Oh my, how time does fly! Seems like we were all reflecting upon a new year to come and now the calendar says April. Recall that one “little birdie” had a wish for peace on earth, good wi-fi for all, and something really cool for my hatchaversary! The “something really cool” would help all eagle
Many eagle nests across the Midwest already have downy-covered eaglets being attended to by adults. Other nests, have folks on “hatch watch.” That is true at the eagle nest near me and those monitored by our friends at Raptor Resource Project. As of early on the 31st March, two eggs have hatched at Decorah North
Linette Bernard, Communications Director What does it take for a non-releasable raptor to become an education bird? There is much adjustment. Everything for the bird is new. There is much for the handler to learn as well, as each education bird is unique with their own tolerances. Most education birds have a permanent injury, often
If you’ve followed SOAR for any length of time, you’ve come to know that ‘busy’ is what we all are! When you’re busy, often projects take way longer than you’d like. I can’t imagine how excruciating the wait is for you all reading this post! (Think about the last remodeling project on your house and
Terrie spent Saturday 20 February 2016 at SOAR helping with many tasks! Decorah also had practice stepping to Kay’s fist, maintaining balance while Kay walked to the bow perch, and practice stepping from glove to the perch. Part of Terrie’s day was sitting with Decorah while he was on his bow perch! Two reasons
These photos are from 23 November 2015. Terrie was at SOAR getting some eagle hours in and took these photos for us! Practice today was more out of the crate and sitting on the fist. Kay walked outside around the hawk building with Decorah on her fist. Thanks Terrie! Hope you all enjoy the day.
Ambassador-in-Training Decorah actually has 9 of 10 tail feathers that are growing… these feathers are not done growing, but this is by far the best we’ve seen them look! Port Louisa, the adult female eagle in for rehab on 21 Sept 2015, is in a 10×20 recovery room with Ambassador-in-Training Decorah on 10 October 2015.
Kay reports that Decorah is still doing a fairly normal molt. His two favorite places to perch are on a stump and the bow perch. As mentioned in the Spring 2015 newsletter we have plans for renovating one of the 10’x20′ flight pens in the hawk building for Decorah. Before those renovations can begin… a new
No news is good news! Several have asked on the progress of tail feathers and how training is going. Decorah continues to be in a low-stress time in training. He has left his jesses and anklets alone (knock on wood he continues this, as many education birds take off their “jewelry”). He’s eating, preening, bathing,
Several have asked about tail feather progress… Kay is maintaining Decorah’s low-stress conditions to give his tail feathers the best opportunity to grow in all the way. Kay reports that none of the feathers have pinched off, but in an effort to keep his stress low she has not checked on tail feather growth. In