Accipitrarius Sordidatus

It was too hot for an old man to go hawking.

My job’s ability to remain stable is non-existent.

Taking a hawk out in the middle of breeding season for every other type of raptor and songbird is not a good idea.

But it’s August now and things are different.  It is uncharacteristically cooler, everything threatening has fledged and is  moving on, and we are just about ready to go.

Tomorrow.

For sure.

Really…..

The Mississippi kites nesting over the mews now have their young on the wing.  It appears that they had four this year.  We had two pairs of red-shouldered hawks in the woods this time around.  Usually it’s only one.  The Cooper’s hawks are abundant as are the barn owls.  I even saw a sharp-shinned hawk in the woods for the first time.

We had far fewer raccoon incursion into the yard at night, and since there’s no sign of coyote or bobcat, there must be great-horned owls somewhere around.

Rabbits and squirrels are are in much larger numbers than I’ve seen in the 16 years that we’ve been here.

It could be an interesting year.

It’s also the first of August.  I’ve talked to 4 falconers in the last 24 hours that I haven’t heard from since last spring.  I’m also falcon sitting for a friend as he gets his last bit of vacation in.

The season has begun.

Also, my latest apprentice, Redcoat,  takes his test this coming Friday.  All the best of luck to him, but I’m very certain he won’t need it.  He will be one of the best.  It’s an honor to have the opportunity to help him become a falconer.

Oh, wait, spelled that wrong….

It’s an honour.