Thanks on this Day!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sorry for my absence but life is pretty busy once again. Between some home projects, home/life stress, but also with some really great things of late too that I will share in due time (my list ever increases).

And today, as they say, is a day for thanks. Who/what do you give thanks to?

Of course there are the obvious being our family and friends, those we choose to share our lives with, the ones who give us strength, the ones who bring a smile to our face and this be it a person or an animal.

I am also thankful for the country we live in, I find the beauty within it each month, as every season has something unique to offer us. Autumn is in full "bloom" right now and those who stop and look around to appreciate the beauty surrounding us would definitely be thankful for such sightings as this...

All I could say was "wow!" as I took notice of this tree along Royal York Road in Etobicoke. I like to think Autumn is Mother Nature's last blow out of the year before the winter sets in. Take in the colors before the slate is wiped clean as the trees become bare and the ground is covered in a blanket of snow.

I am thankful for the many organizations who do everything they can to help our "wild" friends. Be it the Toronto Wildlife Centre, the Muskoka Wildlife Centre, the Owl Foundation, Mountsberg Conservation Area and the Canadian Peregrine Foundation (CPF), to name a few.

I am especially thankful to the CPF, allowing Angie and I to volunteer with them wherever we can offer time. Which isn't easy when working shift work. We have tried with some other organizations, but they have expectations of commitment beyond what we can give them. It's not that we do not want to help but giving up every Saturday is not possible, and some want even more than that.

But CPF appreciate any time we can spare. And we don't mind doing the not so glorious chores like cleaning Hawk and Owl enclosures. It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it. And our return for such things is being close to these majestic creatures. To see Peregrine Falcons, an American Kestrel, a Bald Eagle, a Harris Hawk and a few species of Owl all in one visit is awesome. And with time, trust and learning we move up to such things like a couple events they do in the year where they bring awareness to the people about what CPF does, educating on the birds of prey in our area, the importance of these creatures in the wild, and displaying some of their captive bred, human imprinted, educational birds. It is indescribable the feeling of sitting there with a bird of prey on your hand.

Here I am at the Toronto Sportsman Show with Kyla, an American Kestrel, talking to the curious about her species. Something I thought I would never do as I am not much for being the centre of attention. But Kyla helped me through the day.

Here I am with Alexandra the Great-horned Owl at the Woodbridge Fall Fair this past Sunday. A big beautiful bird she is, and only weighing in at 4.5 lbs; but after a couple hours she may as well have been 45 lbs on my hand/wrist. Ouch!

It is always a good time when working with CPF. They are wonderful people and a few of the greatest story tellers I have ever met are in their flock. Work seldom feels like work with this bunch.

So yes, big thanks go to CPF for taking us in this year and may we have many years together.