Twice (W)intermewed

Update: Baby bird has successfully been given back to its parents yesterday!

in case any of you were wondering how astronomically out of hand the unregulated exotic animal trade is in japan, here is ONE website’s catalogue of birds you can buy. it includes frankly every owl, hawk, turacos, and parrot imaginable including a NEW ZEALAND KEA which must have been poached

they also have a cafe/shop for you to go pet the birds

these birds are largely nocturnal, solitary, and cramming multiple different species in a small room with bright lights is completely disregarding their needs. this place is effectively a bird mill and there’s no way all the birds needs can be met, specifically that many parrots which are extremely intelligent birds and should not be pets either.

This blog will NOT post:

- Screamers 

- Gore

- Blood 

- Purposefully triggering content 

Another first…

This season I’m trying my first accipiter. I’m ready for disaster or amazement…so far she’s an awesome little girl. I’ve had most of my health issues resolved so I’m also looking forward to having more energy.

If I could release a patch for human anatomy, it’d include the restoration of a full nictitating membrane. It keeps a falcon’s eyeball from drying out during fast flight, protects vulture’s eyes from all the gore they push into while eating, creates a diving goggle for polar bears and amphibians…We lost our nictitating membrane because we didn’t really need it anymore but I want it back.

(Cats and dogs have nictitating membranes too but they’re usually kept retracted. You may see them if the animal has its eyes open slightly during sleep, though.)

Support Science Fact Friday on Patreon! Transcript below the cut.

Creanced a red-tailed hawk.

Released same hawk. (Yay!)

Caught three barn owls for transfer to another center. One of them grazed me with a talon right across my barn owl tattoo.

Caught very angry great horned owl for moving him to outdoor aviary.

While holding said owl against my chest, discovered a fuck-ton of lice on him.

Sprayed parasite killer stuff on owl.

Owl disapproved, squealed a lot, flapped wings and somehow stuck the tip of his left wing directly into my mouth.

Insecticide spray tastes awful: confirmed.

Caught screech owl for quick weigh-in and lice spray.

Screech owl’s cloaca was horribly swollen?? Possibly an internal parasite? What the fuck?? Medicated screech owl, need brain bleach.

Trained education barn owl. Delightful in every way.

Trained education red-tailed hawk. He was in a Mood and kept rejecting perfectly good pieces of rabbit because there was a Tiny Tuft of Fur and that was Unacceptable.

While cleaning his enclosure, a dried fleck of hawk shit (urate, really, but still) got flung directly. Into. My. Goddamn. Mouth. I will never be clean.

Trained education great horned owl. She is very good and very floof and really chills out if you just sit with her for 20 minutes or so.

Sat in grass waiting for other volunteers to be done with hose. Found a wonky little four-leaf clover. Mine now.

Got asked to look at newly-arrived turkey vulture nestling.

TUVU nestling had A WHOLE UNIVERSE OF MAGGOTS where its tail was supposed to be. You expected new little pinfeathers here? WRONG. MAGGOTS. We’re going to try treating it but honestly I doubt it’ll be releasable because those tail feather follicles have to be just annihilated. I’ll be happy to be wrong, but I’m not super optimistic about this dude.

Currently sooooo sleepy

Could easily pass the fuck out

Why am I typing anything

Why do I have to go to work tomorrow

Fuck this