The Wings of Eagles, but More Importantly the Talons and Beaks

JJV's most recent post got me thinking, although JWT was quicker on the draw. Falconry could be the ultimate weapon in JWT's and my perpetual War on Squirrels. While there are indeed Bald Eagles in the area we could probably get by with the ubiquitous Red-Tailed Hawk,* and since our hostilities are purely local we wouldn't need horses, to say nothing of a giant Wehrmacht castoff. However, I suspect that if Montgomery County considers farmers markets such a threat they would look askance in a very real and legally binding way on hanging out in your yard with a buteo perched on your forearm. Although it would be seriously badass:


Meanwhile in Virginia I'd bet that even Falls Church would think twice about allowing this sort of thing. Arlington might allow it if we pitched it as organic.

Check out the secret lives of our feathered friends here, although I see in New York the terrorists have already won.

*Dirty trade secret the eagle lobby tries to suppress: You know that great SCREE you hear whenever an eagle shows up in movies etc.? Some Red-Tailed Hawk working for scale supplied that. And JJV would take their union cards away if he had the chance. Which side are you on, boys, which side are you on...

Update: Hey kids, you can learn about falconry at Hershey Park! As fate would have it, we are spending Easter weekend there, so this will be worth investigating. "No no no, the eggs, not the bunny! OK, get the kids in the car NOW."

Reality Bites: Beak and Talon Edition

Solving the age old quest for a squirrel-proof bird feeder, P4500 presents a soon-to-be-very-active eagle cam, beaming currently from a tiny hamlet in northeast Iowa. The world is watching, including at night, thanks to a night vision camera. The action begins in earnest on or about April 1, but you can't appreciate the before and after if you don't check out the before.

We can hope to see squirrel served frequently this Spring, but this nest is sited very near a fish hatchery. It's almost literally fish in a barrel, so trout will certainly be on the menu.

UPDATE 3/29/11: It looks like the recommended snack of the day is rabbit, although judging from the progress made today, the rabbit is more decorative art than meal.

UPDATE 4/2/11: The hatching has commenced, and it's now clear what the rabbit's role is in this affair--decorative and functional!