Then I got to hold the barn owl as he was "assist fed." Like the young hawk a few days ago - this involves shoving mice down his throat. I'd never held a raptor before, so it was quite exciting for me. You enter his box (which is like a little room) and he starts schreeeching loudly and spreads his wings to scare you. I'm told that he can't hurt me really... (sure) but his scaring tactics are pretty good. This video I found on youtube gives you an idea of his tactics:
Only in my case he's in a much larger enclosure - and hops around trying to escape me. The general tactic is to throw a sheet over him - once their heads are covered they usually hold still. Then secure his talons - his weapon of defence, and then pick him up, while keeping his talons and wings restrained. I finally got him after a little chasing - feeling bad for stressing him out. I sure was happy to have gloves on - his talons grip hard! Once I had him, he was well behaved, and ate his mice. This owl seems to be healthy other than not eating - so we're hoping he'll start eating soon so he can go free!
THEN I got to hold a great blue heron! He was much easier to catch - again we just threw a sheet over first. With the heron his weapon is his beak - so we made sure to always keep control of his head. And we always wear glasses - as apparently they like to poke out eyes :).
I finished off the evening helping with tube feedings and meds - a few birds still have to get tubed (including a gull who loves to bite) and a crow who clamps his beak shut sooo tight. We also have a cedar wax wing, who is super tiny and cute.
I'm slowly starting to learn my birds...
And I finished off the night giving subQ fluids to a little baby squirrel. It was easier than the raccoons and possum, maybe just cause I'm getting better at it.
But no, today, I didn't get to wear the bear suit.
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