|
|
Post by mysaladdays on Jun 21, 2024 3:25:21 GMT -5
There is a horse running in R1 on Friday. I used to volunteer for a Wildlife Rehab organization and my "boss" was one of the youngest Falconers in the U.S. at the time. He was teaching me to be a falconer (you have to apprentice with a bonafide falconer to become one) and here was me, doing a demonstration with a rare, white Peregrine Falcon. We used to do demos in front of Walmart of different wildlife in the center that were undergoing rehab or that loggers brought us when they got uhomed from clear cutting.....baby deer, fox, birds of prey (including eagles, owls). White is an unusual color for them, so this one was very rare. Fascinating bird of prey, has a killer fast descent when diving for prey, up to 200mph on descent. I had to give up falconry as I got an injury from an owl talon and I was kinda nervous/anxious after that and lost my mo-jo. The horse's name is Peregrine Falcon, 50-1.  I think I should put a few $ on her?  |
|
|
|
Post by mysaladdays on Jun 21, 2024 3:32:20 GMT -5
here he is up closer  |
|
|
|
Post by PonyGirlJCM on Jun 21, 2024 4:28:45 GMT -5
There is a horse running in R1 on Friday. I used to volunteer for a Wildlife Rehab organization and my "boss" was one of the youngest Falconers in the U.S. at the time. He was teaching me to be a falconer (you have to apprentice with a bonafide falconer to become one) and here was me, doing a demonstration with a rare, white Peregrine Falcon. We used to do demos in front of Walmart of different wildlife in the center that were undergoing rehab or that loggers brought us when they got uhomed from clear cutting.....baby deer, fox, birds of prey (including eagles, owls). White is an unusual color for them, so this one was very rare. Fascinating bird of prey, has a killer fast descent when diving for prey, up to 200mph on descent. I had to give up falconry as I got an injury from an owl talon and I was kinda nervous/anxious after that and lost my mo-jo. The horse's name is Peregrine Falcon, 50-1. I think I should put a few $ on her? View AttachmentIt’s not superstitious….it’s a hunch….the universe speaking to you…..those are the ones I like…the ones that have a “meaning”to you….especially if they are a longshot…. kids names….reminders of something…etcetera….I would put a couple dollars ATB…..🙂 |
|
|
|
Post by tenfurlongs on Jun 21, 2024 6:45:51 GMT -5
Very cool! Glad you volunteered with a rehabber, that's noble work, and somewhat thankless, as you found out  . Still a great experience. At the risk of being 'that guy', I don't think that your bird is a Peregrine Falcon. They don't have a 'white morph' version like that. I believe that is a Gyrfalcon, which is a preferred species for falconers. They are very hard to obtain from the wild, as they are a far northern breeder/resident in the tundra regions, only occasionally venturing south during winter into the northern tier states of the US. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gyrfalcon/idSpeaking of hunch bets, however, at my most recent job I was an avian field technician (bird dude) at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve in upstate New York. One of the ways that they maintain the habitat there is the use of prescribed fires (controlled burns), which help with soil maintenance and pitch pine proliferation. So I was instantly intrigued by #1- Burning Pine for Wesley Ward. Don't know how she'll run on turf, but she'll have a few of my dollars riding with her, just because . Good luck to us today! TW |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2024 1:24:48 GMT -5
i am sure
since i'll be out
every horselet
with
"chicago" in it's name
will win 2morrow.
even @ ascot
|
|
|
|
Post by mysaladdays on Jun 22, 2024 15:36:34 GMT -5
i am sure since i'll be out every horselet with "chicago" in it's name will win 2morrow. even @ ascot Um......read the last sentence of my post in another topic. LOL upinclass.proboards.com/post/91111 |
|
|
|
Post by mysaladdays on Jun 22, 2024 15:42:49 GMT -5
Very cool! Glad you volunteered with a rehabber, that's noble work, and somewhat thankless, as you found out . Still a great experience. At the risk of being 'that guy', I don't think that your bird is a Peregrine Falcon. They don't have a 'white morph' version like that. I believe that is a Gyrfalcon, which is a preferred species for falconers. They are very hard to obtain from the wild, as they are a far northern breeder/resident in the tundra regions, only occasionally venturing south during winter into the northern tier states of the US. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gyrfalcon/idSpeaking of hunch bets, however, at my most recent job I was an avian field technician (bird dude) at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve in upstate New York. One of the ways that they maintain the habitat there is the use of prescribed fires (controlled burns), which help with soil maintenance and pitch pine proliferation. So I was instantly intrigued by #1- Burning Pine for Wesley Ward. Don't know how she'll run on turf, but she'll have a few of my dollars riding with her, just because . Good luck to us today! TW I can't wait to read all about Gyrfalcons. Thank you for teaching me. I will have to find out how this bird was obtained since it seems like Arkansas wouldn't be a place where they would go ? Sometimes rehabbers (they all have special licenses) do share / exchange certain critters from what I know. I do know that mine was wanting an otter. I believe either another rehabber, or santuary, got one to him that could no longer live in the wild due to injuries sustained......he built him a really neat "playground". Otters are not supposed to be able to climb trees but this one did in time. He would sit next to my friend on the couch in the living room, too......they are a LOT OF FUN. His wife was a saint, there were baby deer in the house sometimes, and such.  Some people have a gift, like Dr. Doolittle. This guy was better than any of the ones I ever saw on the talk shows on TV. But it was backbreaking work. Building enclosures for baby bobcats.....I have photos of me inside their enclosures petting them. Scary but fun. I have some stories to be sure, like the time an owl got away from me and flew into the bobcat den......and they were both scared of each other and did a standoff without either moving a muscle for 8 hours til I could call for help to extricate the owl. (I was alone at the time, no way I am going into a bobcat enclosure alone with nobody else around for miles!) Neither of our "superstitious" bets came in, but I don't regret playing mine. |
|
|
|
Post by mysaladdays on Jun 22, 2024 15:56:25 GMT -5
One of the ways that they maintain the habitat there is the use of prescribed fires (controlled burns), which help with soil maintenance and pitch pine proliferation. I made the mistake of doing that on my acreage with an ex forest service neighbor. What it did was make all the ground so fecund, that I have tiny pine seedlings sprouting up among all my other pine trees....the ground became so fertile that afterwards I had quite a lot of trouble keeping things cleared in the area. Good for forests, but not necessarily for forested properties that you have to care for by yourself. I was amazed though how everything (including underbrush) grew all over the place after that. My neighbors were also having a heart attack when they saw the controlled burn, not realizing I had "experts" doing it. (I did alert my local fire department, as I did even if I was just burning some trash in a barrel). I forgot to tell my neighbors though, but they were all at least 6-8 miles away. I learned a lot doing everything all the time LOL People burning their trash and then they would go inside to watch TV......dumb. Burning down part of a state or national forest.......the forest service fines you BIG BUCKS when you do that. |
|
|
|
Post by mysaladdays on Jun 22, 2024 16:34:04 GMT -5
...and very dangerous. The amount of times rehabbers have probably gotten rabies shots and/or tick borne diseases, or kicked/injured/bitten would suprise most people. Esp. if they are voluntary and only relying on donations from the community/region in which they operate as the work itself is so exhausting if you do not have a fundraising arm, you just don't have the time to do all that administrative work. (this was also before gofundme's and such existed.) NOt to mention just being grossed out, like when the skunk decides to spray you. I remember my first 3 days there, and I remember saying to them "wow, this is some of the hardest work and longest day I've ever had, and I'm used to hard work and long days." It just takes everything you have if you are a small outfit. heat sometimes 104, cold sometimes 0....sort of like taking care of horses on the backside. You don't get to "sleep in" or have a day off. So yes, please try to give to any and every wildlife, domestic pet, horse, marine life organization you can. It really means something. Even $5, nobody needs to be a big philanthropist. |
|
|
|
Post by mysaladdays on Jun 22, 2024 16:48:32 GMT -5
 my "boss" ... he really has no fear I had been in there, but never alone. No no no my goodness no for me. I'm not brave. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2024 12:23:30 GMT -5
i am sure since i'll be out every horselet with "chicago" in it's name will win 2morrow. even @ ascot Um......read the last sentence of my post in another topic. LOL upinclass.proboards.com/post/91111um...read my post in that topic... i played him to win/place b4 i went to work |
|
I think I should put a few $ on her? 
. Still a great experience.
Some people have a gift, like Dr. Doolittle. This guy was better than any of the ones I ever saw on the talk shows on TV. But it was backbreaking work. Building enclosures for baby bobcats.....I have photos of me inside their enclosures petting them. Scary but fun. I have some stories to be sure, like the time an owl got away from me and flew into the bobcat den......and they were both scared of each other and did a standoff without either moving a muscle for 8 hours til I could call for help to extricate the owl. (I was alone at the time, no way I am going into a bobcat enclosure alone with nobody else around for miles!) 