Would you be willing to feed this hawk with your bare fingers?

[BluesRunTheGame]

Teresa from the Montana Raptor Conservation Center and Sydnee the Krider’s Red Tail Hawk.

[ret5hd]

1. By "with", do you mean "utilizing" or actually feed him my fingers?

[BluesRunTheGame]

2. Probably wouldn't be much difference.

[ret5hd]

3. My fear exactly!

[Phoenix61]

4. In time. I bet you could train her to be gentle. nt

[BluesRunTheGame]

6. Yeah, but how many fingers would you be willing to sacrifice to get to that point?

[Dem2theMax]

5. Only if the bird imprinted on me.

And never wear dangly earrings around a bird.
NEVER. Oh, shiny object. Must be something I should grab! Bye-bye ear.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Of course not, but neither is she-- note the stick, tongs, or whatever the tool is to keep...

her fingers away from that beak.

BTW, I used to see red-tailed hawks every day when I lived in Joisey.

[ms liberty]

8. She used a pair of curved hemostats

And I would not, not ungloved anyway. I love raptors, and have a healthy respect for their abilities. I live in the country, and there are red tailed hawks everywhere once you know to look. I was going back to work after lunch one day and was on a short downhill part of road that bottomed at a small bridge over a creek before it went back uphill. Just as I got about halfway down, a red tailed hawk passed across my view about fifteen feet from my windshield, right in front of me...carrying a rabbit that was as big as he was, or maybe bigger. Close enough for me to see details. It was flying above the creek, but was weighted down by the rabbit. It was amazing, but I felt bad for the bunny.

[BluesRunTheGame]

9. I lived in Montana for 15 years and got to see a lot of stuff like that.

The craziest and most dramatic wasn’t a raptor. I saw a magpie chase a mouse through traffic in a busy intersection. The mouse was running under moving cars to try to get away but the magpie kept after it and finally, after two or three pounces, managed to kill it and carry it to the bushes.

Big time wildlife drama right in front of Wal-Mart!

[tblue37]

10. Beautiful bird! nt

[2naSalit]

11. The Raptor Center is a very good

sanctuary and rehab facility. I once assisted in recovery of a wounded bald eagle and then I transported it to them. Sadly the bird didn't survive, too badly injured. They do public events and bring several beautiful raptors to show up close. I have interacted with them several times at public events when I worked for a couple federal agencies. They are very good at making the info about these birds digestible for the general public.