UP!

Another thing I did for the first time Wednesday was to put on a really thick, long glove and got to put this outrageously handsome bird back in his cage. He was staring me down with those HUGE golden eyes and his beak, which wasn't far, looked sharper than his talons, so I put on protective glasses too.

You hold your wrist straight at his legs and press into them a little and say "UP". That should make those strong claws grab onto the glove. Then you hold your hand up and higher than your shoulder. The bird feels comfortable being high up and he won't feel the need to try to fly away. If your arm starts to sag with the weight, birds will start to crawl up to reach the height they see on your shoulder, or hey, maybe your head. OK with a parrot, but not these killer feet!


Look at him!!! Magnificent! His life was saved by the Wildlife Rehab and Education Center but he was not able to be released into the wild, which is their main goal. If an animal can't get away from predators or eat properly, or are not 100% in the noggin due to some kind of fall or accident, they are kept by the center, or a zoo or the like to be an ambassador for their species. Hence the educational part of the Center's title.

This bird as well as the Peregrine Falcon, the Red Tailed Hawk, the Screech Owl and the Hedgehog go out for public talks and do a great service. But to take them out, they have to be trained a little, so they behave well in public and so their own stress level is minimized.

He was sitting out because Kinky Freeman came to visit, with a small group of folks he had with him. I guess he was speaking for the SPCA the next day, and has some kind of animal preserve of his own. This owl was part of the welcoming committee.

Then I got to put away the gorgeous and fluffy Red Tailed Hawk. Neither bird cooperated so well on my first try but that's what you have the leg straps for. They have custom made little leather leg straps and gromets in the center where they can attach to a rope, so if they do fly, they don't go very far. It's as much for their own safety as ours. It was easier with the Hawk than the Owl. And after the initial moment of taking in what I'd learned wore off, it hit me what I'd just done.

I may have lost the thrill of New York City but Mother Nature is a formidible match. I just can't believe I get to do this stuff!