Fast Food

I had a bit of time yesterday morning (not much, but just enough) so I buzzed over to a fairly reliable spot. It was extremely satisfying to see a group of about 20 starlings milling around the entrance of a restaurant that had yet to open. The starlings are still out in the mornings, I just need to figure a way to get out earlier on the weekends...

Anyway, Hayduke bawked at the initial slip, I think he knew there were too many eyes on him for it to be a successful slip but just around the corner a couple more starlings were feeding next to the restaurant dumpster and he liked what he saw. He whacked one in a pretty short, direct flight.

Unfortunately, during the ensuing battle and before I could get there to help, the starling dragged Hayduke through some spilled restaurant grease! It smelled nasty and ratted up his feathers pretty good. Hence the ratty picture. Disgusting. I suppose that's the peril you face when hunting suburbia...

I'd had to run another errand before flying but when I walked in the door only 20 minutes after I'd left the house my wife was rather surprised. "You ran the errand AND caught a bird?" She asked. "Pffft, of course! It's Hayduke!" I replied. ;-P

Had the grease incident not happened I would've tried for doubles due to how quickly this hunt took place but it didn't look like Hayduke was in any condition to fly well after that. I looked into ways of removing the grease and for future reference it appears that Dawn dishsoap is the cleanser of choice for oiled up birds. Luckily, Hayduke wasn't completely covered, mostly it was on his tail and a little on his chest. By the time I would've been able to wash him up he appeared to have preened most of it out. His feathers still looked a bit "matted" this morning but I don't think Dawn will be necessary. Mental note: Avoid dumpster birds from here on out!