Just thought I'd share -

[Mayden]

I met a falcon today!

She was loooovely. I'd love to have a bird of Prey, but I couldn't stand feeding them. I saw her feeding, made me sad, but it's nature! *grumbles*

 

[HalfInsane]

She's beautiful. You didn't happen to ask what kind of falcon she was specifically, did you? I'm just curious.

 

[roxynoodle]

That is awesome! I hear you on the feeding though. It's always prevented me from having some snakes I'd like. I just get too mushy about feeding small rodents, which I like, too. It is nature, and I do eat meat myself.

 

[Mare Miller]

Sooo cool! They sure have huge eyes, huh? I've oftentimes wondered why, if all birds have keen eye sight, why are these birds eyes bigger than other birds eyes of the same size?

 

[Mayden]

She's a Kestral I think the woman said

Apparently she flies her birds of prey every morning and afternoon at the park just across the road from me, I'm going to try to catch her some days and maybe photograph her entire flock. She really is a 'mummy' to them though, she kept snuggling this one just as we would our parrots. Was very sweet to see!

 

[Mayden]

This falcon was eating a day old chick. Apparently she doesn't like eyes though, she spits them out. I just looked at the chick thinking 'oh my god, my Merlin was that just under a year ago, how cruel!' and I asked the lady for alternatives

She's apparently a vegetarian, and her Kestral needs her food skinned for her at the moment as she has a minor beak problem that's made worse by feathers/skin getting caught in it. So the lady is having a whale of a time feeding this one...

Very friendly couple who had them, she has tawny owls, barn owls, her male friend's friend had a huge eagle which I hope I can see, she's got other falcons. So I'm going to befriend this lady, yes indeed!

Her eyes are beautiful though, I commented on how different they are to my birds, I'm not used to just seeing these deep black circles. I think birds of prey may have bigger/better eyes since they're more 'live' prey hunters? Compared to foragers that our parrots are

 

[roxynoodle]

Owls have large eyes to help them see at night. I'm not sure on Falcons. They can dive at more than 200mph though so maybe that's why; to help them still see at those kinds of speeds and the wind that makes.

 

[Wulfgeist]

That is a very beautiful hunter there.

 

[luvmytooo]

How Beautiful ! They are amazing creatures. My husband knows of a man who has a hawk. We went to watch him hunt one time ...it was really cool but also a bit barbaric . But I needed to see this hawk in action , what a gift that was !
Not something I would want to witness everytime I had to feed him though...
This hawk was injured by a car , and wouldnt survive for too long out on his own , so the man spent big money making a habitat for him in his yard. Very nice setup too.

I would rather stick to feeding my parrots , thank you very much

 

[roxynoodle]

One morning when I walked out my back door, a hawk came down right at that moment for the ground hog that had been living in my shed. I was about 10 feet from them. It just sat on the ground hog's back for a bit looking at me. Then it flew off with it's rather large breakfast. That is the closest I've seen one. I was able to get a good look at it's eyes and feathers and talons. Usually they are sitting on the tops of the utility poles where I can't see them that well.

 

[BillsBirds]

Agreed on the carnivore feeding. I've fostered a few owls in my time, and had to feed them "critters". Also have a friend who's a falconer, and have watched the falcons catch pigeons. All birds are precious and sacred to me, but, our vegetarians are a tiny bit easier to love. but, raptors are things of beauty.

 

[Mayden]

They are beautiful - it's just a shame we can't feed them tofu/quorn ^^

It's just one of those things, it's nature and I don't mind them eating whatever it is they've caught, but I just couldn't actively 'help' them do that. Like you said bill, all birds (and animals to me) are precious and so I don't think I could do it.

My other half said that if we were to do that, he'd take over all the feeding - he doesn't really 'like' it but he can handle it without bursting into tears that that's a poor babys life who didn't get to live and feel love, etc! He can become detached when needed. But since hawks and birds of prey like to hunt bunnys and birds, we're gonna have to wait a while I think, our budgie's and Annie would NOT appreciate it. (Merlin would kick the birdies butt, so no worries there! )

 

[roxynoodle]

My cat catches mice and sometimes terrorizes them for like half an hour before they die. But, it's nature, and I don't want mice in my house so I just try to ignore this. One she kept picking up, standing up on her hind legs, and then body slamming like a wrestler. I felt awful for it.

 

[mysteryfoxes]

When I was 9 I found a Red-tailed Hawk baby in a field, half dead. I took him in and gave him to a rescue group.

They're quite magnificent animals.

 

[luvmytooo]

Oh I definitely agree with animals hunting animals , it's the way it suppose to be.
But I wouldnt go to see this bird hunt everyday , that's all Not my cup of tea.
Funny , I love nature programs , love to sea lions and big cats catch their prey.
That doesnt bother me , but when a big cat gets hurt , that bothers me alot .
Strange ,but that's me I guess , lolol.

 

[Cliffordsmom]

WOW! Just look at her, She is Beautiful. That's a neat thing to see. I would be amazed by her.