SNN (ScrollingNetworkNews) ✿ ✿ Our Mel and Sydney returned to their nesting box with plenty of bonding occurring..but after 2.5 months of Sydney in the box from Dec 2013 to mid Feb 2014, the lack of prey gifts from Mel ( perhaps due to the severe and historic drought underway in California)and they have forgone the nesting process this year as many other raptors ✿ Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents – often regarded as pests by humans – than possibly any other creature. ✿ We remind viewers that sometimes owlets may not survive - the parents will dispose of things in "The Owl Way" -viewer discretion is advised, this is nature and the "Owl way". ✿ ~ ✿ “Animals, like us, are living souls. They are not things. They are not objects. Neither are they human. Yet they mourn. They love. They dance. They suffer. They know the peaks and chasms of being.” ― Gary Kowalski, The Souls of Animals ✿ Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." ~ E.O. Wilson

Monday, August 6, 2012

Hawk found tethered to a tree in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) -
Sacramento Animal Control officers are trying to solve the mystery of a tethered hawk.
A city animal technician holds the hawk (Aug. 4, 2012).
Late Thursday night, officers found a Harris Hawk tied to a tree along the 7700 block of Stockton Boulevard. The discovery followed a call from a concerned citizen.

Gina Knepp, director of the city's Animal Care Services, said it’s a valuable hunting bird that’s been carefully trained. She said it has a federal ID band, but that calls to government officials have not yet been returned.
The hunting hawk is being cared for by Ricardo Gaitor, a city animal technician, who used to be a falconer as a youth in Mexico. He said the bird is in excellent condition and responds well to a handler.

Gaitor said finding an abandoned hunting bird is unheard of because of the time, effort and expense involved in owning one in California. The bird was complete with custom restraints and a hunting bell to track.
He said the bird can hunt a variety of prey, including quail, rabbit and pheasant.

Knepp said efforts will continue to track down the registered owner of the bird to determine what happened.
If the owner cannot be located, the bird would be available for adoption. Officials say valuable hunting hawk was perhaps abandoned..