For the Birds

Question: What is a raptor? It's a bird of prey who eats his food after catching it in the wild with his talons.

The Garden Club of Waynewood threw a party Friday night, featuring 7 unusual invited guests: Raptors all.

Three owls, 2 falcons and 2 hawks made the garden club's acquaintance. There was a lot of squawking amongst the guests of honor.

Facts for your next dinner party: Owls have 75% more neck vertebrae than humans, because they cannot move their eyes from side to side, and have narrow fields of vision. Thus the swiveling head motion, "The Exorcist" style... Owls are not intelligent enough to train, but they sure are cute, especially the tiny ones. Their hearing is superb.

I'm Not Sure, But I Think This Owl is Making Eyes At Me!

Profile of the Barred Owl

Falcons are a bit more excitable and threatening, close-up. They have long needle like beaks, which can spear their prey, and their finger-like talons are long and sharp. I saw one knitting, without needles!

Hawks like to float along in the sky until they see a fish through the water. Then they swoop down in a corkscrew flight at 200 mph, at a force of 20g's. (The corkscrew is a necessity, because their eyes are on the side of their head. But it is also handy at a Wine and Cheese tasting.)


Humans cannot maintain their consciousness beyond 7-8 g's. If we could figure out how the hawks do it, then maybe we could conquer the world!

Or maybe we would all just be making ourselves dizzy.

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie