Long-eared Owl

Awhile back, the center had an injured long-eared owl come in. It was transported up to the U of M Raptor Center for treatment of a wing injured. Today, it returned to center and I was lucky enough to release it! Here is a short video of the little one returning home :)

Malpica Wedding

Drove down to the Minnesota-Iowa border this weekend to see my friends get married. It was a beautiful ceremony and I had great time catching up with some of the Audubon folks.

Wishing the Malpica's a lifetime of happiness :)

Summer has arrived!

Its been a busy couple weeks! Here are a couple of my work highlights.

Tackle bags for the fishing for eagles program

The Fishing for Eagles program started up again this week. I am running the program this summer so I've had to check all the gear and get ready for the kiddos. Every Wednesday and Thursday through August, kids can go fishing on the public dock here Wabasha. We provide all the gear and the bait, they get the chance to catch some dinner for our bald eagles. They even get a free bag of tackle goodies just for participating! If you know any kids, send them my way :)

Now that school is out, the center is getting busy again. Our birds get to go outside each morning and its molting season. Some of the local wild birds have figured out the eagle feathers make good additions to their nests. The house sparrows in particular keep stealing the feathers the eagles drop before I can grab them. I think its a little funny that the non-native is not following the laws when it comes to feathers...

House Sparrow stealing eagle feathers - Harriet is not amused!

My training is still moving forward with Donald. In fact we got to go down to the beach for a little while to enjoy the weather. He did amazing!!! However, apparently he has been having busy nights as well because he keeps falling asleep in front of visitors :)

Donald and Harriet at the beach!

Donald catching a nap while the mew is full of people.....

Peregrine Banding!

I just had the most AMAZING day EVER!!!! 

Still cannot wipe the smile off my face! 

Grabbing the chicks from the nest box

Today, I had the chance to watch/take part in a peregrine falcon banding! The family lives on one of the Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester, Minnesota. A nest cam allows people to follow the family year after year. This spring the pair had 4 young - 2 male and 2 females. This banding is open to the public and lots of people turned up for the event hosted by Mayo Clinic and Midwest Peregrine Society. I was lucky enough to go up to the roof and watch the whole process! Even got to hold one of the little ones :) Seriously, I have not stopped smiling since noon!! Anyways, here are couple of the pictures from today's adventure...

Recording the data

I got to carry the little ones back to the roof top!

So this is what happens when I unexpectedly get to hold a PEFA! YAY! AMAZING!!!

Wearing the chick backpack - all 4 of this years young are inside :)

Some of the bird nerds right before the birds are returned to the nest box

All smiles when we were finished :)