I used to frequent Hawk Cliff (also on the north shore of Lake Erie) during fall migration. Members of the MacIlwraith Field Naturalists had a mist net set up to snag, band and track passing raptors. On the weekends they'd bring the birds over to show the crowds. What they did was slide the hawks into empty juice and tennis ball cans in order to transport them safely. They'd show up in a pickup truck with a little pile of cans with feet poking out. The birders would be immediately attempting to identify the hawks based on the size of can. The guy would hold up each can, grasping the talons in his hand, and then slide the can upwards. A scary, pissed off hawk would suddenly unfurl, with a mean eye darting around the crowd. The most common were the smallest falcons, kestrels, and they were also the most impressive because of their liquid black eyes and brilliant plummage. Also, they're feisty little buggers. I remember a kestrel sinking one of his uber-sharp claws deep into the soft bit of the guy's hand between the thumb and forefinger. Dude played it cool and didn't even wince. After a little educational tour of the bird and it's features the dude would hold it up high and let it go. Everyone spun around in synch with their binoculars watching it fly away.
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- sally mckay 3-28-2007 3:45 am