Sarvey Wildlife Center

Birds of Play
by Sandy Dahl

Birds of Play Being outside at our wildlife care center is the place I prefer to be. There the animals have their wits about them, and are aware of all things that move. If you look where they look, you will always see something flying over head, running through a field or wiggling in a tree. One of my favorite friends is Freedom. She is our educational bald eagle, and does her educating proudly. The first time I went to her flight to tend to her, I was intimidated and she knew it. She didn't know me, I didn't know her. We were checking each other out carefully. After she sized me up, it was time for her to check my nerves and sense of humor. I was trying to get my work done and she wouldn't move from one of the perches on the ground. That was the last thing that needed a quick cleaning. Her eyes sparkled with pure control and pleasure, she knew what I wanted to do and was enjoying watching me trying to figure out how to get her to scoot over. I'm never agressive or mean, she knew this and just sat there waiting for me to tackle my task. She was smiling in her heart, it radiated off of her. I asked her to move, she just did her eagle sound which reminded me of a big ha ha ha ha ha. It was loud and I just giggled and shook my head at her. She still stood her ground on that perch. I got the nerve to just go ahead and clean around her, I had to be right next to her, inches from her mighty beak and talons. She still didn't or wouldn't move watching me closely. I could tell she was trying to be brave, not being sure what I would do. Then I was tested, with her talons, that could tear my arm open, she quickly kicked me, not hurting me or moving from her perch. Her eyes just sparkled with wonder, she wanted to see what I would do. I just looked at her, still sitting right there next to me, and called her a goof ball, and finished my work. At that point, we were friends. I wouldn't hurt her, she wouldn't hurt me. She teases and plays when I come to see her. Her favorite thing is acting like she's going to get me when I have my back turned to leave. She puffs up and jumps around bobbing her head up and down acting silly. When I turn back around she jumps back up on her high perch staying still as if she's trying to tell me I didn't really see what I thought I saw, so I'm the goofey one. This seems to amuse her and she's learned that I'll oblige her by playing for awhile when she does this. I turn my back, she does her jig, I turn around, she's like a statue. When I finally do leave, her call sounds as if she wants me to come back and play some more. We have trust and friendship now with each other. When she is afraid, she will come beside me for comfort, following me around while I do my work. I'll offer her small pieces of meat and she gladly takes it from my hand, never acting as if she'll hurt me. She happily greets most visitors with a big loud eagle call, this is a honor. Sandy Dahl