Thursday Thinking

 Lady PF doing hers -

The latest  Falcon Wire entry

6/10/2020  ::   Flight Mastery Continues

The fledgling that was most recently returned from the rehabilitator continues to improve her flight skills. As a female raptor, her larger size has provided an additional challenge in fledging. She demonstrated her advancing flight skills by participating in a four-falcon race down Market Street, chasing the adult male (W/V) who was dangling food. The male fledgling was able to secure the prize in a dramatic mid-air transfer but dropped it before returning to the Rachel Carson State Office Building (RCSOB).

The female fledgling made several flights yesterday before landing on the nest ledge in the early afternoon. Again, demonstrating aggressiveness, she loudly vocalized for close to an hour. She busied herself chasing the adults and denying her hatchmate a place to land. Eventually, she flew to the roof of Harrisburg University, and upon returning to the 15th floor ledge was rewarded with prey, which while exhibiting mantling*, she quickly devoured.

Late yesterday, she continued with multiple flights before returning to the RCSOB. With such notable progress, Falcon Watch and Rescue was temporarily suspended. When the third fledgling is returned from the rehabilitator, Watch and Rescue will again ramp up until this young falcon demonstrates an acceptable level of flying ability. In a precautionary measure, this last fledgling will remain under observation until deemed ready for release. Ideally, this will occur before the end of this week.

*Mantling: Mantling is hunching, crouching, or arching shoulders and spreading wings over a recent kill to conceal it from other birds and predators who would be potential thieves. In this posture, the wings are mostly spread and drooped to the ground, exposing the bird's upper back, also referred to as the mantle, which gives the action its name. The head is usually bent down to feed, and the tail is often spread and drooped to provide additional cover and counterbalance.

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 And Little doing hers -

 On my way to The Bobcat Creamery on Tuesday, I stopped at our Dollar General - which is right across from MySheetz - this is how it's progressing -

 The special I chose was Boiled Khat Pie - make that chicken - with cole slaw -

I know it doesn't look appealing but it is oh so good - when we first moved to York from Suburban Philadelphia, we expected khrust with a chicken pot pie - but in this part of the state, BOILED is the norm

Happy Thursday EvFURRYone!

H&K,

All Of Us At NAK's Khottage