With a hearty appetite this fall, Carson the Red-tailed Hawk will do just about anything to earn her food. Entering the office on my glove used to be a scary experience. Her head would swivel quickly as she looked for an escape route. She would crouch with her wings held stiffly, ready to take flight. But after a few repetitions, she learned that the office isn't a scary place, after all. Now she sits comfortably on my glove as we step through the door and she seems to think, "oh boy, I'm going to get some food!"
We slowly expanded Carson's comfort zone into the rest of the Museum: the classroom, the exhibit hall, and even the back work room. She is always eager to step on my glove the next day, a sure sign that she is not afraid of where we might go.
Carson was ready for the next step this week: traveling in the van. Her only van experiences in recent years have been long trips to the vet. I wanted to curate more positive associations with travel before she starts helping Aldo the kestrel with outreach programs around northwest Wisconsin.
To keep things easy and fun, I loaded Carson's crate into the van and drove a simple loop around the block. She seemed completely unfazed when I opened the crate door to deliver a chunk of quail. We will continue taking practice trips, going farther each time, until traveling in the van is normal for her. With her quick progress, she should be ready to make an appearance in Ashland in January!
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