Spirit of the Golden Eagle 
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Kachina
Joan has in her collection a beautiful work by Kevin and Shawn Godomski, an Ojibway couple. Of the Golden Eagle they say the following:
The Golden Eagle – The totem of the eagle, with its ability to soar to great heights and to see far from this vantage point, generally represents leadership. Other characteristics the eagle is said to posses are courage and foreknowledge. Among bird clans, the eagle, along with the crane, are thought to be the most aristocratic. The Medicine Eagle Staff is showing the colors of the four winds – white in the north; yellow in the East; red in the South; and black in the West. He carries this to show his leadership in the tribe. The turtle represents the awesome power of the West wind where storms arise and war begins.
The Golden Eagle – The totem of the eagle, with its ability to soar to great heights and to see far from this vantage point, generally represents leadership. Other characteristics the eagle is said to posses are courage and foreknowledge. Among bird clans, the eagle, along with the crane, are thought to be the most aristocratic. The Medicine Eagle Staff is showing the colors of the four winds – white in the north; yellow in the East; red in the South; and black in the West. He carries this to show his leadership in the tribe. The turtle represents the awesome power of the West wind where storms arise and war begins.
Arrival
It was still early morning as we passed through Colorado Springs, and came to the home of our hosts, Joan and Jerry in Penrose. They operate an on-line mail order bookstore from their home . . . and what a home! Such a beautiful place, fashioned in a Southwest architecture. And filled with beautiful art! Joan has many beautiful handmade items from local Native American artists. To my mind the nicest are several Power Animal Kachinas that have been made by an Ojibway couple. One is an Eagle Spirit, and I shall make a separate entry regarding it. She also has many Medicine Wheels on her walls. Jerry collects rugs and pottery – and there are many exquisite examples of fine craftsmanship. He also has many beautiful stained glass mosaics. I hope later today to take a picture of one of them and include it here.
Their home is cool and comfortable. There is a restful energy that permeates the place and those who live here. They have a very large, very protective mastiff named Alex. He’s not too interested in making friends, and instead takes his role of protector very seriously. But there is also Mavis, a very sweet, very large cross breed, who makes up for Alex’s reserve. Joan and Jerry have been wonderful hosts! Their home is incredibly restful. They have a warehouse of books behind their home. They sell through the Internet. So, as a plug for them, you should go check out their listings. On Amazon.com they can be found at four_corners_books. On Ebay, fourcornersbooks.
On the falconry side, I find it incredibly interesting, but yesterday a redtail hawk flew over the house, and I’m certain it is a falconry escape. We saw the bird in the distance flying our way. I speculated by the form at the distance that it was a heron. For I could see something long trailing underneath, and I thought these were the legs. However, the neck was not stretched out like a crane, so I thought of a heron, as they bend their necks back along their back as they fly. However, as the bird got closer I was amazed to see it was an adult redtail hawk, with a very long jess or leash trailing behind. I was stunned! I watched its flight and saw it dive into a tree across the street as one of the many small blackbirds was harassing it. A short time later I had Shawn drive with me around the area, trying to see the bird again. I had my gauntlet, but no whistle nor lure, nor meat for that matter. I fashioned a very crude lure using a dish rag tied on the end of a rope. But, we never saw the bird. I was told by the others that they did see it flying by about an hour later. I did what I could! I went online and placed a report with the Colorado Hawking Club. I received responses that they would send out the word in case anyone was missing a hawk. We did have one man come by shortly thereafter, hoping it was his bird. He is in the process of moving, and his bird escaped. However, he is looking for an immature hawk. This bird was a full adult.
I shall keep my eyes to the sky, and leave the contact phone numbers for Joan in case she sees the bird after we leave. Very strange for this to happen just as we visit. It would have been even better though if I could have found the bird and called it to the fist, and get her back to her falconer. Well, it is still early, and we have a couple more days here. Who knows!
I watched the sun come up this morning, sitting in Joan and Jerry’s open field, which is filled with tall grasses. It was incredibly peaceful. I meditated, and absorbed the energy of the place. I endeavor over the next couple weeks to release the pressure and tension of my everyday life, and to tune into all the beautiful places I will visit. Vast and stark desert locations, yes . . . but there is a peace and a power in the desert!
Their home is cool and comfortable. There is a restful energy that permeates the place and those who live here. They have a very large, very protective mastiff named Alex. He’s not too interested in making friends, and instead takes his role of protector very seriously. But there is also Mavis, a very sweet, very large cross breed, who makes up for Alex’s reserve. Joan and Jerry have been wonderful hosts! Their home is incredibly restful. They have a warehouse of books behind their home. They sell through the Internet. So, as a plug for them, you should go check out their listings. On Amazon.com they can be found at four_corners_books. On Ebay, fourcornersbooks.
On the falconry side, I find it incredibly interesting, but yesterday a redtail hawk flew over the house, and I’m certain it is a falconry escape. We saw the bird in the distance flying our way. I speculated by the form at the distance that it was a heron. For I could see something long trailing underneath, and I thought these were the legs. However, the neck was not stretched out like a crane, so I thought of a heron, as they bend their necks back along their back as they fly. However, as the bird got closer I was amazed to see it was an adult redtail hawk, with a very long jess or leash trailing behind. I was stunned! I watched its flight and saw it dive into a tree across the street as one of the many small blackbirds was harassing it. A short time later I had Shawn drive with me around the area, trying to see the bird again. I had my gauntlet, but no whistle nor lure, nor meat for that matter. I fashioned a very crude lure using a dish rag tied on the end of a rope. But, we never saw the bird. I was told by the others that they did see it flying by about an hour later. I did what I could! I went online and placed a report with the Colorado Hawking Club. I received responses that they would send out the word in case anyone was missing a hawk. We did have one man come by shortly thereafter, hoping it was his bird. He is in the process of moving, and his bird escaped. However, he is looking for an immature hawk. This bird was a full adult.
I shall keep my eyes to the sky, and leave the contact phone numbers for Joan in case she sees the bird after we leave. Very strange for this to happen just as we visit. It would have been even better though if I could have found the bird and called it to the fist, and get her back to her falconer. Well, it is still early, and we have a couple more days here. Who knows!
I watched the sun come up this morning, sitting in Joan and Jerry’s open field, which is filled with tall grasses. It was incredibly peaceful. I meditated, and absorbed the energy of the place. I endeavor over the next couple weeks to release the pressure and tension of my everyday life, and to tune into all the beautiful places I will visit. Vast and stark desert locations, yes . . . but there is a peace and a power in the desert!
Summer 2005 Road Trip
It is Tuesday mid afternoon at the time I begin writing this. Shawn and I are on the initial leg of a Summer Road Trip. We have the delightful company of our dear friend, Neta. She is coming with us to Colorado. There we will visit with her family some. We will then leave her to visit her children, and we will travel on to Texas to visit our family, stopping in New Mexico to visit a fellow female falconer I met last year at the NAFA meet. And, if the weather is good, Shawn and I shall also get a balloon ride. My friend, Sharon, is a balloon pilot. So, I’m hoping for good weather.
For now, we are winding our way through Iowa backroads. Gordon Lightfoot sings his mellow songs on the stereo. Normally we would take the Interstate. However, Neta lives in Gays Mills, which is some distance from the Interstate in Wisconsin. And to return to it would be backtracking. So, we are making our way though lots of back roads and county roads. We have already passed over the Missisippi, and are now seeing lots of Iowa corn fields, open prairies, and small, quaint towns. Neta enjoys looking at all the old houses. This truly is the backbone of America! “Flyover Country” as referred to residents of the East and West coast. But here are many good people, and strong communities that make up the majority of the population of our country. However . . . it can take a very long time to drive through all this back country and get to the Interstate. After all, our goal is to GET to Colorado. Once we make it to the Interstate again, we’ll make good progress.
For now, there is nothing much else to write about. Iowa has lots of corn!! Lots and Lots of it!!
It is now 5:00 Central Daylight Time. However, we are now in the desolate landscape of Eastern Colorado. We’ve passed into a new time zone, Mountain Time. So, where we are at it is actually 4:00. As we drove through Nebraska last night we skirted around a pretty spectacular thunderstorm that raged all around us. I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon and evening working on a long e-mail to a friend, to be uploaded when I next find a computer connected to the Internet. In the later evening, I made the best nest I could in the back seat of the car and tried to sleep some. Shawn has been driving through the night, but as the sun comes up, he promises to give the wheel up to me. So, I’m waking up, spending a few minutes with the glow of the computer screen in my eyes. Surprisingly enough, the road outside is wet! A good storm came through the entire area. The desert outside will certainly appreciate the gift of rain. At first Eric Clapton stroked his guitar on the stereo. But now Shawn has changed that, and Pink Floyd sings of The Dark Side of the Moon. A waning quarter moon hangs in the sky. We watch for eyes on the road. Deer and rabbits and a solitary owl so far. It may be a desert, but there is definitely life here! The storm has passed, and a clear, star-filled sky stretches from horizon to horizon. It is very dark!
As the sun came up, I took over the driving duties. With the morning sun coming up, the hawks came out. So easy to see out here in the open high desert. They sit on the only perches provided to them, telephone poles. It must make it easy for Colorado falconers in the fall to find their passage candidates for the trap. Just drive along the long open roads and watch the poles. I played for Neta a new CD I’ve picked up by a group called Dream Catcher. It is very nice Celtic music. Very appropriate for the early dawn hours. Shawn caught a little sleep in the back. As the miles went by, we came over a bend in the road, and there in the distance the first signs of the mountains to come. I had to take a picture! Pike’s Peak is a part of this range. And as we drove to the home of our hosts we also passed by Cheyenne Mountain, the home of the NORAD, and the center of all the military defense communications for our country. All you could see was a whole lot of radio towers at the top of the mountain. So, I had to simply believe that’s what I was looking at.
For now, we are winding our way through Iowa backroads. Gordon Lightfoot sings his mellow songs on the stereo. Normally we would take the Interstate. However, Neta lives in Gays Mills, which is some distance from the Interstate in Wisconsin. And to return to it would be backtracking. So, we are making our way though lots of back roads and county roads. We have already passed over the Missisippi, and are now seeing lots of Iowa corn fields, open prairies, and small, quaint towns. Neta enjoys looking at all the old houses. This truly is the backbone of America! “Flyover Country” as referred to residents of the East and West coast. But here are many good people, and strong communities that make up the majority of the population of our country. However . . . it can take a very long time to drive through all this back country and get to the Interstate. After all, our goal is to GET to Colorado. Once we make it to the Interstate again, we’ll make good progress.
For now, there is nothing much else to write about. Iowa has lots of corn!! Lots and Lots of it!!
It is now 5:00 Central Daylight Time. However, we are now in the desolate landscape of Eastern Colorado. We’ve passed into a new time zone, Mountain Time. So, where we are at it is actually 4:00. As we drove through Nebraska last night we skirted around a pretty spectacular thunderstorm that raged all around us. I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon and evening working on a long e-mail to a friend, to be uploaded when I next find a computer connected to the Internet. In the later evening, I made the best nest I could in the back seat of the car and tried to sleep some. Shawn has been driving through the night, but as the sun comes up, he promises to give the wheel up to me. So, I’m waking up, spending a few minutes with the glow of the computer screen in my eyes. Surprisingly enough, the road outside is wet! A good storm came through the entire area. The desert outside will certainly appreciate the gift of rain. At first Eric Clapton stroked his guitar on the stereo. But now Shawn has changed that, and Pink Floyd sings of The Dark Side of the Moon. A waning quarter moon hangs in the sky. We watch for eyes on the road. Deer and rabbits and a solitary owl so far. It may be a desert, but there is definitely life here! The storm has passed, and a clear, star-filled sky stretches from horizon to horizon. It is very dark!
As the sun came up, I took over the driving duties. With the morning sun coming up, the hawks came out. So easy to see out here in the open high desert. They sit on the only perches provided to them, telephone poles. It must make it easy for Colorado falconers in the fall to find their passage candidates for the trap. Just drive along the long open roads and watch the poles. I played for Neta a new CD I’ve picked up by a group called Dream Catcher. It is very nice Celtic music. Very appropriate for the early dawn hours. Shawn caught a little sleep in the back. As the miles went by, we came over a bend in the road, and there in the distance the first signs of the mountains to come. I had to take a picture! Pike’s Peak is a part of this range. And as we drove to the home of our hosts we also passed by Cheyenne Mountain, the home of the NORAD, and the center of all the military defense communications for our country. All you could see was a whole lot of radio towers at the top of the mountain. So, I had to simply believe that’s what I was looking at.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
And here is the same stuffed hawk reading up about "Pale Male" . . . the famous New York Red-Tailed Hawk
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Rigel Too!
I had thought to wait a week or so before releasing Rigel, with the false expectation that I might be doing lure calls every day for Abby. However, very quickly when I accepted that Abby was long gone out of the area, I decided to wait no longer, and send Rigel on his way as well.
On Tuesday morning, May 31st, Rigel also won his freedom. I had Shawn help me the night before to remove all his leg gear. He slept in his box overnight 'naked' . . . that is, no restraints. In the morning, a few minutes before time for me to leave for work, I took his box outside. I recorded most of the event on my digital camera, although I didn't get the last crucial moment when he actually flew away.
I opened his door, and he began his begging call right away. I took him out and set him on the door. I offered him a live mouse, but he wasn't really interested right now. I took him up on my hand and said goodbye, and cast him off. He flew up to the garage, and sat there. Immediately the tree swallows who have a nestbox nearby became very aggitated, and began to dive-bomb him. Rigel just chattered some more, and gave out a full kestrel alarm call. I decided to offer him the mouse one more time, only this time I did kill it in a snap trap, and layed it out on a modified hack board I had made of cardboard, and off of which I've been feeding Rigel for the last couple weeks. I had thought to put the hack board out every day with a food offering, but ended up deciding against using it, because I do not think Rigel stayed in the area either. Rigel saw the mouse, offered as he has been fed recently, so did fly down and grab his breakfast. With a flip of the wing and in a flash, he was off to the forest with his breakfast-to-go in his little talons.
Goodbye little guy!
It has been very enjoyable keeping this smallest of the falcons, but it can't be called falconry, because I never got him on game. I plan to try again, and work harder this next fall. I shall trap until I have a passage female (the best I can guess) and I shall have some baggies on hand. I already have one starling that fell down my chimney. A second followed a couple days later, but for whatever reason, didn't make it in the cage I was keeping them in. So, in late summer I'll be starling trapping . . . so that in September I can kestrel trap.
And of course, redtail trapping will also occur. I will have another hunting hawk later this year! Falconry just goes on hold over the summer. Birds molt, facilities need repair. Plans are made for the next season.
On Tuesday morning, May 31st, Rigel also won his freedom. I had Shawn help me the night before to remove all his leg gear. He slept in his box overnight 'naked' . . . that is, no restraints. In the morning, a few minutes before time for me to leave for work, I took his box outside. I recorded most of the event on my digital camera, although I didn't get the last crucial moment when he actually flew away.
I opened his door, and he began his begging call right away. I took him out and set him on the door. I offered him a live mouse, but he wasn't really interested right now. I took him up on my hand and said goodbye, and cast him off. He flew up to the garage, and sat there. Immediately the tree swallows who have a nestbox nearby became very aggitated, and began to dive-bomb him. Rigel just chattered some more, and gave out a full kestrel alarm call. I decided to offer him the mouse one more time, only this time I did kill it in a snap trap, and layed it out on a modified hack board I had made of cardboard, and off of which I've been feeding Rigel for the last couple weeks. I had thought to put the hack board out every day with a food offering, but ended up deciding against using it, because I do not think Rigel stayed in the area either. Rigel saw the mouse, offered as he has been fed recently, so did fly down and grab his breakfast. With a flip of the wing and in a flash, he was off to the forest with his breakfast-to-go in his little talons.
Goodbye little guy!
It has been very enjoyable keeping this smallest of the falcons, but it can't be called falconry, because I never got him on game. I plan to try again, and work harder this next fall. I shall trap until I have a passage female (the best I can guess) and I shall have some baggies on hand. I already have one starling that fell down my chimney. A second followed a couple days later, but for whatever reason, didn't make it in the cage I was keeping them in. So, in late summer I'll be starling trapping . . . so that in September I can kestrel trap.
And of course, redtail trapping will also occur. I will have another hunting hawk later this year! Falconry just goes on hold over the summer. Birds molt, facilities need repair. Plans are made for the next season.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Return to the Wild
The day had finally come, and as I write this, quickly moves away into the past.
On Saturday, May 28, 2005 I returned Abby to the wild. I've been steadily increasing her weight, but still working her with jump-ups to try to keep her fit. She's not in as good a condition as if she had been actively hunting every few days, which is the condition that most falconers release their birds. But her keel was well-rounded, and it is late spring, so food can be found in abundance. I figure that most newly fledged hawks have a pretty short time after leaving the nest to figure out the 'ropes' of survival, and without good condition either. Abby went through this last year, so should adapt quickly. After all, she does have some experience! I will never actually know how it turns out!
I removed her from her mews, where I've been keeping her mostly as the insects have begun to become abunant. A few final pictures were in order before I strip her of anklets and jesses. After weighing, she was just a feather shy of 3 lbs, I removed her leg gear. With her increased weight, she has become more stubborn and 'hawkish'. I had to be careful, as her feet were restless, and searching to foot me, even if the attempts were not very adamant. Still hooded, but free of the restraints she has worn since January, I took her outside to her training perch. I cast her hood, and began the daily training regimen. Though now free, and no longer tethered, she went about her exercises like normal. Such is the power of conditioning. With my husband alongside, taking digital pictures for my memories, we worked through all the meat in my pocket, so she would also be sent out with a full crop. There will be no need for hunting for a few days. Time for her to adapt.
When the meat was exhausted, I took her up on the glove one final time, said my goodbye, and cast her off. She flew just a few feet and landed on the ground. Well! How's that for a dramatic release! I walked over to try and take her back up on the glove, but now she wasn't interested in me, as I had no more food, and she was cropped up anyway. I spent a few minutes pushing her around a brush pile she was perched in, and finally just went a short distance and pulled my lure. No response there either! But when plopped down right in front of her, she grabbed it, and allowed herself to be pulled into a more open area. I let her feed off the lure for the final time, then put the lure away. A clap and a stomp in her direction, and she finally got herself up off the ground and took a perch in a pine at the tree line. A need to go and attend to other duties forced me to then take my leave of her. A check later in the day found no bird in that tree, or anywhere near. A lure call on the following day did not result in any kind of response.
So Abby has been returned to the wild, from where I borrowed her for a few months. Her time in captivity did her no harm, and I hope helped get her through the winter, and improves her chances at surviving.
I wish her well . . . and hope she'll survive to grow out her red tail.
On Saturday, May 28, 2005 I returned Abby to the wild. I've been steadily increasing her weight, but still working her with jump-ups to try to keep her fit. She's not in as good a condition as if she had been actively hunting every few days, which is the condition that most falconers release their birds. But her keel was well-rounded, and it is late spring, so food can be found in abundance. I figure that most newly fledged hawks have a pretty short time after leaving the nest to figure out the 'ropes' of survival, and without good condition either. Abby went through this last year, so should adapt quickly. After all, she does have some experience! I will never actually know how it turns out!
I removed her from her mews, where I've been keeping her mostly as the insects have begun to become abunant. A few final pictures were in order before I strip her of anklets and jesses. After weighing, she was just a feather shy of 3 lbs, I removed her leg gear. With her increased weight, she has become more stubborn and 'hawkish'. I had to be careful, as her feet were restless, and searching to foot me, even if the attempts were not very adamant. Still hooded, but free of the restraints she has worn since January, I took her outside to her training perch. I cast her hood, and began the daily training regimen. Though now free, and no longer tethered, she went about her exercises like normal. Such is the power of conditioning. With my husband alongside, taking digital pictures for my memories, we worked through all the meat in my pocket, so she would also be sent out with a full crop. There will be no need for hunting for a few days. Time for her to adapt.
When the meat was exhausted, I took her up on the glove one final time, said my goodbye, and cast her off. She flew just a few feet and landed on the ground. Well! How's that for a dramatic release! I walked over to try and take her back up on the glove, but now she wasn't interested in me, as I had no more food, and she was cropped up anyway. I spent a few minutes pushing her around a brush pile she was perched in, and finally just went a short distance and pulled my lure. No response there either! But when plopped down right in front of her, she grabbed it, and allowed herself to be pulled into a more open area. I let her feed off the lure for the final time, then put the lure away. A clap and a stomp in her direction, and she finally got herself up off the ground and took a perch in a pine at the tree line. A need to go and attend to other duties forced me to then take my leave of her. A check later in the day found no bird in that tree, or anywhere near. A lure call on the following day did not result in any kind of response.
So Abby has been returned to the wild, from where I borrowed her for a few months. Her time in captivity did her no harm, and I hope helped get her through the winter, and improves her chances at surviving.
I wish her well . . . and hope she'll survive to grow out her red tail.
