January 1st, 2014. Partly could, light breeze, mid 70's
Set the birds out and the entire area was busy with guest's questions and inquiries. I heard grackle activity around the pool at lunch, so I had two of the Harris hawks fly about to keep the grackles at bay. The best thing is that I saw the peregrine again on the residence building. He sat there for several hours, I again took time to show guests (two were avid birders) the peregrine through my spotting scope. I also showed him to the employees as well. The peregrine moved on. I put fresh telemetry batteries in the hawk transmitters and gave them a brief shower with the hose. Some hawks jump in their bath pans for a shower and bath. The guests love watching this. As I was flying the hawks around the pool. I saw a string (kite string) caught in the palm tree to the ground. It was hard to see unless there was just the right angle of sunlight. I immediately pulled on it and it was attached to a kite stuck at the seawall. I pulled, snapped the string. Leaving about a 6 foot strand waving in the wind of the palm tree. This could have cut or one of my hawks if it had flown into it. Earlier, I had been informed that some grackles were by the residences on key. So evening patrols with two Harris' hawks were started there. I saw again grackles flying in groups, but heading across the water to the mainland by the harbor. I could see with binos, and hear their activities. I flew the harris hawks close by to keep them from crossing the harbor. Then waited for the night to fall. After sundown, I saw the peregrine fly right over me back to the key to roost. So, I know my day has ended.
Set the birds out and the entire area was busy with guest's questions and inquiries. I heard grackle activity around the pool at lunch, so I had two of the Harris hawks fly about to keep the grackles at bay. The best thing is that I saw the peregrine again on the residence building. He sat there for several hours, I again took time to show guests (two were avid birders) the peregrine through my spotting scope. I also showed him to the employees as well. The peregrine moved on. I put fresh telemetry batteries in the hawk transmitters and gave them a brief shower with the hose. Some hawks jump in their bath pans for a shower and bath. The guests love watching this. As I was flying the hawks around the pool. I saw a string (kite string) caught in the palm tree to the ground. It was hard to see unless there was just the right angle of sunlight. I immediately pulled on it and it was attached to a kite stuck at the seawall. I pulled, snapped the string. Leaving about a 6 foot strand waving in the wind of the palm tree. This could have cut or one of my hawks if it had flown into it. Earlier, I had been informed that some grackles were by the residences on key. So evening patrols with two Harris' hawks were started there. I saw again grackles flying in groups, but heading across the water to the mainland by the harbor. I could see with binos, and hear their activities. I flew the harris hawks close by to keep them from crossing the harbor. Then waited for the night to fall. After sundown, I saw the peregrine fly right over me back to the key to roost. So, I know my day has ended.
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