24 x 13 x 9 inches, bronze

We drove to Vermont in November. Leaves were falling like confetti blanketing the ground with glorious color. It was just turning cold; it was great to be outside. Liza, also a "Birder," told me that nearby you could take a lesson in Falconry. You know, like you see in the movies of a knight carrying a Raptor on his gauntlet into battle.

Joe and I made an appointment with The Falconer. He had five different Raptors, hooded and sitting on perches. He explained that these birds are not "pets," they are birds of prey. They hunt and eat. For this reason they are kept hungry before being taken out to hunt.

We were given a Harris Hawk. It was enormous and heavy sitting on my wrist out in the field. Then, as instructed, I waved my wrist. He flew off; we watched him high in a tree. He must have spotted something for he dove into the bush.

A few minutes later he flew overhead and back to the tree. After a while, a slight lift of my hand brought him back, wide spread wings, to perch on my glove. I gave him a bit of meat. The look in The Raptor's eye is focused, sharp and cold. No, he is not a "pet."