Life is Good

Today was perhaps the most educational day I've had in years - or decades even. Audubon had me scheduled to teach a class in Franklin, even though I was certain it was much to early in the year to be teaching "Signs of Spring". It is still much too cold to be looking for tadpoles and insects. But off I went to the Paul Smith School, because that's where I was scheduled to be.

As it turns out, I was completely right - it's much to early in the year to be teaching that class. There was a mis-communication and the folks at the Paul Smith School were expecting me on MAY 6th, not April 6th. So back I drove to Audubon, promising myself that rather than wasting my trip, I would accomplish something worthwhile at Audubon before heading home.

I arrived back at Audubon about the same time Mona arrived to care for the animals. Mona used to work for the San Diego Zoo. She is now the "Animal Care Expert" at NH Audubon and today she took me on as her apprentice. After showing me the proper way to care for the snakes, iguana, turtles and frog, she took me down to the mews so that we could feed and train the raptors. She taught me how to check the owl's physique by feeling his sternum (keel) and ribs. Her diagnosis being, "He's much to thin. Even a caged bird should have a little meat on his bones." After raking clean his cage and washing down the Red Tailed Hawk's mew, we proceeded into the eagles domain. She is a very unsociable bird, but Mona is determined to change all that. And I do believe Mona is more stubborn than the eagle. After Mona "wrestled" with the eagle in an attempt to re-train her to the glove, she sent me running for some antiseptic ointment because the eagle had whacked her half-wing against the wall and re-injured it slightly. (The eagle was found, 16 years ago with an injured and gangranous wing. Half her wing was amputated in order to save her life.) I actually applied antiseptic ointment to an eagle today! I think I'd better start a weight training regimen designed to help me support the struggling weight of a full grown eagle, because I know it won't be long before Mona has me fisting the bird. Then maybe we will BOTH be sporting eagle-related shiners! (Mona's got herself a beauty this week. And the bird nearly broke her finger today.) I can hardly wait!

First Sightings

Yesterday was a day of first sightings for me. As I drove down to Keene State College, I passed a Turkey Vulture sitting atop a telephone pole and a second T.V. eating road-kill (?) a the foot of the pole. I arrived at Keene ten minutes before Emily and I had arranged to meet, so I took a little walk around the pond. There, swimming past, were a mated pair of Merganser Ducks. And then, on the drive home at about 10:45, a lynx ran across the road just in front of my car.

All in all, a gratifying day.

And the dance production that I had gone down to see was also very enjoyable. Brought me back to my own college days, although our little dance troupe never put on any recitals half so ambitious or impressive as this group of Keens State students.

Hawk Eyes

The owl has approved me. That's the only explanation. After all, he and the hawk are next cage neighbors. He must have been telling the red-tailed hawk good things about me, because my first experience in the hawk's cage, he accepted the mice from my gloved hand.

The second time I entered his cage, he condescended to allow me to hold him, after bribing him with only 6 mice. The third time, he allowed me to stand face to face for at least fifteen minutes (with only about a foot separating our two faces). Try staring down a red-tailed hawk sometime. It's awesome. I will always be the first to blink, but I know I won the staring contest because he allowed me to grab his jesses and leash him without first distracting him with a mouse.

Saturday afternoon, I will have the honor of displaying the red-tailed hawk at the NH Fish and Game's annual 'Discover Wild New Hampshire' day. For one hour, I will stand with the bird on my hand, answering questions from all interested spectators. I don't deserve such a privilege, but I am so thankful that God has allowed me such opportunities, none the less!