We regularly give the birds enrichment to keep them from getting too bored in their mews. Enrichment might take the form of training new behaviors, listening to novel sounds from my phone speaker, or playing with toys that encourage a raptor's natural inclination to rip and shred.
Each bird is an individual and some are easier to entertain than others. Aldo the kestrel loves training time and will tilt his head with interest at strange noises, but usually ignores any toys in his mew. Conversely, Carson the hawk is always curious about new items and quickly shreds newspaper, cardboard, or even heads of lettuce.
This week Carson got a rubber ball stuffed with newspaper strips. While cautiously curious at first, she soon tested the ball with her beak and talons. She eventually dropped the ball on the ground and returned to her favorite perch, seemingly tuckered out from her investigations.
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