Me and my favourite owl

[badly_knitted]

Had to go out in the freezing cold today, but it was worth it for this. There was a craft fair in the town square and the Raptor Rescue Centre was also there. They even had my favourite owl with them this time, so I finally got a photo that's good enough to share

Comments

[excentric397]

Hello. Sorry I missed lunch, but this owl I was holding decided to take me for a short flight. LOLOL Owls are amazing creatures, aren't they? How lucky you are to get to actually hold one, although it kind of was holding you, not the other way round. :)

[badly_knitted]

Yes, in the end she did try to take me for a fly. I didn't care, holding her is a privilege.

I held a female Buzzard last time because Galadriel wasn't there, and I've held an Eagle Owl and a Barn Owl at other times. Maybe I'll try one of the smaller owls next time, there was a lovely little Scops Owl there today, a young Harris Hawk, a Tawny Owl, two Barn Owls, and another large hawk, but I can't remember what that one was. I took photos of them all. =)

The Raptor Centre is great, caring for injured birds that can't be returned to the wild and raising awareness. Birds of prey are my favourites.

[m_findlow]

That's one big owl, no wonder she nearly took you halfway across the square! How much do they weigh?
Reminds me of feeding the lorikeets at the bird sanctuary when I was a kid. There were so many perched on the end of my bowl that I though my arm might drop off (and they're only little birds!)

[badly_knitted]

According to wikipedia, around 1,290 g (2.84 lb) for a female. She doesn't feel all that heavy though. I think Galadriel might be the biggest I've held but the eagle owl a few years ago was pretty big too. Maybe I'll try a little bird next time

The weight mounts up when you've got a lot of birds, plus you have to factor in the weight of the feeding bowl and contents. I used to breed and show zebra finches when I was in my teens. They're tiny. My ex-brother-in-law bred budgies.

[lexxiescott]

Oh, wow, she is beautiful! I guess if you had to be out in the bad weather, this was the ultimate reason for you to go.

[badly_knitted]

Well, I had to tax my new car, so Galadriel was a nice reward for making the effort! You know me, I love all owls and birds of prey, but there's just something about the Great Grey Owl that's extra special. There was a cute little White-faced Scops owl there too, I'll have to try him sometime!

[lexxiescott]

She's definitely a nice reward for what you had to do to get the new car taken care of. I'm just glad you still have your mum's scooter so you didn't have to walk back *again* with the paperwork. Why is official paperwork always so bloody difficult?

[badly_knitted]

I don't know.

I can barely walk at all today, my legs and feet hurt so badly. And on top of that,. I've got a bad headache. *sigh*

My old car will be taken away tomorrow, which makes me sad =(

[akawho]

She's beautiful...

[badly_knitted]

She really is, and getting to hold her is an amazing experience!

[badly_knitted]

This is the second time I've held her, but last time photos were taken on my very primitive phone and they were so small you could hardly see anything. She is so beautiful! The other owls and hawks were gorgeous too, but I've loved Great Grey Owls since the first time I saw one on a nature program.