Video: Handling Hawks in an Urban Habitat

Remember when I nearly left my finger in an owl's belly at Nats Park? I was at work yesterday at the National Wildlife Federation and happened to see this video profile NWF just produced featuring the owl handler, Rodney Stotts of the Earth Conservation Corps:

Note to Self: Do Not Offer Finger to Bird of Prey

I was hanging out in the Red Loft before Tuesday's Nationals-Red Sox game when a friend arrived and said, "Did you see the owl???" At first I thought, "Oh, silly city dweller. So easily amazed by a non-sparrow." Then I looked around the corner and realized it wasn't some little stuffed bird to show off to the tourists.

No, thanks to the Earth Conservation Corps, this was a live Great Horned Owl. A real bad-ass one, too. I was about to do the Colbert with the owl for our picture, then looked down and it was giving my finger the "hold still for just one sec" look. Held my ground just long enough to get a picture in.