New House Coat

Little Peeve gets kind of chilly in the winter... he has a coat I made for him for outside, but until today, nothing has worked for inside. I knit him 2 sweaters and he freaks out in both. I realized that it was the legs or arms - he doesn't like that business of stuff right around his front arms. Oh, and he doesn't like wearing diapers either, but I think you already know that story. Anyway, today I found him a corduroy and fleece jacket that is perfect for inside. He LOVES it and is prancing around the house proud as can be. Well, actually, he is on my lap right now impeding my typing...

Birds that LOVE me

Just so you don't think I only get attacked by birds.... these are my 3 favorite birds that I work with and they are also the 3 that like me most...

Coulee is a male American Kestrel. He weighs about 3 ounces and is so very handsome. He was caught in a grain elevator out near the Grand Coulee Dam and had to have his right wing amputated, so he can't fly... He is tough as nails though and just loves me!

Coba is a 15 year old, male Spectacled Owl. He was hatched at the Zoo during a breeding project but his parents wouldn't feed him. So, he was hand raised and is therefore imprinted on people. He talks to me a lot and makes lots of funny little noises. He weighs about 1.5 pounds.

D1 is a female Peregrine Falcon. She was hatched in 1998 in the San Juans, but moved to the West Seattle Bridge (go west side!) in 2000. She was found injured in Safeco Field in 2002 and went to the zoo for medical attention. She got better and was taken back to the WS Bridge to be released.... but.... a new female Peregrine had taken her spot and they fought and D1 got knocked out of the air and hit her head so hard that about 90% of each retina is detached and one of her feet is sort of paralyzed. She is one of the most gorgeous birds ever and she can still see a little bit...

Attack of the Turkey Vulture...

"A vulture's beak is its main ripping tool; strong and powerful enough to tear the toughest cow hide" ... or, my calves. My buddy the Turkey Vulture at Raptors has been gunning for me since day one. During Saturday's show, he flew off. I got sent to monitor him and keep him away from visitors. I found him perched on top of a concession hut and when he saw me, he locked on and lept down as though he was going to land on my shoulder. I spun and he landed on the ground next to me. I tried to herd him away from the crowd, which was pretty easy since he wasn't paying attention to anything but me... The next 10 minutes were spent with me dodging his attacks and him 1) untying both my shoes, 2) unrolling my pant cuffs, and 3) bruising the crap out of me legs, including 5 good grabs that broke the skin (through my thick pants!). Oh, and people were, of course, watching and taking pictures of me with a vulture stuck to my pants... and there were those really smart parents that let their little kids walk over to an obviously aggressive animal... duh.