Sometimes I really love my job. Well... lots of times.
This morning I got to spend the morning with Spirit Augustus, a 15-year-old American bald eagle, and her handler Michael Skinner of the Balsam Mountain Trust in Sylva, N.C.
Spirit was gorgeous. And huge. She is the newest member of the trust's Birds of Prey Program, and is on permanent loan to the trust from the American Eagle Foundation out of nearby Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
She got a little agitated a few times and tried to fly away only to end up dangling upside down from Michael's arm. Not a very dignified position for our national symbol.
Michael also introduced me to Friday, a 2-year-old female broad-winged hawk. She was pretty cool as well and tiny compared to Spirit. In fact, in the wild Friday would be prey for Spirit.
No I didn't sniff the eagle. I like my face sans talon marks.
