Bird Rehabiliation Center


 
Fish eagle.  When he squawked, you could hear it for a mile
    There is a rehabilitation center in the neighborhood for birds of prey, run by Sarah, the bird lady.  Birds come here who have been injured, separated from their parents, or given up by owners who attempted to keep them as pets.  The goal is to rehabilitate them wherever possible so that they can be released back into the wild.  Some, however, will never be released, because their injuries were too severe, or they have spent too much time with humans.  (Kai the owl falls into that category.)  For those, the center always attempts to breed them, where possible. 

 
Falcon
     We went for a tour of the bird center.  Our guide was Carolyn, a native Kenyan.  She was knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly loved the birds greatly.

      The center had eagles, owls, vultures, falcons, and many other avian creatures.  Carolyn explained that a great challenge in Kenya is dispelling superstitions about owls.  It seems that an owl is considered a harbinger of death.  Carolyn counters that she has been working with owls for years now, and isn't dead yet!

The Night Sky

     We are less than 1° south of the equator, and the dry air makes for excellent stargazing.  At 8:00 at night, Orion is directly overhead.  I finally get to see the Southern Cross for the first time.  (Looks just like the picture!)  Carina, the 2nd-to-brightest star in the heavens (Sirius is #1), which hugs the horizon in Houston this time of year, is nice and high and easy to spot, right below Sirius.  Later at night, Scorpio rises, also high and clear; you can see the entire curved tail.  Seems funny, tho, to look to the north and NOT see Polaris.

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