Releases, part the…whatever; I lost count

During LWR’s short break from updates we had two gorgeous releases, both red tails, and a couple of new intakes, as well.

Beginning with the releases, the gorgeous female red tail was released after she finally showed me she could indeed fly, and fly well. Y’all, I don’t mind admitting this was one gal I kinda hated to release. She was so breathtakingly gorgeous I could’ve just sat and stared at her all day. But she needed to be free to live her life as God intended,  so…Just look at her, though—what a work of art!

Shortly after her release, one of the three males was ready to go. He’d been antsy from day one, waiting for his very minor ulna fracture to heal, so he was delighted to “get shed” of me. He didn’t hang around long enough for a post-release photo.

That leaves two male red tails still at LWR: the young fellow with the humerus fracture and the starvation-thin mature guy who’s slowly gaining weight. They’re both getting antsy, too, but the young feller still has a couple of weeks before he can go into a flight pen, and it’s just too dang hot to put the old man outside—besides, I’m still not satisfied he’s gained enough weight yet.

But look at them; they’re gorgeous too! Y’all know I love my red tails…

Young feller:

Old man:

During the week’s break from updates, a barred owl came in, thin and lethargic; he didn’t survive the night.  Friday of this past week, a starvation-thin red shoulder came in. He’s alert but reluctant to eat. If he’ll start eating like he should, he’s got a good chance at survival.

And, of course, the MIKI (Mississippi kite) continues to grow, although he stubbornly refuses to self-feed. He’ll eagerly take food from the forceps; he just won’t pick it up himself. He has started attempting to use his feet to hold bits of food that he snatched from the forceps and positioned awkwardly in his beak, though—that’s a good sign, as MIKIs use their feet to hold their food and eat it while on the wing. THAT is an amazing sight to see!