Friday Feathers...with full disgruntlement

We have been very lucky this summer to be able to enjoy cooler than normal temps.
Yesterday was an exception. Hot and humid.

You know, everyone enjoys a nice misting of cool water on a hot Summer day....






"Thank you. This is quite refreshing. I could sit here all day and let you do that."



....even if they would rather DIE than let you know they appreciate it:

"No. I am NOT enjoying this. I hate to get wet. This is unpleasant. That stuff is all over me.....
...(stretching foot toward me)....you missed a spot."

Here and there, this and that

Nothing exciting is afoot around here, but I have snapped a few good pictures lately.
***

Someone please tell my dog she needs to relax:

"Zzzzzzz...........snort......Zzzzzz...."


"Talk to the paw."





The last scene of Charlotte's Web is being reenacted on our front door:

Tiny, perfect little predators.


But zoom in and it's kinda nightmarish. Feel anything crawly on your neck right now?


Oh, here's some fun news. RAPTOR, Inc. has a new program bird:

A female American Kestrel. Kestrels are one of the few raptors you can sex by color. Males have pretty blue-gray wings, and females are rusty and barred all the way across.
A very relaxed bird, at least as far as kestrels are concerned. A usually spazzy species, this lady is nowhere near as nuts at Steel.

Hmm. I guess this one needs a name, too? Anyone have any ideas?
She was our kestrel foster mom last year. She came in during the nesting season (blind in one eye) and was still hormonal enough to be able to brood and feed some orphans we had. She decided not to assist us this year. So now she has her spiffy jesses and will soon be on our permit.

Let's just soak in that face....

That's a fairly adorable bird right there.

Labor Day...full of labor

The Labor Day weekend is finally over. I thought you were supposed to rest on Labor Day?

I did two 4-hour programs this weekend and have also sweated out all of my body fluids. The weather in Cincinnati has been low on humidity but high on heat. I have been guzzling water like it's going out of style.

This was Storm's first foray into outdoor programs, and he did very well. A bit jumpy, but it's no more than I expected.


He was a popular draw at the programs, and he stopped everyone in their tracks when he screamed.

He was also very interested in Curly, a black vulture belonging to the Hamilton County Parks:

Most of the time, they were at the absolute ends of their tethers, attempting to get closer. I frankly don't know what would happen if the two were allowed to meet, but it probably wouldn't be pretty. I think Curly, being an inquisitive vulture, most likely would just like to investigate. Storm on the other hand, would probably have beaten the crap out of him.

Steel, our male American Kestrel, was very good. Scary good...he's usually so spazzy, I have to put him back in his carrier for breaks, but not today.

It's a shame really, how people will say, "Oh, how cute" to the little birds like the kestrel and screech owls, then move on immediately to the bigger birds. Kestrels are interesting, man!

Lucy, my lovely, did great as usual. I fed her while she was perched out (Sundays are a fasting day for our birds, so when Monday comes around, they are ready to eat!) and she sucked it down quick.
A day-old chick was the fare today. Day-old chicks still have a yolk sac in their abdomens, and when Lucy bit into it, the yolk went everywhere! It was so gross and so fun!

She was so ready to eat, she even swallowed the feet:

There they go!

Remember Rufous (our red screech owl) and his yearly Ugly-Molt?
Well, the Park's SO was feeling it too.
Want to see an owl's ear opening?


The ear is teardrop-shaped, and usually hidden under thick feathers. Man, I'm so glad I am not a screech owl. Losing my locks every summer? No thanks.

A photographer and videographer from the Cincinnati Enquirer were there to gather some news. They took pictures and video of Storm screaming. I hope they put it on their website...it will be throwing old ladies from their chairs across the region!

(Photo by Malinda Hartong)

I need to get some more water.