One release, one intake

Last week was slightly calmer weather-wise, as well as on the intake front—and the recalcitrant barred finally decided to regain his freedom!

Let’s start with that barred. He sat on the glove forever, glaring at me and beak-clicking threats, until suddenly the light went on in his dim little brain and he realized he was free to fly away. Maybe those two working brain cells actually finally communicated with each other… Where owls got a reputation for being intelligent is beyond me, ‘cause I promise y’all, they ain’t smart!

The sole intake for the week came from a small mammal/RVS (rabies vector species) colleague in a neighboring county. She works at a vet clinic and the bird, a first-year red tail, was brought there.  She x-rayed the broken left wing which, although somewhat displaced, may possibly heal for flight. Since the wing was noticeably drooping, I wrapped it once he arrived at LWR…although he refuses to turn where I can get photos of the wrap. It’s an instinctive behavior, keeping his weak side angled away from “the enemy,” as he perceives me.

The mature red tail continues to offer death glares when he’s fed and to attempt grievous bodily harm when his paper is changed. He’s footed me through the glove once, bruised through the glove multiple times, and makes it clear through those death glares that I’m only allowed to live because I feed him. I’ve nicknamed him Vlad the Impaler. Of course, I always hope every bird can be released, but this guy’s amazing genes REALLY need to be in the gene pool. 

The sharpie is starting to get “cabin fever,” so fingers crossed he doesn’t start doing anything stupid or self-destructive, which they can and will often do.

And I gather both the Yankee groundhog and Georgia’s own General Beauregard Lee have predicted another 6 weeks of winter…Oh frabjous joy… (Actually, our weather looks to be warmer than usual for the next month, so I think General Lee’s prediction is off this year!)