Most of the time I've seen prey delivered to a fledgling Red-tailed Hawk it's dropped off and the kid is left to sort it out. This was the first time I'd seen a parent feeding a young bird who had already fledged. It was a sweet moment. [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/45018795 w=590&h=332]
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In Perfect Feather /
A brand new Red-tailed Hawk that hasn't even scuffed a tail feather yet. Sharp. Very sharp.
Tough Start /
This little Barn Swallow has the grimace right and the barbed wire is a nice touch. It was actually doing fine, sitting with its siblings and getting fed regularly.
Made in the Shade /
Little furry creatures would do well to get out of the sun when the mercury hits the century mark. This bunny knows how to keep its cool.
Not that it's much cooler under that abandoned house.
They were positioned all over the place, in the shade but near the edges where they might catch some of the feeble breeze.
Mercey Hot Springs Owls /
Mercey is known for its Long-eared Owls but in the summer the population thins out. The resident Barn Owls were in abundance though. I found 5 of them in the near 100 degree heat keeping their cool in this stand of trees.
Not many visitors this time of year... but they are thinking of raising the "birdwatching fee" to $25 from the present $5, because some folks have been staying over 5 hours staking out the owls. Most people there for the birds only linger an hour or so and I'm guessing the fee increase will keep a lot of them away.
I didn't see this owl until it froze me in place with that spine tingling scream.
I took a quick picture and backed off. They are gorgeous birds and I was feeling a little guilty for disturbing them at all.
The famous long-ears weren't showing in their usual numbers but this lone individual was not hard to find, obscured as it was, in the tree they always use.