Pets in America - Indiana State Museum
First and foremost I am a computer geek, it is what I do, but once in a while I stick my head out of the silicon world to take a look at the carbon based inhabitants around me. In the past my contributions to Utopia have been restricted to preparing laptops, setting up the projector and designing the website but there I was getting my hands dirty (literally) at this event in Indy with Kathy.
Kathy has been a long time friend of my wife, Audrey, and I have known her for a few years as well. I remember getting the tour of the 'Hershey Zoo' when Katie, the Red Tail Hawk, was new on the scene. A bedroom had been converted into a giant bird cage and Katie was sitting on the wardrobe probably wondering how trees had suddenly managed to grow a flat top and where did the sun go.
Anyway, today was my turn to get 'involved'. Carrying boxes with our feathered friends safe inside, setting up the table and generally playing the part of a roadie to Kathy's circus. On this occasion Kathy had brought Star (Great Horned Owl), Katie (Redtail Hawk), Hootie (Eastern Screech Owl), a Kestrel and a tiny little fledgling who just wanted to be fed and nap. Each one taking their turn in the limelight while Kathy expertly regaled the rapt audience with stories and facts of each birds life. I started out knowing that a bird has 2 wings and can cause serious damage in large numbers, thank you Alfred Hitchcock, and came away spouting fascinating facts like; A great horned owl can exert 80lbs/sq.in. with their talons when angry, and that owls in general have 14 vertebrae in their neck, twice as many as a human, allowing their heads to swivel 270+ degrees.
On top of this I was witness to how an owl can manage to make a mess out of both ends. Hootie was the first to demonstrate how he gags on the part of his breakfast he doesn't like and produced a pellet for the amazement of the crowd. Kathy skillfully explaining that it would be like eating an entire packet of chips and then gagging up the plastic bag afterwards.
As for the other end, well, you can guess why I said 'getting my hands dirty' at the beginning. Yes, everyone had to do No.3's, I guess that's the polite way of putting it as the birds do No.1's + No. 2's at the same time and not always straight down. Which serves as a reminder not to stand to close behind one.
The days event ran from 11am to 4pm with Kathy getting her 45 minutes on stage at 12pm. What else can I say? except the Museum is great, the staff were really helpful and I had a wonderful day. I am grateful for the opportunity to do my part to help Utopia and all it stands for.
Richard
