Feels Like Fall!

I went for a walk yesterday - it sure is starting to feel like fall! Check out these pictures of the leaves turning around the center :)

Coopers Hawk

Check out these pictures I took on my latest trip home of a coopers hawk hanging out in my parents yard. Based on the red eyes its an adult bird and helps explain the feathers my dad has been finding in the yard :)

Hawk Ridge

Yesterday we got to go up to Hawk Ridge. This was my third year going up there - it is one of the top raptor migration spots in North America and if you hit on the right day you can see thousands and thousands of raptors. Keeping with the bad weather theme this week, the conditions were less than ideal yesterday. It was cold and rainy but we did manage to see a couple birds.

All 3 species of accipter - Goshawk, coopers and sharp-shinned

The view from the ridge

 Despite the weather, we saw a fair number of species. My favorite was Merlin that came in and dive bombed a plastic owl. We also saw: goshwak, broad winged hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, coopers hawks, osprey, merlin, and american kestrels. Not too shabby. I even got to release a sharp-shinned!

After the ridge, we headed over to Delilah's house. She is currently living at the house of a wildlife rehabber and should be moving to the Audubon Center in the next couple weeks to start her life as an education animal.

Delilah having a snack

Yep, this is my job. What a great way to spend a work day!! :)

familiar faces

Guess what?!?! A couple of former interns stopped by the center last Thursday and then I went down to the cities this weekend to hang out with them. YAY! Despite the weather, we had a great time with these ladies :)

Me, Manu and Amanda in the office!

We went to a twins game - here we are in the golden glove

Unfortunately, it was cold,windy and rainy....oh and the twins are craptastic

My 2nd Favorite Thing

Well, I should say that this post is about my second favorite thing in the barn - beetles! Note: if you are easily grossed out, please advert your eyes. Mutti, this means you! :)

Awhile back the center got some dermestid beetles - AKA: Flesh eating beetles. Before you run away, they only eat dead things and they make preparing skulls to use for education a TON easier which is why they are my second favorite thing!

2 bird skulls covered in beetles

Pileated Woodpecker - how amazing is the tongue?  (For those of you not familiar, the birds tongue is so long it attaches to the back of the head - its the 2 white tendons things below the beak)

Finished project - and me having to play dentist!

Oh, for those of you wondering, Isis (the kestrel I train) is my favorite thing in the barn!

A little bit of work and play

 Yesterday, I went on a hike at the Audubon Center. It was the first time in quite awhile that I was able to walk the trails here because of the bugs. Along the way, I was playing with the settings on my camera. Despite having it for 4 years now, I am still finding new settings!! The last picture was taken by one of the new interns - its me doing a raptor program (can you tell I enjoy teaching people about falcons?).

Chickory

 Tall grasses by a wetland

Trail in the pine plantation

"Isis" and I at a raptor program

Fishin'

Here is some proof that I caught some fish this summer! The person who took these finally uploaded them so enjoy!!

Jess and I hanging on the dock

One of my catches - a small bluegill