Behind the Workplace - Bunny #4

This morning was a nice, sunny, crisp late fall/early winter day. I knew Nina would be recovered from her Thanksgiving day gorge, and ready to fly. My room-mate Liz joined me to check out the woods out behind where I work. There is a nice walking trail, and trees and brushy areas behind it all. I have taken the path previously to confirm there are squirrels. It looked good for bunnies too. So we checked it out today, on a weekend, when the parking lots would be empty.

As soon as I got out of the car I saw squirrel activity. After getting Nina all set up with her transmitter, I launched her that direction. A particularly large black squirrel froze against the branch, and after a few minutes, Nina positioned herself and took a dive at it. She did catch it with a foot, but did not have a really good hold on it. As she came down and struck a branch, she lost her grip, and a chase ensued . . . eventually resulting in the squirrel getting away. We continued on.

During this time, I noticed that we had attracted attention from two young ladies who were working at the Coulee Region Humane Society (Yes . . . the SPCA is right here below where I was hunting). Always, when I attract attention, I try to control the situation so that the random onlooker will come away with a positive impression of falconry. I saw them, I acknowledged them, and walked down into the valley and said hello. They asked some of the usual questions: What are you doing? Is that your bird? Is it injurred? I like to explain that I'm "exercising my bird", that yes, she is in my care, and No, she is not injurred, but completely healthy. I emphasize that I am a LICENSED falconer, pursuing a regulated sport. I'll ask if they would like to meet her, and call her down for a quick tid-bit, and their chance to see a raptor up close. I think the call down is always a very impressive thing for people to see! It was a brief encounter, but they both walked away smiling, and thought that what I was doing was cool!

Too bad they didn't stick around for a couple more minutes!

Almost as soon as I sent her back up a tree, I flushed a bunny which ran up and over the hill. She was hot on its trail. I heard the bunny scream, and knew she had #4. I worked my way up the rather steep hill and found her hanging onto the bunny, at a fence, stradling a pole, one leg on each side, the bunny on the other. It took a couple minutes to get her to let go of one leg so I could remove her and bunny away from the fence. I hope she didn't crash into the fence!

I did the usual rabbit dispatch, secure hawk, lure transfer, and let her eat off the lure while I put her prize into the bag. I then posed for a couple pictures, and headed back to the car. This particular rabbit was cleaned up and tucked into the crock pot. We'll see if I can make some rabbit stew. Liz and I put everything away, cleaned up ourselves, and went and had brunch.

Overall . . . a perfect winter day . . . except I had to go to work later! SIGH!!