Someone pass the Nyquil?

Do we really need our sinus cavities? I mean, why are they there, if we only notice them when they are clogged beyond belief?
I would like to just taste an orange, or some soup, or anything except this nothingness.
I will be swilling a rather large dose of Nyquil in a minute, so this post should be coherent, but if I leave nonsensical garbage on your blog, please forgive me.

A big tree fell at Lake Isabella. It is rather close to the GHO nest, though the nest is still there. What is NOT there is the female owl. I noticed her absence last week, but held out hope that she was just low in the nest, brooding 2 or 3 new chicks. But it seems that there has been a nest failure. There could be any number of reasons:
1. The female died for some reason.
2. The male died for some reason, and the female would have to leave the nest to hunt for herself, leaving the eggs/chicks to grow cold.
3. The eggs were duds and the parents left the nest.
So, it's still early, so if they are both still alive, they will try again. If one of them has died, hopefully the remaining owl will find another mate and go on.
Speaking of death:
Helen, the 22 1/2 year old red-tailed hawk at RAPTOR, died after a prolonged illness of unknown origin.




Marilyn, one of our rehabbers, tried everything she could think of to save Helen. She was up tube-feeding Helen every 2 or 3 hours for days and days, but to no avail.
If there is a Rainbow Bridge for wild birds, Helen is sitting on top of it, with full sight and feeling a rush of youthful buoyancy in her veins.
Helen (1984-2007)


I heard on Cincy Birds that someone had seen 30+ sandhill cranes land near Armleder Park, so I took the girls out with high hopes. And this greeted us. A park and parking lot full of water. Damn.


Geoff took the girls to an indoor playground while I fell into a cold-virus-induced coma on the couch. I woke up in time to notice this out the window, in the back yard:

Our resident red-shouldered hawk had caught herself a mouse and was tearing it apart on our back fence! See the brake light on the car behind her? I bet that was a startling sight to the person driving by.

Jeff, our bander, told me to be on the lookout for color bands on the RS in the area, because RAPTOR has monitored an RS nest very close to our house in the past. This one did NOT have a color band, so she is either one of the adults, or a new bird to the area.

Just before take-off (did she realize I was watching?).

If you look really close, you can see blood on her talons.
Sweet!
When a sight like this catches my eye, it feels like such a blessing. I am not one to prescribe to any religion, but "blessing" is the only word I can think of to describe it.

Boomer update:
Today, Boomer was adopted by a family in Indiana, with a few kids and a female Boston Terrier. First reports say that he is getting along just fine.
Thank goodness.

Sunday Sketch:

Oh, the joys of the middle of Ohio

Hello, kiddies.
I am kicking back at a luxury hotel in Seaman, Ohio. Never heard of Seaman? Me either.

I am bringing bewds to the Adams County Birding Symposium tomorrow, and got a hotel room this time so that I don't have to get up at zero-dark-thirty. I have Lucy the Peregrine and our little male kestrel, and they are all bedded down in their carriers. (No, they are NOT sharing my bed)

This is what Route 32 East looks like, with a few hills thrown in to save you from stark raving madness.

This is why I didn't take any really large birds: I had to take the girls with me when I picked up the birds, and two car seats take up most of the back seat of a Saturn.

Lucy's carrier barely fit in the front seat with me. I also have a large banner, a box full of bird parts, a cart, a fancy folding presentation sign, a box full of T-shirts and sweatshirts, the "poop" tarp and a big perch. The girls had a hard time taking a deep breath on the way home. Oh! I also have my laptop, my overnight bag, my purse and a cooler.

On the way, the moon, almost full, posed for me on top of a thick, mashed-potato cloud. The sky was amazing this evening. The clouds were so solid looking, like you could grab a handful and hold it in your hand like cotton candy.

We spare no expense when it comes to my comfort. This may be the smallest hotel room I have ever stayed in, but it's clean and it has a microwave and fridge.
I have the creepy feeling that I am the only person staying in this hotel tonight.
I got a pizza delivered from the pizza joint down the road, I've got my laptop and high speed access, a book called Owls Aren't Wise and Bats Aren't Blind and some Pringles.
Life is just about perfect.
I have killer hay fever going on, which is making it a little difficult to taste or smell anything, but I have a big bottle of Claritin and I know how to use it.