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!
1 comment:
Are these birds yours, or are you working somewhere that has them?
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