Monthly Archives: February 2010

eagle + egg + cam

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This is Spirit, a bald eagle in residence at Boyd’s Hill Nature Preserve.

spirit the eagle

This is Spirit’s (infertile) egg.

eagle egg

I don’t know about you, but I’d never seen a bald eagle egg before. We just happened to be there when this one showed up. I guess if I kept a life-egg list, this would be one for the books.

Here’s a close-up of Spirit.

spirit the eagle up close

I’m pretty sure Vicki took this last picture, since she was able to go inside the cage. On the others, I took some and she took some, and I didn’t keep track of which was which. But you should go see definite Vicki-pictures on her blog, where she recounts Spirit’s surgery to set a broken leg, with a follow-up happy-ending recovery post.

I added the note about the happy ending, in case you’re like me, and don’t like the suspense of worrying about the fate of a truly noble bird. I couldn’t bear to think that she wouldn’t recover, despite her age, when I’d just seen her a few days before.

Be well, Spirit.

Update: And now, sadly, a not-so-happy post on Vicki’s blog: Linky Goodness, for better and worse. I can’t write any more right now, as Vicki’s comment took me by surprise and her post greatly saddened me. I have only a passing acquaintance with Spirit, but that was enough to forge a bond; I can only imagine the worry that those who have known her longer and love her deeply must feel. I hold her in my heart, and hope you will, too.

One final statement from my original post remains true:

Thank you to rehabbers everywhere.

screech owls at boyd’s hill

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Vicki herself took this little darling out for us to view.

screech owl

Meet Wheezer, the eastern screech owl.

Animal self-awareness; “I know I’m cute!”

Yes, that’s Vicki’s hand in the glove. So now you can say you’ve seen them both.

one florida trip, in non-chronological order

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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who am I to argue with Ralph Waldo? Foolish consistency, including chronological order, is hereby banished from this post and this blog.

So I begin at the end, not the beginning. I commence my narrative at Boyd’s Hill Nature Preserve, where Vicki took BFF Judy and me to meet the education raptors and friends on the last day of our trip.

gabe and mystic the barred owl

Gabe graciously brought Mystic, the barred owl, out to be admired

barred owl closeup 1

and admired she was

barred owl closeup 2

from every possible angle

barred owl closeup 3

and distance,

wild barred owl

and not just by us humans.

barred owl closeup 4

I love the reflection in her eyes. If you missed that the first time through, go back and take another look, especially of the fourth photo.

so what’s going on in my world?

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I am behind myself, trying to get caught up. I’ve completely missed blogging the wetlands during the month of February.  Readers’ Digest Condensed Version: The snow has come and gone twice, and is planning to come again overnight. Mount Plowmore has rallied. No red-winged blackbird or sandhill crane sightings. Interesting tracks in the snow, and no time to check them out. Saw a skunk out and about the other night, but not much other wildlife.

And I have the mother of all colds. Be glad you are not within hearing distance of my coughing, hacking, wheezing, sneezing, and blatant plays for sympathy.

I have photos from Tampa – you’ve seen one or two already – but there are more. BFF Judy, A-Mark-on-my-Wall Vicki, a slew of orchids, and a rapture of raptors await my posting. Then there’s Nevada, and more photos. Five half-written posts I really am going to finish someday. Profound thoughts, ditto.

Until then, a rainy-day view from the porch at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

view from the porch of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

I’ve missed you guys. I’ve missed sharing my photos and stories and hearing yours. I’ve missed your comments, humor, sympathy, and general goodwill. I’ve missed your adventures and stories and photos. You all are a big part of my world.

To see the world through others’ eyes, visit “That’s My World”, a weekly meme sharing photos and impressions of all the world seen through the bloggers’ eyes and lenses.

omg! phoebe! [not]

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I’m sitting here at breakfast, looking out at two inches of newly-fallen snow, and what do I hear but “feeeeeee-beeeeeeeeeeee” “feeeeeee-beeeeeeeeeeee” “feeeeeee-beeeeeeeeeeee”

Is that wild, or what?

Update: I’m told it was probably a black-capped chickadee, and after listening to recordings of both, I have to agree. {Sigh}