So I'm driving home after a Wednesday night ride, heading west on 52.
All the sudden I see a large bird out of the corner of my eye -- BOOM he
hits my roof or rack and I assume bounces or flies off.
Then some guy starts honking and pulls beside me -- I think maybe my bike
got knocked loose or something -- roll down window and he shouts, "You've
got a hawk in your bike!"
We both pull over on the shoulder, and check it out. Turns out it's a HUGE
horned owl, wedged between the rack fairing and cross bar. We're not sure
if he's dead, and the talons warrant extreme caution.
He shines a flashlight on its chest -- no movement at all. Finally, I pull
on one foot, and surprisingly the bird just easily slips out from under the
rack. I "escort" him to the ground gently but rather quickly; poor thing is
dead as a doornail. (Unless it was totally unconscious, but I don't think
so.) Coyote food, I guess 🙁
Good Night, Noble Beast -- Blessed, Peaceful Sleep.
Bill "fair to midland white hunter" S.
PS: Yeah, Mikey, I know: senseless destruction of wildlife by selfish
mountain biker. Not sure it even touched the bike; will do forensic study
in daylight tomorrow...