It was a beautiful day, and CVH wanted to get out of the house. I suggested a visit to Salato, the Kentucky Wildlife Department’s showcase location near Frankfort, particularly because they had a birds of prey show this afternoon. CVH really likes birds of prey shows. I like to watch honeybees, and they also have a really cool exhibit of a live honeybee hive where you can watch the bees come and go and work.
A Kentucky Elk
Recently where I work, I helped out with the annual Kentucky Elk Draw. It seems that a few years ago, elk were reintroduced to Kentucky and, in order to manage their numbers, there is a short and highly restricted hunting season. The Commonwealth of Kentucky uses a computer program to randomly select the lucky hunters from everyone who requests an elk hunting license. Today I found out what an elk looks like.
Honeybees at work
My favorite part of Salato, though, is the honeybee hive. I could probably sit and watch those amazing critters come and go and work all day. I also believe that if those creatures ever put their minds together to take over, we wouldn’t stand a chance against that kind of determination and organization. It’s almost like watching perfect Spartans.
Kentucky Cover Girl
Finally, it was time for the raptor show. I learned some new things about raptors, such as how some have a locking mechanism in their talons that allows them to hold on to captured prey without having to exert unnecessary muscle energy to do so.
One of the birds we saw
