Hazards of Hand Feeding Raptors 22
Warning! This video gets kinda gross…especially for me.
After we banded birds this morning at Carpenter Nature Center, I was asked if I could help feed some of their education birds of prey. Their red-tailed hawk is a very easy going imprinted bird. He eats easily from the hand, so I thought I would take a quick video so you could get an idea of what it’s like to watch a red-tail up close as he eats a gutted mouse. Well, he got a chunk of mouse lodged in the wrong way and tried to gag it out as if it were a pellet…
And there you have it, the chunk of mouse nailed me right in the kisser. I don’t know if you caught it, but you can see a red smudge on the right side of my mouth–from the offending piece of regurgitated mouse.
Here’s what hit me. It’s bad enough feeding peregrines who pluck feathers all over you, but leave it to a red-tail to up the ante and nail you with actual flesh.
Yuck. The price I pay for cool birding experiences.
Well, there goes my appetite for dinner tonight…
yep.. I know the hazards of feeding hawks quite well.. just curious..Why gutted?
I know they usually leave “most” of the guts.. but the ripping and tearing is very good for them.. Having said that, however I usually feed rabbit so there is more there for them to choose..lol.. great video.. thanks for sharing
There was an incident at The Raptor Center several years ago when a bad shipment of mice came in and some of the birds got salmonella. They drilled into our heads to remove the intestines before feeding the birds to reduce the risk. I don’t usually do it with owls since they swallow things whole, but I always do it for everybody else.
LMAO! bless ur heart, I’m sorry I laughed :p
Thank you for the best guffaw I’ve had in a long time.
Think of it as sushi…
well… maybe they just wanted to share some protien with you…
well… maybe they just wanted to share some protien with you…
I’ve fed and cleaned up after raptors, including flash defrosting chicks and mice, and disposing of the charmingly maggoty remains of said chicks and mice, but this is an experience I’ve never had. Is it crazy that I think you’re a lucky woman?
I have followed your Twitter account for some time now. Your bird posts always thrill me and I have been envious of your experiences – till now. Even before I watched the video I felt a little queasy. Odd for me. But when I saw it – can you imagine some one laughing and gagging at the same time. But for some strange reason, I had to replay it. Similar result. Also sorry I laughed.
I would totally be laughing too! I’ll be curious to see when I get home how many times Non Birding Bill will make me brush my teeth and gargle with mouthwash before he kisses me.
You forgave him though, because he is such a beautiful bird?
what I want to know is, did the hawk get his bit of mouse back?
I must also apologize. I ROTFL’d.
THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!
Lucy, our PEFA, honked up a mouse head once at a program…I caught it in my hand. But in YOUR FACE….that was just awesome, Sharon. Way to take one for the team!
So from here on, whenever conversation turns to the somewhat competitive topic of “what’s the weirdest thing you ever ate?”, you will always win.
It’s Epic!
Sharon, believe me I can relate. Fish in the face is slimy but rat is truly disgusting.
Not my favourite bird sight :S
Ugh–I am glad you didn’t vomit right there! Great video though. I like the red-tailed hawk–one of my favorites to watch.
Were you practicing your hungry nestling cries? Thanks for puting yourself in the line of fire, and for sharing.
The sound you make! Arrrrghhhh! This is the greatest film ever captured.