Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Tuesday, July 29, 2014

When You've Got it...

I seem to have a way with turkeys.
If you missed yesterday’s post, see it here.
Go ahead. We’ll wait.
You're back? Read on . . .

He was handsome.
He was fit.
He was attractive.
He had the moves.
And he had eyes only for me.
Oh, and he was covered in feathers.
Maybe I should explain . . .
In the town of Coaldale, Alberta is the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre. A centre dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured raptors. The stories of the hundreds of birds already helped back to the wild is inspiring. Visiting the place is an experience.
There are demonstrations and education stations throughout the site. Majestic birds with various injuries are glimpsed during their rehabilitation exercises. One, a golden eagle named Spirit, blinded by a shot from a careless hunter, is particularly exciting.
Especially up close.
Visitors can walk along the pathways and watch the antics of owls, hawks and eagles.
And one Turkey Vulture.
Snoopy.
Snoopy, unable to fly or survive in the wild due to various injuries, has been a happy attraction of the centre for several years.
When my family arrived, he was contentedly staked out with a long tether, enjoying the sun.
As I approached, he fanned out his tail, ruffled his feathers, clicked his beak and spread his not-unimpressive wings. Then he hopped toward me and . . . strutted. Hey, hey, hey lady! Like what you see? Huh? Do you? Huh?
Reaching the end of his tether, he continued to swivel back and forth, allowing every feather its opportunity to (quite literally) shine.
I called Husby over. “Look at this guy!”
Husby moved closer.
And that’s when the show ended. Every feather was slicked flat. Wings folded and tail snapped shut.
Snoopy just sat there. The very picture of indignant male. Oh, I see! You’ve already made your choice. Well, sucks to be you, lady!
Husby smiled and moved on.
“No!” I said. “He was different! He was all . . . ruffled!”
But Husby had already moved ahead to one of the hawk exhibits.
I looked back at Snoopy.
And received a shock.
Once more, his feathers stood on end. His wings and tail were spread. He was again looking at me. He shook his wings invitingly. How about now, lady? That guy is gone. All of this could be yours! Last chance . . .
One of the attendants moved past. “Oh, I see you’ve discovered Snoopy,” she said. “He likes the ladies!”
Snoopy the lady killer.
An appropriate title for a bird from a raptor centre.
With a totally different meaning . . .

P.S. My big question is: How could he tell?

22 comments:

  1. I LOVE THIS POST!!!!! I wish I could go to this place--I especially am interested in birds of prey. We get the turkey vultures a lot around here but your story is HILARIOUS! I must say, I've never had one flirt with me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'd love it there, Marcia. I've never been around a more hopeful place. They're entire focus is on saving, then rehabilitating these amazing birds! They do good work. Maybe change perfumes. He seems to like l'air du temps! :0

      Delete
  2. You weren't talking turkey to him were you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tried. He obviously speaks a different dialect . . .

      Delete
  3. I've got to say that no matter how he knows, I'll take my compliments where I can get them!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Seems like you are excitingly attractive to all the turkeys of various species . . . . . I always wondered how you ended up with me . . . . .

    Anonymous Turkey-Husby Figure

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous Turkey-Husby Figure's (haha) comment is a hoot! And I daresay NOT true :)

      Delete
  5. Turkey vultures circle over our desert outcrops. The wingspan is huge. Cannot say that I like them (no, I don't), but birds of this size are truly amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Especially when they're four feet away, doing the shimmy-shimmy shake! :)

      Delete
  6. His face is rather handsome in a cute, funny sort of way ...

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is quite amazing, isn't it? And a wonderfully hilarious story!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You are such a master at story telling and I like this one. I find that Heavenly Father's creations are just so interesting and this bird was smart for sure.
    Blessings for the smiles again and again~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, LeAnn! I agree! I find so much in this world that's fascinating! And fun . . .

      Delete
  9. How could he tell? Scent. Even under perfumes and aftershaves, men and women smell different. It's a pheromone thing. They smell fear too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I definitely will visit! It sounds like it's time for you to visit the Great White North! Let me know . . .

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have never been up there and have always wanted to. We shall see!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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