chasingthehawk

[chasingthehawk]

The Cooper’s Family

Since falconry season is over, I’ve decided to follow my favorite family...right in our front yard! Today I came home and interrupted an intimate moment, but I’m sure there will be more of that in the next few weeks. I’ve dated the photos to track their progress, can’t wait until their young start branching out and I get to see their goofy antics.

[chasingthehawk]

If we lose the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, we lose native birds. And we’re running out of time to protect it. Under the new, weakened MBTA, companies would be able to get away with ‘incidental takes’ such as birds lost in oil spills, water pollution, or other mishaps they should be held accountable for.

Comment to the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Comment on the Federal Register

Send letters through Audubon

Sign Western Cuyahoga Audubon’s Petition

Sign the American Bird Conservancy’s Petition

Sign Care2 Petition

[chasingthehawk]

Bird. Ascending.

Walking my dog the other morning and the water was like glass, so I decided to try to get a photo of a Great Egret standing in the water. But he spooked and as he flew off I got this totally whimsical photo of him seemingly hovering over the water. I feel as though he’s off to explore some other world where he clearly has an important job to do.

[chasingthehawk]

Partially leucistic female cardinal at my bird feeder. We’ve seen her a few times now and more recently with a boyfriend. I think she’s a local.

[chasingthehawk]

The curious hunter...

Easy loves to get up in the bare winter tree branches and pick apart nests. They’re empty now, but I suppose he might find a golden ticket if he keeps trying.

This evening he found sparrows and cotton rats...no bunnies to be seen.

[chasingthehawk]

First time in the field...

With Easy, a male Harris’s Hawk that belongs to another falconer (who has a crowded schedule this season). He’s a great bird, our first time was not too eventful, I’m blaming his human on this one...I didn’t get to the field until 10:30am and summer temps were in full effect. Not much game to see, just a few rats that had great cover. Easy nabbed a couple of huge grasshoppers and just about went down a rabbit hole to get a rodent of some sort. He’s a fierce hunter, and now that some cold fronts are blowing through, the cover will thin out and we’ll make the most of the season.

[chasingthehawk]

A new season is about to begin...

This season I will be hunting with a captive-bred tiercel Harris’s Hawk. He belongs to a falconer who is currently working a lot and wants to spend any extra time with his family. I think he’ll be a great hunting partner, I just need to taper his weight down and establish some trust.

[chasingthehawk]

A day trip to the Smith Point area!

Completely different from last year, 2018 had rain & more rain, then 5 billion mosquitoes and a super mud fest. This year we had clear skies and hot temps...typical south Texas weather.

I did not take home any trapped birds, but I will be flying a Harris’s Hawk this year. It’s always amazing to see these birds during migration...all you do is look up and over a couple of hours you’d see at least 4-8 species of raptors! Love!

[chasingthehawk]

Red Tail!

Spotted a red tailed hawk soaring overhead in South Dakota...still growing out those tail feathers!

[chasingthehawk]

Tofka was doing some Rocket Science the other day trying to figure out how to get the rabbit head out of the oatmeal box

Spoiler alert: he couldn’t figure it out and needed help 😂

[chasingthehawk]

day 346, a crested caracare for @ahalfofoneforbreafast.  

Requests for birds are open! Just drop a message with one and I’ll reply when I can.  It just takes me a while to get to them these days.  I’m aiming for at least once a week, usually Thursdays. [project tag] | [kofi]

Find me on: [twitter] | [pillowfort]

[chasingthehawk]

Amazing! He’s going to be one handsome owl 8>

Our newest teammate, Nicodemus, the Eurasian Eagle owl. He’s currently 30 days old and growing like a weed! My boyfriend and I are raising him together. will be training him for outreach and education purposes. He’s already got tons of personality and I can’t wait to see how he develops! 

[chasingthehawk]

Bruce the Eagle Gets his 15 Minutes of Fame in a Symmetrical Glamour Shot by Photographer Steve Biro

[chasingthehawk]

My favourite time of the year is here, and it is wonderful to sit outside and listen and watch. I am not sure if the yellow one is a female or a young male, but I somehow tend to the latter. It almost looks like it still has remnants of the rosy baby beak base.

[chasingthehawk]

Off season

No bird and hot temps is boring. Thought I’d fool around with a new app called “Defekt.” Made me a firebird!

[chasingthehawk]

Opening night for the President’s Art Exhibit at #ERAU was last night. It was fun to meet people and chat about my painting. The gallery is open every day until next Monday so be sure to stop by and check out all the great work! #fineart #wildlife #painting

[chasingthehawk]

Peanut was having some apparently much needed camera time today.