http://i1038.photobucket.com/albums/a461/RyanCorlew/Outdoors/IMAG10901_zps8e2aae76.jpg
I'm working on my car, look up, and see a dude walking down my street with a hawk on his arm. I couldn't resist going out to talk to him as I haven't been this close to a hawk in 20yrs.
We spoke for 20min. He does falconry as a hobby, but also has a side business where he does bird abatement. This particular hawk is a Harris Hawk. He was out in the undeveloped fields right by my house hunting rabbits and ducks. I believe he also stated that he has a redtail. It was a fascinating conversation. We exchanged info, and he said he would invite me to come along with him, (in fact, I just got e-mailed an invitation a couple minutes ago).
that being said, along the course of our conversation, I had referenced seeing a raptor I could not identify, seen in this thread: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108681&highlight=osprey
I e-mailed him the pic, and he got in touch with his friend who handles the raptors at the Fort Worth zoo. This was the response I got in regards to that pic:
"XXX said that it was a very interesting morph but most likely an immature Redtail, probably a female due to the size.
Look at the feet too, they are definitely “hawk feet” compared to Osprey feet that are specialized for fishing and are thicker with fishhook like talons where two are almost forward and two back (close anyway).
Still, a great pic and definitely an RT trying very hard to look like an Osprey!"
Anyway, that's my story.