only bird at the Auction to maintain good posture and eye contact?"
Swainson's Hawk: "We're going to Auction? Is that in Argentina? I'm so confused."
Red-Tailed Hawk: "Dance party!!!"
Turkey Vulture: "I know it's a 'black tie' affair, but how about a 'black everything'? Will that work?"
Prairie Falcon: "Can someone please find my some bling? Please? Anyone?"
Common Barn Owl: Wait, will she be coming? Because I can't go if she doesn't go."
Rough-Legged Hawk: "I'll be sure to wear my most dapper cummerbund."
Burrowing Owl: "If anyone refers to me as 'Marvin the Martian' again, I will eat them. Seriously. Eat them."

As for me, I'm just going to try to sneak in my camera and get pictures of everything for those of you who won't be able to make it! And as for the rest of you, have you bought your tickets yet? Get them here!

Oh yeah, the menu is now available at that link as well. Doesn't look good to me (Spinach and cheese ravioli? Cheesecake? Where are the mice and rats?!), but the Humans are drooling over it. Also, I overheard the Humans talking about some of the live auction items, and I'll give you a hint: some lucky spenders will be taking amazing vacations to warmer lands!

Okay, that's all for now. Can't wait to see you there!

The Interloper - A Predictive Haiku

2012-02-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Rat looks up too late

Silent wings bring a swift death

Nom nom nom nom nom

Some more 2011 statistics

2012-02-19T02:44:00.000-07:00

Sent the Bald Eagle in on another klepto-mission last night. She came back with an interesting document on medical statistics from 2011. Interested?

Reportable injuries - Reportable injuries are things like high-voltage trauma (HVT), poisoning, and gunshot wounds, those unhappy side effects of the Human presence in raptor habitat. These are injuries that are reported to the State because they're trying to figure out how bad the problems are and what can be done about them.

26 reportable injuries in 2011 (compared to just 14 in 2010)
4 of these injury types were new for the RMRP:

leg-hold traps (multiple)
power line collision (as opposed to shock)
methane burner flare
wind turbine

2011 saw twice as many HVTs as 2010
Three of the HVTs were tracked back to a specific power pole, and those three poles were retro-fitted by the electric company to be raptor-safe. Three cheers for working together to fix the problem!

You may be interested to know that the methane burner bird, a young Swainson's Hawk, is still with us, doing well, and waiting to molt and grow in a whole new set of feathers. I'll be writing about him soon!

2011 injury and release stats - these stats do not include overwintered birds from 2010

242 birds admitted
47% of all birds admitted were released
84% of birds who survived the first 48 hours were released (This statistic is really pretty amazing. What it essentially means is that of the birds who had a fighting chance, the potentially-savable birds, 84% of them were released! That's incredible!)
56% of admitted birds were first-year birds, Of those, only 26% were orphans (kids with nothing wrong with them)
53% of known injuries were hit-by-car
17% of known injuries were window strike
14% of known injuries were HVT
Over 50% of admitted birds had injuries of unknown cause
40% of injured birds had at least one fracture
23% were emaciated (not just underweight)
25% had head and/or spinal trauma
Birds that were released stayed an average of 44 days

Live prey used in 2010 - this is what we call "mouse school", or making sure that injured or immature birds know how to hunt effectively before they are released back into the wild.

55 quail
287 mice
149 rats

Amazed by what these birds go through just trying to survive? Want to support the RMRP's efforts to save them? Click here or check out the "wish list" page in the banner at the top.

Whew! That's a lot of numbers for my head. I'm going to go hoot out the window for awhile.

Raptors in the News - Vulture Restaurants in Nepal

2012-02-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

Really interesting article on how Nepal is working to save its endangered vulture populations. The Turkey Vulture down the hall from me is hoping they'll open one in his cage. Read it here!

By the way, what do you think the dog in this picture is thinking?!

Sad News - A Death in the Family

2012-02-17T09:49:00.001-07:00

We here in the RMRP family are all mourning today, Raptors and Humans alike. The Great Horned Owl that we refer to as the Old Male passed away yesterday, leaving an Owl-shaped hole in all out hearts. For those of you who never got to meet the Old Male, let me tell you a little bit about him.

He became an Educational Ambassador way back in 1996, and was already an adult bird, which means he was at least eighteen years old when he passed away! He never would tell any of us his actual age, but we're pretty sure he was considerably older because he was always grumping about us 'young kids' making too much noise at night.

He was one of the first birds I can remember meeting when I began my training as an educational bird, and I've used him as a role model ever since. He was always well-behaved when being handled, one of the best of us, but he still hissed and clacked at every single person who came near (or even looked into his cage!) so that the Humans would always remember that he was a wild bird, no matter how good he was on the fist. And he was great: during his stay here I'm sure he went to many hundreds of programs and exhibits.

To quote a Human I overheard, the Old Male was "a fighter and a lover," which I definitely agree with. He contracted and fought West Nile Virus not just once, but twice, and kicked its butt both times. And while living out at the ELC he and his female roommate became inseperable: they were forever perched side-by-side on their A-frame, no space between them, hissing in unison at whomever dared disturb them. Sadly, she passed away many years ago.

The Humans are unsure why exactly the Old Male died. He had a medical procedure earlier this week to remove a mass that had developed in his body. He'd been recovering well and had a good attitude (hissing and clacking at everyone, like usual). His extreme age, which was only achieved because he was so well cared for in captivity, was probably a factor. The Humans are waiting for lab tests to give more info.

But whatever the reason for his passing, and no matter how sad and lonely we're all feeling without him in our lives anymore, it makes me happy to imagine him and his mate flying together through the night sky somewhere over the plains of Colorado.

Two Bald Eagles = Double the Fun

2012-02-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

Not many new neighbors have been coming through the cages recently. Like I said, it's winter, and, everyone is grateful to be experiencing a "slow season". But of the few birds who have been passing through, two (!!) of them are Bald Eagles, and they're both handfuls, but for different reasons.

Bald Eagle #1: In for the long haul

Just down the hall from me is an adult Bald Eagle that came in barely able to use her legs and feet. The Humans have determined that she had spinal trauma that left her out of touch with her extremities. Their solution: physical therapy. For a couple of weeks they were catching her regularly to work her legs and feet through something they call "PROM", or "passive range of motion." That means the Humans are holding on to her legs/feet and moving them through their normal range of motion, one joint at a time, then the whole shebang at once. The idea is that the nerves and muscles in the legs/feet have "forgotten" how to do what they're supposed to, and PROM will help them "remember" more easily.

Then, in recent weeks, they've moved her to "AROM", or "active range of motion." That means they're setting things up in her cage in such a way that she's putting herself through physical therapy. Naturally, both Humans and Eagle are enjoying the reduced interaction. The way the Humans have her doing AROM is by providing her with numerous perches in a wide range of shapes, heights and styles. In order to get to her food, she needs to negotiate some of these perches. This makes her use her legs and feet on her own, in little baby steps, with a food reward at the end. Excellent.

What's most interesting about her case, in my opinion, is that the Humans are spending a lot of time right now rebuilding her confidence. She would eat me if she knew I were writing this, but the truth is, she's lost all confidence in her ability to use her legs and feet! Even though you don't imagine an animal as majestic and indomitable as a Bald Eagle having confidence issues, it makes sense when you think about it: she must have pushed herself hard when she first lost her ability to use her legs and feet, refusing to believe that she couldn't move like an Eagle anymore, and her reward was probably some harsh face-plants and deep bruises. We Raptors aren't dumb--we're quick learners. And if we crash and burn a few times, and it hurts, we stop trying.

So in addition to providing AROM physical therapy for her, the perches in her cage are also baby-stepping her back up to her old Eagle-level of confidence, allowing her to progressively jump higher and land more solidly as her body heals. I often overhear the Humans talking about her, and they say she's making slow-but-steady progress, and there's hope that she'll make a full recovery. But it's going to take a long time.

I tell you what: the day she achieves her old level of strength and confidence, and remembers how to use it...well, I wouldn't want to be the one in the cage with her. Those feet are big.

Bald Eagle #2: Kamikaze Knucklehead

Well, that's not what I call him, but I've overheard the Humans referring to him this way. This immature Bald Eagle came in with a whole bunch of injuries: a fractured coracoid, an injured leg, and some pretty severe lead poisoning. The coracoid is one of those specialized bones we birds have in the shoulder-region, and it allows us to beat our wings strongly enough to fly. In other words, it's pretty essential. It's also difficult to fix a fractured one because it's located deep within the shoulder muscles. Pretty much the only thing the Humans can do to fix a fractured coracoid is keep the bird calm and quiet for a couple of weeks until it heals on its own.

Well, thank goodness for leg injuries and lead poisoning, or this Eagle would never have healed! I wouldn't normally wish those things on anybird, but the combination of illness and pain is the only thing that kept this "knucklehead" quiet enough for his coracoid to heal reasonably well. As soon as he started feeling better he put up a fight at every turn, most notably by heedlessly smashing into anything around him while trying to get away. Solid wall? So what. He'd try to go through it.

As soon as he was deemed fit enough, he was moved into a larger cage--maybe he wouldn't bash around so much? No such luck--he still thought he could break through wooden slats with his 6-pound body. All last week the other birds and I tried to tell him to chill the heck out, but he wouldn't listen. Some birds are just born with more determination than others. Gotta give him props for trying, though!

It didn't take long for the Humans to decide he was fit enough for one of the large flight cages, a place where he can really stretch his wings and practice using that damaged coracoid. He was moved out there today (finally, some quiet around here). Did he stop running into walls in the bigger cage? Hardly. Here's what I overheard one of the Humans saying about him today: "As soon as I released him into the cage, he flew straight at the far wall in a straight line, and I cringed expecting the crash...but at the last second he changed directions and flew straight up---and crashed into the ceiling instead. Then he came tumbling down and landed on a perch, exactly like that was what he meant to do all along. Knucklehead."

So, he may not be the most graceful bird around, but all us Educational Birds are cheering right now because the Eagle flew straight up. That requires lift, and lift requires a fully-functional and strong coracoid!

In case you were wondering, each of those Eagles tears through nearly a pound of fish and meat every day. Want to help provide them with lunch? Click here!

I'll be sure to keep you updated on the progress of my amazing neighbors. Check back often!

Well-wishes to a friend

2012-02-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

One of the Educational Birds, a Great Horned Owl who has been here forever, had to visit the doctor this week. He's a very old man at this point, and he needed some help with a health issue. He's recovering well, and I'll keep you updated. Please send kind thoughts of still-warm mice and moonlit nights his way!

Q&A Corner

2012-02-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

....there is no Q&A corner this week.

Because no one is writing me with questions to answer.

Come on! I know you're curious about things! Don't be shy--I can't bite through the interwebs. But I'd love to have some comments on my posts and emails in my inbox (talons of doom [one word] @ gmail . com) to respond to.

Anyone...?

The Interloper – Still Waiting

2012-02-15T03:10:00.000-07:00

I imagine this is what the rat's last moment will look like:

Here ratty, ratty, ratty….

Note that this is a Eurasian Eagle Owl, not a Great Horned like me.

Glue-Trapped Owl Update

2012-02-14T21:27:00.002-07:00

I have big news! The Eastern Screech Owl I mentioned the other day, the one who was stuck to a glue trap in someone's yard: he has been released!! After passing mouse-school like a pro and waiting for a storm to pass, he took to the air, never to see this place again.

To the lucky Owl: may you remain glue-trap free for the rest of your days!

The Interloper – A Limerick

2012-02-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

A rat who thinks he’ll steal

The leftovers of my meal

Will have quite a fright

The night I take flight

And kill him with great zeal

How I Came to the RMRP - Part III - Rehab

2012-02-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

Three days after I was admitted to the RMRP's Critical Care Unit, I was finally able to stand on my own two feet again. I was a shaky, poorly-balanced version of my old self, but I was steadily improving under the care of the Humans at the RMRP. Of course, that's not how I viewed it at the time! I had no idea what was going on, only that I was in a small metal cage, that people kept catching me and sticking me with needles, and that I was very, very far from anything familiar. Now that I have a better idea of what was going on then, I can understand that I was kept in a small, quiet cage so I wouldn't bash around and injure myself further, and that I was caught once a day for medications that were essential to my healing (and so Humans could clean up after my stinky Owl messes).

But just because the Humans were doing all that to me for my own good didn't mean I had to take it nicely. I was too weak to fight back at first, and the world seemed to lurch whenever I moved to fast. But the first day I felt well enough to grab at the gloved hands that reached in to capture me, I did so quickly and strongly, and the Human on the receiving end gasped in surprise (although he followed the gasp with, "Ooh, good, she tried to talon me!"). That was the same day that the world stopped lurching enough for me to grab and eat the food they held in front of my beak, and I wolfed down my meal to the sounds of compliments from the the Humans. Soon after, I was able to focus on and eat food the Humans left in my cage, and they no longer had to catch me to get me to eat--what a relief that was!

But that's as far as the good news went. After a week in the CCU, and daily tests where the Humans tried to get me to look at things off to my right side, I finally figured out why I was still having such a hard time focusing on things: I was blind in my right eye. It wasn't that they were trying to surprise me when they slowly brought a finger or pen out from behind my right side until it was in front of my face...it was that they were trying to figure out where my vision kicked in over there. And the answer was: never.

I don't know if I can convey to you how horrible it was to understand that I would never again see out of my right eye. There's a reason Owls' eyes are so big: they're very, very important to how we survive. For a Human, losing vision in one eye means inconvenience. For an Owl or another wild Raptor, it means death. Without two functional eyes, Owls don't have binocular vision, and without binocular vision, how can an Owl hone in on is prey and successfully swoop down and catch it? (Actually, because of the size and importance of Owl ears [they're enormous], and the way the whole eye-ear-neck system works, some Owls can still hunt with impaired vision in one eye, but that will be a lesson for another day). But my ability to hunt like that would depend on the severity of my head trauma and its effects on my balance and depth perception. And the only way to test that was by putting me in a larger cage and taking it from there.

Nearly two weeks after being admitted to the CCU, I was moved to a larger cage outside. It felt wonderful to be exposed to the chilly night air again, to be able to see the moonlight on the cottonwoods, and hear the snowflakes falling through the air. But it was a difficult transition. I would look at a perch, aim at it, fly, but somehow miss and end up on the ground. Fortunately, the Humans had thought ahead and provided me with enough low stumps to enable me to hop and jump my way up to a perch that I missed the first time. But it was incredibly frustrating to be unable to do something so simple and natural to a bird like me.

Had I mastered the perch-landing part of the process, the Humans would have then put me in a larger cage for more flight practice, then put live rats in my cage to test my ability to catch small, darting creatures at night with vision impairment. But, sadly, I had failed the baby-steps. I didn't understand it then, but it was time for the Humans and I to make a decision: could I become an educational ambassador?

Check back soon to see how that decision was made...

Auction update - insider scoop

2012-02-07T17:58:00.002-07:00

The RMRP's annual auction is just around the corner on Saturday February 25th. How do I, an Owl with no calendar, know this? Because, like every year, the Humans are getting all stressy and anxious, working long hours and talking nonstop about "auction-this" and "auction-that". I even hear them working inside the building at night when the offices are usually empty and quiet! No complaints from me, though--I'm just excited! Like I said before, it's my favorite night of the year: a chance to hobnob with all my favorite Raptors and Humans, surrounded by beautiful art and exciting action.

Speaking of art and action, it just so happens that an inside source tipped me off about some of the items up for auction, and I'm sure there will be some duels being fought over the high-quality goods:

A slew of beautiful photos, paintings and sculptures
Astounding jewelry: beads, gold, jewels, etc--some of this stuff is seriously nice!
Books on all sorts of subjects, from kids to adults to raptors to cats to cooking
Handmade quilts of stunning detail and quality
Gift certificates for restaurants and spa treatments
A ski trip!
A raft trip!
Delicious liquors and food baskets

And so, so, so much more! (By the way, I was supplied with adjectives to describe the items--I don't find cheese or mezcal tasty).

At any rate, tickets are still on sale, and I can't wait to see you there!

Glue Trapped Owl (re-post)

2012-02-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

I often overhear Humans talking about rodent “problems”. Ittook me awhile to figure out what they were talking about (the only rodent“problem” I ever have is trying to eat one too fast and having to start overafter nearly choking). It ends up that the Humans consider mice and rats intheir homes to be a problem, not breakfast. They’ve come up with all sorts ofways to solve this problem, most of which involve killing the critters. Now,I’m a big fan of killing rodents, butI tend to go for a swift kill (and therefore a quick lunch that can’t hurt meback), whereas some of the methods Humans use are drawn out, painful, orharmful to creatures other than just the rat or mouse they’re trying to get ridof. One such method is the glue trap.

A glue trap is essentially a piece of plastic or cardboardwith an extremely sticky adhesive on one side. The idea is that a mouse willwalk across it, get stuck in the glue…and slowly die from starvation,dehydration, or suffocation. Nice, huh? There are dozens of other downsides toglue traps (just check out this Google image search for “glue traps”), but theone downside I want to bring to your attention today is how indiscriminate gluetraps are: they will capture anythingthat touches them, not just rodents, Think: snakes, baby bunnies, kittens,songbirds, etc.

Now, can you think of a type of animal that would love afree rodent snack served on a platter? Say, an opportunistic hunter of mice andrats? Bingo, Raptors. Raptors are frequently the accidental victims of gluetraps after they swoop down to pluck a stuck mouse from the trap; small Raptorscan get stuck in the trap just like the mouse, and larger Raptors can fly off with atrap stuck to their feet or feathers, unable to get away from it.

In fact, just last week, the RMRP admitted an EasternScreech Owl stuck to a glue trap. The Owl was found outside with the glue trapstuck to its feet and legs, unable to fly or free itself. Fortunately, someonesaw the Owl and called the RMRP so it could be rescued.They were able to free the Screech Owl from the trap, and after a few days ofobservation, the bird is reported to be in good enough condition to be releasedASAP. What a lucky Owl! For many other birds, their feathers get horribly stuckto the trap, and it’s nearly impossible to free them without damage, whichleads to much longer rehabilitationtime.

On a final note, I want to point out the irony of possiblycatching and even killing an Owl in a trap intended to kill rodents. Owls aremuch better mousers than the most sophisticated mouse trap! If you’re trying toget rid of rodents on your property, maybe try setting up a nest box and luringin a family of Owls. It’s been reported that a family of five Owls will consumeup to 3,000 rodents in a breeding season! I’d like to see your glue trap dothat. Visit www.hungryowl.org for more information.

Check back to find out when the glue-trapped Screech Owl gets released!

The Interloper – It’s a Rat!

2012-02-05T04:05:00.000-07:00

A dirty rat! Saw it poke its head out of its hole tonight,looking around with beady little eyes for any leftover scraps I may havedropped. I held completely still, but a Human laughed in the distance, and therat dashed away in fear.

I can’t believe it’s a rat! What luck! That’ll be a muchmore rewarding meal than a mouse.

The Interloper – Whiskers

2012-02-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

You may have been wondering what’s been happening with TheInterloper. There hasn’t been much activity from the little beast, probablybecause the nice warm weather meant it could scavenge food outdoors instead ofin my cage.

But then it snowed.

And this evening, when I fully awoke from my daily nap, whatdid I find in my cage? Small traces of disturbed snow near the Interloper’stunnel, almost like it stuck its craven little head out of its hole to sniffthe air for…food? Signs of my presence?

Something must have made it think twice, for there wasnothing in the snow but whisker marks from its tentative sniffing.

I’ll continue to bide my time and wait for a full entrance.And then? The Interloper will swiftly become lunch. Muahaha.

Raptors in the News - Denouncing Killing Eagles

2012-02-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

A well-written little op-ed about people killing Eagles. Again, this is why we educate!

Groundhog Day?

2012-02-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Seriously? Groundhogs get their own holiday, but there's no Great Horned Owl day? When word gets out to the raptor community about this, that groundhog better start watching for bird-shaped shadows.

Raptors in the News: Owl Bounty

2012-01-30T20:06:00.003-07:00

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a good example of why the RMRP and I have dedicated so much of our lives to educating Humans about birds of prey and conservation: 1941 Owl Bounty. In Canada in 1941, there were bounties for trapping the "killer class" of Owls because they were eating the local game birds that Humans wanted to shoot and eat.

The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program's mission statement is to inspire the protection and appreciation of raptors and the wild spaces in which they live through excellence in rehabilitation, education and research. The "education" part is where I come in, visiting schools and public events all year round to show people how awesome I am, while the Humans talk about things like how important my niche is in the ecosystem, why it's important to protect wildlife, and how awesome I am.

Just think: if organizations such as the RMRP never had the realization that educating the public about raptors and conservation could save lives and help keep our ecosystems healthy...well, Humans might still be trapping Snowy Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Arctic Horned Owls* for money, simply because they didn't know any better.

Three cheers for education!! Who's with me??

*I had to look this one up: apparently an Arctic Horned Owl is a color variation of the Great Horned Owl; in 1941 it was thought to be a separate species entirely.

How I came to be at the RMRP - Triage - Part II of IV

2012-01-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

I'll never forget the day I was brought into the RMRP's isolation room for triage (that's what the Humans call it when they admit an ingured bird to determine what's wrong with it and how to treat it). I had arrived in a dark box, only able to hear muffled sounds from the outside world. I was weak, unable to stand on my own, resting instead on a folded towel. When the box opened, allowing in the fluorescent light of the iso room, I only had time to feebly hiss once before a set of gloved hands reached in and plucked me out, swiftly wrapping me in a soft cloth and laying me on a table. "Eleven-twenty, skinny," I heard someone say, and I was lifted off the table. The cloth blinded me and muffled the sounds of the iso room, but I was still scared. Most of all, I felt disoriented and nauseous, like flying in a strong and fitful wind.

Then the drape was lifted off my face, and the world was full of light and strange sights. There were two Humans in the quiet room, one holding me, and one staring at me intently with concern on his face. The whole room seemed to shift and rock, and it was hard to focus on anything. Again I opened my beak to hiss, and quick as anything, the male Human in front of me used a small metal tool to drop a tiny white bead into my mouth. I hissed again, angry with him. I felt the white bead begin to dissolve in my mouth, and the feeling of anxiety and fear that was dominating me seemed to fade a little.

In the next five minutes the male Human checked over every part of my body. He mentioned things aloud, and the female Human holding me responded, back and forth, their voices low and calm: ears and mouth ("blood in the mouth"); both wings ("Nothing broken, that's a relief"); all my flight feathers; and my legs and feet, which hurt and weren't taloning the male Human like they should. They talked the most when looking at my eyes. The male Human held a finger up,starting behind my left side and bringing it around the front of my face. The finger seemed dangerous (what was it doing?), so as soon as it emerged from my left side I followed it, hissing and clacking my beak. For some reason he didn't do the same thing on my right side: on that side the finger just appeared in front of me suddenly, without any warning. "That's not good," I heard him say. "Well, let's wait and see," responded the female behind me.

When the male Human was done with the exam, the female Human placed me in a largish box with a clear front door and plastic sides. I lay on the towels, still unable to stand, glaring out through the clear door at the Humans until they covered the box with a cloth, sending me into a comfortable darkness once again. It was easy to breath in there, and despite my efforts to stay vigilant and aware, I fell asleep quickly.

That night I dreamed of flying.

Raptors in the news: Us!

2012-01-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

Want to volunteer for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program? How could you not after watching this segment! We're always accepting new minions (ahem, I mean "volunteers") for all sorts of position. More info can be found here.

While I was secretly hoping that I would be the bird chosen for this news segment, I must say the Barn Owl did an excellent job with all his head-turning and profile-shots. Maybe it'll be me next time!

How I came to be at the RMRP – Part I of IV – The Catastrophe

2012-01-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Today is the seven-year anniversary of an event that has hada huge impact on my life. It’s the story that has replayed itself in my mind amillion times, but it took awhile to type it out…and not just because QWERTYkeyboards were not designed for typists with eight talons.

It’s the story of how I came to the Rocky Mountain RaptorProgram. It’s the story of how I came to be injured.

In the winter of 2005, I was a young bird, having only beenout of the nest for a year and a half. My two voracious siblings and I hadparted ways a long time ago, and I had been living a peaceful existence on myown since then. My territory was on the outskirts of Wellington, Colorado,farming country with lots of open fields and big cottonwoods.

The previous summer and fall had hosted thriving rodentpopulations, so I entered the winter season fat and happy. But the winter washarsher than I expected, and when the snows became deep and the rodents harderto find…well, I was getting hungry.

On the morning of my accident I was flying silently over snow-coveredfields while the rising sun tinged the eastern skies orange and pink. Just as Iapproached a cluster of cozy-looking cottonwoods, I passed over a small two-lanehighway and saw a raccoon that must have been hit by a car a few hours earlier. Since I’dspent the night fruitlessly searching for delicious mice to munch on, I wasn’tabout to pass up a golden opportunity for free breakfast.

Banking hard, I curved around and descended toward the road,focusing hard on my upcoming meal. Just as I threw my wings back to brake forthe landing, the world exploded.

I still am not clear on what happened that beautiful dawnmorning. All I remember is the horribly close roar of tires on pavement, then asunburst of pain that swiftly faded into a deep, black peace.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious on the side of the road. I remember glimpses of the sun rising higher and higher into a blue sky,then begining its descent towards the west. After that, all I have is flashes ofimages: a human standing over me, talking in low tones, then something dark andsoft covering me; the feeling of being in an enclosed space that rocked andbumped and leaned; then being lifted through the air into the gloved hands ofanother Human.

I didn’t know it then, but I had landed at the RockyMountain Raptor Program in Fort Collins, Colorado, and my life had changed forever.

To be continued...

2012 Gala Event

2012-01-21T11:34:00.002-07:00

I can’t believe I almost forgot! One of my favorite eventsof the year is coming up at the end of February! It’s the Rocky Mountain RaptorProgram’s 19^th Annual Benefit Auction and Gala!!

Once a year, all the minions who work for me at the RMRP changeout of their grungy Carhartts and winter coats, and don dress shirts andelegant dresses. Then they all show up at the Hilton hotel for a night of food,bidding and high-brow socializing. Well, okay, it’s not that high-brow—after all, they’re still the kind of people who arewilling to scrub bird poop off of walls.

And it’s not just RMRP minions, either. Hundreds of peoplefrom all over Colorado come to this event, all to support the RMRP’s work (and tohave fun doing it!). There’s live music, a full catered dinner, and aninspirational presentation or two. And, most importantly, there are auctionitems!

There are usually a couple hundred silent auction items, ranging fromart work, to services, to plane tickets. The auction happens in two phases: a silent portion, and a live portion. During the silent portion, the Humans tour the rooms full of auction items, frequently writing their number and bid on a piece of paper before moving on, all while chatting and socializing with the other bidders. The live auction is a whole different beast: all the guests are seated at tables, with the volunteers lining the walls, and the auctioneer (who is so funny, even the Owls chuckle) rattles off the most highly-coveted items of the year. The live auction can get pretty wild, with people jumping up out of their seats in excitement!

Of course (and this is the most important part of the night)I’ll be there, along with many of my educational ambassador neighbors. We’ll bein attendance all night, and because of the fancy attire of our minions, we'll be looking even better than usual, too.

More information can be found here.

I hope to see you there!

Raptors in the news: Justice served in NZ

2012-01-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

I realize this may be a silly statement purely because it's so obvious, but here you go: feathers are very important to birds. Damage to the feathers can be harmful to the bird, very possibly leading to death. Now, when someone goes out of their way to harm a bird's feathers with, say, pink paint...that's shameful. And when that person gets caught...well, you can form your own opinion: Farmer convicted over painted hawk.

As an FYI, the bird species being talked about in this article is the New Zealand Harrier. More information on this beautiful bird can be found here.

Happy Anniversary!

2012-01-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

It's the one-month anniversary of the beginning of this blog! Looking at the statistics that Blogger provides me, I'm very pleased with most the results! Here you go:

Total page views: 754
Top sites that refer readers to this blog: Facebook (25), rmrp.org (17), and google.com (11)
Pageviews by country: USA (685), Russia (50)*, Germany (9), and one each from Canada, France, UK, Indonesia, Latvia, Philippines and Serbia.
Total comments: 3
Subscribers: 12

Who'd have thought I'd be reaching so many countries? At this rate, I'll have to start learning to hoot in foreign languages. And the total number of pageviews is awesome! The only thing I'm a little disappointed in at this point is the low number of comments and subscribers. Don't be afraid to leave a message about any of the posts...I promise I won't talon you.

As a reminder, by typing your email address into the box to the right, you'll automatically get an email whenever I post something new, so you don't have to remember to check back all the time on your own. I think it takes a few days to kick in, though. Also, don't forget that I have an email address (talons of doom (one word) at gmail . com)! Got a question for me? Shoot it on over via that email address and I'll go my best to answer it.

Thanks a million for your support, everyone!

*Note: I'm pretty sure the Russian viewers are being directed here via a bogus scamming-type of webpage, so unfortunately, I don't think those views count.

Q&A: Do Owls Sleep?

2012-01-18T21:13:00.001-07:00

Q: Today's question comes from Steven, one of my devoted RMRP minions (the Humans call these people 'volunteers'). "Do Owls sleep?" he asks. "I've often heard that they never really sleep, just kinda catnap (pardon the phrase if that makes you hungry)."

A: Well yes, it does make me hungry Steven, but I'll leave the napping cats to my wild brethren and patiently await my dinner of mouse and rabbit. As for your question, Owls do indeed sleep, but not the way Humans do. If someone were able to sneak up on my cage and peek in through the window during the day, they may catch me with one or more of my eyes closed, snoozing away. Of course, no one can do this because I would hear them a mile away. No sneaky-sneaky around an Owl.

But when I sleep, do I sleep like a Human does? Part of what defines deep sleep in Humans (and most other animals) is the presence of a cycle of rapid eye movement, known as the REM cycle. As for Owls, this research claims there are three distinct states observed in Burrowing Owls: one type of awake, and two different types of deep-but-not-REM sleep. In total, the Burrowing Owls were asleep 60% of the time...lazy bums. As for the lack of a REM cycle, Raptors' eyes are fixed in their heads*, whereas Humans and most other animals can move their eyes around. Raptors cannot experience a cycle of "rapid eye movements" with eyes that don't move.

But just because Owls don't have a REM cycle, doesn't mean we don't experience deep sleep. But in that Burrowing Owl study mentioned above, the Owls were in deep sleep for an average of 11 seconds at a time, which only contributed to 5% of their sleeping time. In comparison, Humans enter their REM cycles for as long as 20 minutes.

So, in summary, yes, Owls sleep, and sometimes we sleep soundly. But eleven seconds is a long time when I'm clinging to a perch, so I don't truly snooze for long periods of time.

As a side note, I was going to ask the educational Burrowing Owl about his sleep patterns, but wouldn't you know it, he was asleep. Go figure.

*Interestingly, most birds can move their eyes in their heads. Raptors share the non-moving trait with aquatic mammals and some reptiles.

PS. For those who are interested, birds are also capable of a fascinating kind of sleep called unihemispheric sleep. More info here.

The Interloper: Squeaking

2012-01-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

Remember my suspicions that my sacred cage is being violatedby a vile Interloper? I have further confirmation. This morning, right aftersunrise, when I was settling into my relaxing day-time regimen of inactivity…Iheard squeaking. Alarmed, I swiveled my head around to pinpoint the noise. Thisis easy to do as an Owl because my ears are asymmetrical, and my enormous eyesare always fixed straight ahead. It’s like triangulation: I move my head arounduntil I can hear the noise equally in each ear; then I know I’m lookingdirectly at the source of the noise. The source of this horrible high-pitchedsqueaking was…that tunnel.

Is it a mouse or a rat? I don’t know yet. But I’m very sureit’s a rodent, and I’m positive its days are numbered. As soon as it pokes itsquivering little whiskers into my cage…well, just wait and see.

Twittering Kestrel

2012-01-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

The American Kestrel a few doors down has been pestering menon-stop to post again about his Twitter account. (You have no idea howannoying a Kestrel neighbor can be until you owe one a favor. See if I ever askfor his help with uploading photos again).

You might be wondering what aKestrel is doing with a Twitter account. Well, it ends up the littlesnack-sized falcon is quite the gossip hound, as well as very adept at getting informationabout new-arrivals on the rehab side of things. I don’t know how he does it,but he always seems to be the first to know when a Critical Care bird is aboutto be moved to the outside cages, or when another success story flies away fromhere. He also has a lot to say about taloning, biting, feathers, mice, andother very important Raptor-oriented tidbits. I hate to admit it, but it makesfor a good read.

If you’re interested in following his Tweets, he can be foundunder @RaptorProgram. Now hopefully he'll leave me alone...

Raptors in the news...kind of

2012-01-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

How did they know that's the music that plays in our heads when we eat??

Hawk eating pigeon

Introducing the Q&A Corner

2012-01-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Being an Owl, I am a fount of wisdom. This is not somethingthat can be quibbled over; it’s a simple fact of nature. Even Humans seem tounderstand that Owls have inherent wisdom, as can be seen in their portrayalsof Owls in media, including this gem:

Recently I have begun to feel that this gift of wisdom may come with asocial obligation to help the less-wise creatures of this Earth. To that end, Iam launching a new section of this blog, a sort of Q&A corner to answer allthe myriad questions Humans have about Raptors and the world in which we live. Doyou wonder why us Owls can turn our heads so far around? Want to know what goesinto treating a bird with lead poisoning? Having problems with your love life? Fire away! I and my Owlish wisdom* are here tohelp.

In an effort to keep the questions off the blog until theyare answered (why ruin the surprise?), please send all questions to my emailaddress. And, in an attempt to keep my inbox free of advertisements for keelenlargements and feather-growth tonics, I will cleverly disguise my emailaddress by describing it to you. It consists of three words, but all togetherinto one word (for instance, if the three words were “beak of terror”, theemail address would be “beakofterror”). The real three words are “talons ofdoom” at gmail dot com.

Looking forward to reading your questions!

*and Google searches…

Neighbors: Common Barn Owls

2012-01-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

In this cage complex there are nineteen educational birds, covering fourteen species, from the little American Kestrels, to the biggest beast of us all, the Ferruginous Hawk. Some of us are nocturnal, some diurnal, and others crepuscular (active during the dawn and dusk hours). With all this variety, you can imagine how entertaining it is to live here!

Today's example comes from the cage next door to mine, which houses two Common Barn Owls, one male and one female*. He's been here for ages, whereas she came in about four years ago. Ever since they moved in together, they've been inseparable. They're always cozied up next to each other inside an A-frame, or side-by-side on a perch.

The male is very protective of his lady friend; he is at her beck and call. When food is dropped in the cage, he brings some to her before eating his own portion, and when he is taken out of the cage for enrichment or a Performance, he seems restless and eager to return to her.

I've overheard many of the Humans' theories for this behavior, including that he's been here longer and took her under his wing, or that she needs support and help because she flies poorly. Or, even, that they are in the Barn Owl version of love.

Funnily enough, it's nothing as romantic as that. If the Humans could better understand her hisses and screeches, they'd know that he feeds her before eating his own food because she is a banshee who will scream his ears off if he neglects her for even an instant. In Human language, her screaming is the equivalent of "WHERE'S MY DINNER??? BRING ME THAT MOUSE!!" followed by the sound of a whip cracking.

But don't worry: this is completely normal Common Barn Owl behavior, and they both are happy with the roles Nature gave them. In that way, I guess it is like the Barn Owl version of being in love.

Whichever way you slice it, it makes for interesting neighbors.

*Educational side note: Unlike most raptors, Common Barn Owls actually have an overt sexual dimorphism, meaning the males and females look different. Specifically, the female's chest and face is a dirty white-brown** color, whereas the male's face and chest are snowy white.
**Please don't tell the female I called her "dirty white-brown", or I'll never hear the end of it.

Overheard in the hallway:

2012-01-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

Human 1: "A friend of mine claims he saw a Swainson's Hawk on a telephone pole last week."

Human 2: "That's funny, they're all in Argentina right now. What did you tell him?"

Human 1, in a Valley Girl voice: "Swainson's Hawks are sooo last season! But Rough-Legged Hawks are totally in right now!"

Humans 1&2: Laughter

Raptors in the news: Bald Eagle population

2012-01-07T17:58:00.002-07:00

Big thank you to our neighbors to the north! Bald Eagle populations increase

The Interloper: Discovery

2012-01-07T17:06:00.001-07:00

I think there is a rodent of some sort sneaking around my cage when I'm not here. I have never seen this creature because, of course, all rodents live in fear of my talons and would never dare venture near me. This one is either particularly dumb or extraordinarily brave for even setting paw in a cage inhabited by an Owl, even when I'm not here.

I first began to suspect the presence of an Interloper a few days ago, when I returned from a Performance and something was...different in my cage. I couldn't quite place it, but something was off. Not just the normal stuff, like when the Humans scrub my mutes off the wall, or when they come in and reattach the perch materials that I [very carefully] shredded and removed. This time it was more of a feeling than a specific change.

It wasn't until this afternoon, when I was returned to my cage after spending an hour under the cottonwoods, that I saw it: a depression in the gravel by the west wall, barely recognizable as the entrance to a small tunnel.

The outrage! How dare a rodent invade my cage without my permission! I will have to keep close tabs on this Interloper until I decide how best to deal with it.

Silly Human...

2012-01-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

...let a camera fall out of her pocket! This blog is about to get a lot more colorful!!

2011 Stats

2012-01-04T15:54:00.001-07:00

Since the Humans assume us birds can neither read nor count (silly Humans), they never give us the reports, charts and handouts they're always going ga-ga over. This assumption becomes especially irksome this time of year when the species and success numbers from 2011 come in. So, over the years, we've developed our own way of getting our talons on the information. Namely, theft.

Which Raptor do we send in to steal from the Humans? A small and darting falcon? No, too noisy. A silent owl, then? No, we can't put our attitudes aside long enough to be productive. Then who?

The Bald Eagle. Yes, that big and noisy bird is actually the queen of kleptoparasitism, or the act of stealing food from other animals. It's not a far leap to adapt those skills to steal documents instead of food. I'm afraid I can't give away any more details without endangering our clandestine operations.

Suffice it to say, she was able to obtain the preliminary numbers from 2011, including admissions, releases, and species counts. Enjoy!

Total number of bird cases: 242 (an average number, but plenty to keep the Humans busy)
Total number of raptor and vulture species: 22 (again, average)
Admissions by species (most notable):

American Kestrels: 59
Great Horned Owls: 48
Red-Tailed Hawks: 43
Swainson's Hawks: 27
Coopers Hawks: 8
Eastern Screech Owls: 8
Common Barn Owls: 7 (considerably lower than usual)
Prairie Falcons: 7
Sharp-Shinned Hawks: 7
Turkey Vultures: 5
Mississippi Kites: 2 (including the RMRP's first-ever adult)

Release rate of birds that survived the first 48 hours: 82%!!!

In total, one hundred and four injured, ill or orphaned raptors were given a Second Chance at Freedom in 2011. They came to the RMRP with broken wings, lacerations, burn wounds, emaciation, head trauma, poisoning, and more, and they left here with wings spread wide, eager (and able!) to touch the skies yet again. This incredible work was completed thanks to the hard work of the staff and volunteers, the generous donations received throughout the year, and, of course, to the remarkable spirit and tenacity of the birds themselves.

Well done everyone!! (And a big thank you to the Bald Eagle for her skills in surveillance and lock-picking...)

Want to congratulate us? Have questions about the numbers listed above? Leave a comment, I promise I'll get back to you!

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New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-02T11:20:00.001-07:00

Eat more mice
Blog at least twice a week
Cast daily
Educate at least 7,500 people
Keep talons sharp
Raise at least ten Great Horned Owl orphans
Try yoga
Keep feathers glossy and beautiful
Get a camera
Read the Harry Potter series

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.001-07:00

Dead mice for everyone!!!!

Quiet week

2011-12-28T17:51:00.003-07:00

Not much going on at the Raptor Program this week. In fact, not a single bird was admitted in the past seven days! That's unheard of here. Sometimes it seems like the Humans should install a revolving door, or maybe a conveyor belt, to bring in all the sick, injured and orphaned raptors...but not this week. Not only were there no admits, there were two releases! An Eastern Screech Owl and a Red-Tailed Hawk were both given their second chances at freedom this week.

Even though no birds came in this week, there was still plenty of hustle and bustle at the center. Judging by the sounds of shuffling and stapling coming from the main building all week long, the Humans are using this low-bird week to catch up on paperwork. Sooo glad I don't have the opposable thumbs necessary to do that stuff. Also, because the weather is warm again (yuck!), the Humans are coming into my cage armed with scrub brushes and buckets of hot water, dead-set on scrubbing all my carefully-placed mutes off the walls. They have no appreciation for art.

Still, with the end of the year only a few days away, the Humans are expecting a few more birds to come through the doors at the last minute, just to bump the numbers up a little bit. Like they need it. Two-hundred and forty-two birds have been admitted this year, and that's plenty. But hey, that's what the Raptor Program is here for! As I overheard a Human say earlier today, "We'll just enjoy this quiet week while we can, and not bank on it lasting much longer!"

PS: I have noticed that lots of people have been visiting my blog, which is excellent...but I have no idea who you are. I'd love to read comments if you care to leave them! Then I can pass them on to all the other birds here in the cages! I'm sure they'd enjoy hearing from you. Also, so you don't have to think about checking back all the time to see if there are new posts, you can just subscribe to this blog by typing your email into the box in the sidebar on the right of the main page. Thanks for reading!

Raptors in the news: Famous Red-Tail being treated in NYC

2011-12-26T17:04:00.001-07:00

A raptor center in New York City has taken in one of my brethren, an injured and--get this--famous Red-Tailed Hawk from Washington Square Park. The Humans call her "Violet" (which begs the question, why do Humans insist on naming everything?), and she was the star of a webcam this past year because she and her mate built their nest outside the President's window at New York University. You know what they say, location, location, location!

At any rate, this Red-Tailed Hawk developed a leg wound earlier this year, and has recently been captured so a raptor rehab facility can examine, and hopefully heal, the injury. Sadly, it doesn't look good. Best of luck to this poor Red-Tail.

In the middle of the night...

2011-12-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

You know how I wrote the other week about how that whole "Santa" thing seemed ridiculous? Remember? Well, wouldn't you know, I'm sitting by my window hooting "The Twelve Raptors of Christmas" to a calm, clear night sky, when out of nowhere, I hear....bells. Using my perfectly-designed facial disc and my asymmetrical ears, I was able to pinpoint exactly where in the sky the sound was coming from, and because of my excellent night vision, I was able to see....well, not much, in all honesty. Whatever it was, it was very far away. But it looked like (I know I sounds crazy here, I'm sorry)...it looked like elk. A small herd of elk flying through the sky, with something big and awkward behind them.

After I watched for a few seconds, I head-bobbed to focus in better, and somehow lost sight completely. That never happens. So I don't know if what I saw really was...you know...him. But I must admit, I'm a bit thrown by this.

Did anyone else see anything weird in the sky tonight?

2011-12-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

A very lucky ranger in Aurora saw a Snowy Owl this week!! Oh, what I wouldn't give to see a handsome owl like that! These birds only visit Colorado occasionally...maybe I'll get to see one some day.

Snow day!

2011-12-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

All night long I watched as the snow fell silently around the cage complex. When it snows like this the cages get very quiet: the occasional rustle of feathers as a Turkey Vulture rouses to shake the snow off; the subtle scrape of a Red Tailed Hawk shifting its weight and tucking a foot into its down. But mostly, silence, so deep and so complete I can hear the individual flakes of snow coming to rest on the drifts outside my window.

By the time dawn broke this morning, the snow was deep enough to lose a prairie dog in (good thing I never drop my food). Everyone weathered (or feathered?) the storm well, myself included. I found the light sprinkling of snow across my forehead to be very refreshing.

Now the Humans are busy shoveling pathways and brushing snow off all the perches. It looks like more work for them when the weather changes like this, yet everyone is smiling. Despite the inconvenience, the snow seems to make everyone happy, bird and Human alike.

The cage complexes at dawn

Raptors in the news: article about the RMRP!

2011-12-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

An excellent article about the very center I work at! Includes great interviews with the Humans at the center, and, what's that? A picture of a Great Horned Owl? I wonder who it could be...

...rabbit fur rug

2011-12-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

First thing every morning, a Human comes around to all of our cages and peeks in through the sliding window, making sure they hold a gloved hand in front of their face in case anybird (cough...Ferruginous Hawk...ahem) tries to lunge at their face, talons first.

That early in the morning, I'm usually nodding off after an exciting night of hooting and eating, but this morning was different. I was waiting.

The sliding window rasped open, and I watched as a pair of blue Human eyes peered in at me, then widened in amazement.

That's right! I thought as I surveyed the carpet of disembodied rabbit fur lining the cage floor from wall to wall. Witness the destruction! Cower before me! Be afraid, be very afraid!

The Human shut the window, clearly terrified and in awe of my might.

So...why did I hear laughter from the hallway a few seconds later?!

Rabbit pelt

2011-12-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

Room service just stopped by, leaving me a chunk of rabbit meat and a whole rabbit pelt! Clearly they don't know what my talons are capable of.

The Twelve Raptors of Christmas

2011-12-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

In honor of my favorite holiday song, here's a raptor adaptation for you! Be sure to sing it loud and proud, especially if you're in a confined setting like an office.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
12 Barn Owls screaming
11 Prairies preening
10 Red-Tails roosting
9 Saw-Whets blinking
8 Kestrels hovering
7 Swainsons' swooping
6 Great-Horneds glaring
5 Golden Eagles!
4 calling Coopers
3 Screech Owls
2 Ferruginous Hawks
And a Peregrine in a pine tree!

Okay, in all honesty, if someone sent the RMRP all that in one day...I think the Humans' heads would explode.

Blueberries

2011-12-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

Conversation overheard while on the glove:

My Handler: “You know those bags of dried blueberries youcan get at Costco?”

Other Human: “Yeah, I love those things! I put them in myyogurt for breakfast.”

My Handler: “Me too…until this morning, when I popped ahandful in my mouth and crunched down on a blue beetle instead of a blueberry.”

Other Human: “That’s revolting.”

I couldn’t agree more. All those nasty blueberries and only one beetle? That is very disappointing indeed.

Raptors in the news: FEHA killed in CO

2011-12-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

I ran across this tragic story this morning. The educational Ferruginous Hawk here at the center was livid when I told her about it. If anyone has any information to help find the perpetrator, please call the number in the article!

Warm winter

2011-12-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Even though it's the middle of December, it's not been very cold. What's the point of wearing a down coat and booties if it's hot in the winter?

Weeks ago, the first snowfalls of the season were a welcome relief. Our cages have slatted roofs, with a panel in one corner so the less-bundled birds can perch in a dry place if they need to. I usually sit out in the open, allowing the snow to fall on me in soft, cold pillows. For some reason, this makes the Humans laugh when they come to check on me in the morning. I don't understand.

More recently, the snow has been melting, and the daily temperatures have been up in the 40's. One upside to the warm weather is that my food doesn't turn into an icicle the moment room service leaves it in my cage. This way I get to spend at least an hour pretending it's not there, before giving in and swallowing the hunk of meat whole.

Today in particular was a very warm day, and the Human who came to clean my cage took me outside to "enjoy the weather". This is a Human I'm very familiar with, one who has been here longer than me. He knows what he's doing, so I don't have to spend the entire session training him. Instead I can sit on his glove and take the time to glare at every creature that passes within a hundred yards of us, like the sparrow that was taking up space in a cottonwood across the field.

I hissed and clacked my beak, making sure the sparrow knew I didn't approve of his invasion, bringing the Human's attention to me.

"You sure are pleasant today," he said in that tone of voice Human's call "sarcastic".

Insolence! I hissed in his face, making him gag.

"Ugh! Breath of death!" he croaked.

That's more like it.

Holiday cheer

2011-12-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Humans have entered on of their seasonal phases. It's the same every year, as predictable as migration and hyperphagia.

First they all start singing the same music while cleaning our cages, something about "decking" halls followed by a really annoying series of "falalalalala's". However, I must say I'm intrigued by a song they sing about partridges and swans...sounds delicious.

Next they start worrying about time and money, as in, "I don't know how I'm going to afford all the presents I need to buy!" and "Omigod, it's the 17th already?!?" I dislike seeing the Humans so stressed, so every year I try to help by supplying them with casts even bigger and juicier than usual, but they never seem to understand that they're gifts. Maybe if they fed me a green squirrel and a red rat, I could upchuck something holiday-colored and they'd figure it out.

Then, when the big day has almost arrived, they start raising a ruckus about "Santa" and "reindeer". I must admit, I'm not sold on the whole Santa idea. I've never seen hide nor hair of this guy, and if anyone should be able to see a fat man flying through the air at night pulled by eight delicious and exotic herbivores, it's an owl.

Still, I don't mind the holiday season. The Humans seem to be in a cheery mood overall, and I dig the decorations. Inside the center there's a garland hung on the walls, small trees decorated with lights, and there's even a line of socks on the front desk, one for each of us educational birds. Why socks, you ask? You got me. I have feathers down to the tip of every single toe...socks would just be silly.

I'm excited to see what the big day hold for me this year--an extra mouse for Yours Truly? Now that would being me some holiday cheer.