The Great Outdoor Weekend

Did you get outside today? Well, if not, there's still one more day left of the Great Outdoor Weekend. I spent today at the Cincinnati Nature Center, where we do a RAPTOR presentation every year on this weekend.

Scarlet, our ever-so-gentle (not!) red-tailed hawk. She is a bit jumpy, since I don't use her often enough. But I handled her today and felt more comfortable around her than I usually do. You know what helps? (Other than Marc making fun of me) I think of little Mona Rutger holding a 14 pound bald eagle. So what is the big deal about holding a 4 pound RT?

Marc not only came to help out, he also brought all the birds for me!
(This is Marc holding the male kestrel)

"Hand over a fresh dead rat and no one gets hurt."


"Human, you BORE me."
Check out those nictating membranes!

Oh, I am so proud of this one. I pulled a "Birdchick" move:
Laying down in front of a bird about to be released and got a great picture!
(I was probably laying in deer poop, but I bit the bullet for my blog. Aren't you glad?)

With larger birds, it's usually a good idea to give them a little toss to help them get going. With the little guys, they pretty much do it all themselves. This was the first of three kestrels released today at our RAPTOR annual picnic at our new facility.

Kestrel #3..."I'm ready to go, too!"

I wonder if the barn is haunted...see all the orbs?
Well, really it was the dust that the girls (my girls and Jeff's girls, a fellow RAPTORite) were stomping out of the rafters. But it makes for a weird image, no?
Please check out the new link at RAPTOR's website...you can ADOPT a banded bird!