An Abrupt End
It is the beginning of April, and tonight Daylight Savings Time goes into effect. The winter of 2004/2005 is over! Many migratory birds have winged their way back, and this evening I heard my first tree frogs 'singing'. The first 'gray grape' (bloated tick) was found on the carpet.
Spring has arrived!
I did get out just a couple more times with Abby, but then went out of commission for about two weeks due to catching the flu that has been going around. I am not normally subject to illness, but this particular strain of whatever it was that was going around was putting some people in the hospital, and others were getting pneumonia, or bronchitis. It went straight to my lungs, so I heeded my body's warning signs, and got a lot of rest for two weeks. I think because of this, I was able to avoid getting seriously ill. But as I recovered, spring arrived, heralding the end of the falconry season. I did not accomplish much with Abby . . . but at least I was able to fuss with a bird for the last couple months, so was not totally bird-free.
I'm implementing a regimen of exercises for both Abby and Rigel. For soon they shall both be returned to the wild. I have two educational talks I'm doing. One at the Marshfield Library on April 10. The other at my small bird club's spring fair on May 21. After this last talk, I shall gently release each bird in my yard. I plan to do daily lure calls, just in case. However, after May 21 I believe the pickings will be pretty good for both hawk and kestrel. By then there will probably be many new young rabbits in the fields, as well as lots of mice. And for Rigel, the grasshoppers will probably also be out and active. So, both birds should have a pretty easy time readjusting to being wild and free.
Over the summer I will be doing some work to my facilities. My weathering yard needs some serious adjustments. And I plan to divide it up, to make a separate weathing yard for a kestrel. In the fall I plan to trap one of each species. Over the summer I'll acquire some baggies in the form of sparrows and starlings, to train up a female kestrel. I'll try again next season to work with a kestrel, and get it on game. And of course, a red tail. I hope for a 'normal' season. One that is not interrupted suddenly just as it gets started.
I'll still post some things in here. And some may be non-falconry related. We have a road trip planned this summer. And you never know what interesting things can come up, that should be written about!
So, though we enter the down season for falconry . . . my friends, please visit from time to time. There may be something interesting to read about!
Carolyn
(The Lady Hawker -- LadyHawker65@yahoo.com)
Spring has arrived!
I did get out just a couple more times with Abby, but then went out of commission for about two weeks due to catching the flu that has been going around. I am not normally subject to illness, but this particular strain of whatever it was that was going around was putting some people in the hospital, and others were getting pneumonia, or bronchitis. It went straight to my lungs, so I heeded my body's warning signs, and got a lot of rest for two weeks. I think because of this, I was able to avoid getting seriously ill. But as I recovered, spring arrived, heralding the end of the falconry season. I did not accomplish much with Abby . . . but at least I was able to fuss with a bird for the last couple months, so was not totally bird-free.
I'm implementing a regimen of exercises for both Abby and Rigel. For soon they shall both be returned to the wild. I have two educational talks I'm doing. One at the Marshfield Library on April 10. The other at my small bird club's spring fair on May 21. After this last talk, I shall gently release each bird in my yard. I plan to do daily lure calls, just in case. However, after May 21 I believe the pickings will be pretty good for both hawk and kestrel. By then there will probably be many new young rabbits in the fields, as well as lots of mice. And for Rigel, the grasshoppers will probably also be out and active. So, both birds should have a pretty easy time readjusting to being wild and free.
Over the summer I will be doing some work to my facilities. My weathering yard needs some serious adjustments. And I plan to divide it up, to make a separate weathing yard for a kestrel. In the fall I plan to trap one of each species. Over the summer I'll acquire some baggies in the form of sparrows and starlings, to train up a female kestrel. I'll try again next season to work with a kestrel, and get it on game. And of course, a red tail. I hope for a 'normal' season. One that is not interrupted suddenly just as it gets started.
I'll still post some things in here. And some may be non-falconry related. We have a road trip planned this summer. And you never know what interesting things can come up, that should be written about!
So, though we enter the down season for falconry . . . my friends, please visit from time to time. There may be something interesting to read about!
Carolyn
(The Lady Hawker -- LadyHawker65@yahoo.com)
