Snapeshifter: The Woman who was Snape: Raptor Day at Paxton Gate

In a world where we are increasingly isolated from our wilder animal brethren, a chance to interact with them in a fair, supportive, educational and healing way is a blessing.

One of our coolest local shops, especially for both Goths and science-lovers, is Paxton Gate. If you're a serious adherent of PETA or a vegan, you might want to stay as clear of this store as you would Snape's animal-parts-laden potion lab; for those of us into this kind of thing, however, this place is a marvel. Today the focus wasn't on natural science specimens or preserved animals, however, but live ones --- specifically, raptors.

Falconer John with Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

A pair of falconry experts from Seattle displayed several types of hawks and falcons, a vulture, and even an owl --- specifically, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, the world's largest species. Also spread upon the table were information papers, periodicals, and falconry gear for our perusal. The two men paired the display with educational talk and question-answering, and the birds were rotated out every hour, if not sooner, to let them rest in the store's back room and ensure their maximum comfort.

For a $5 donation, we were each allowed to don a professional falconer's leather glove and hold a bird, with all profits going to the Audubon Society. I had just enough time before work that afternoon to buy a ticket, pick a bird and slip in line. Too many times in the past, I've been either too cowardly, or too nice; not this time! I was out for experience.

Lady Bird, a Eurasian Eagle-Owl. Look at those huge eyes!

I'd hoped to hold the owl, if only to feel how heavy she was (or not). Alas, I'd forgotten about that "buy a ticket" part, and the line backed up quickly. Instead, I queued up to hold --- of all things! --- a vulture, who had the incongruous name of Mr. Peabody Ziggy Stardust (and I may be forgetting one name).

I've nothing against vultures. In fact, I like them. In a generation when every little rich kid was wanting a pet snowy owl (good luck teaching it to send letters; reports hold that snowies are rather stupid, and the hardest to train), I gave my character Isaac a vulture, and even made vultures one of the Sarkazen iconic animals. Face it, there's something wickedly endearing about a Goth kid who walks around with a vulture on his shoulder and tells her, "Hey, beautiful." I'd trust the word of that kid more than the jock boy who begged for a Porsche and oggled celebrities, since I'm drawn not so much to the strange, but to the real.

And there was no shortage of Goths at this event! I was happy to see lots of others of my ilk there, who were also dressed to match, unlike me in my work clothes. Two friends, Nicole and Mikhail, even attended, but at different times than me. I took no pictures of myself holding Mr. Peabody; a lot of these other folks looked more photogenic than I did, I'm sure, and it's hard to take a selfie with one arm occupied by a large, flapping bird.

Holding the vulture was a pleasure. Its weight, as they warned us, could add up over time, but I found it easily manageable, propping my elbow. I learned to hold the jesses in my left hand by watching others learn before me. Seeing the great black wings arched over my head as the creature angled for balance on my wrist was cool, and a great opportunity to admire Nature's living constructive genius from close-up.

The bird then shat on my glove. "Oh! There you go, sanitation in action," John said cheerfully. That's how I learned that vultures (with good reason!) are immune to anthrax, botulism, and a host of other nasties that would kill us; their stomachs are stronger than sulfuric acid. So strong, that this anti-biobug power carries clear through its system --- a vulture's poop is a bit like bird Purell and actually sanitizes the area around where it lives and eats! Pooping on its own feet allows the bird to sanitize its feet and where it walks. Pleasant, to us? Maybe not, but useful? Definitely.

I could get used to a pet vulture, poop and all, though it's the opposite of convenient for me right now (a snake is far more feasible). But I also forgot to ask the men about a critical issue: Legality. These guys, and Audubon, are professionals licensed to own or at least rehabilitate wild birds. Whether an average witch like me is permitted to own one is questionable, but is likely discouraged.

Above: Seattle Falconer John helps a young woman hold Mr. Peabody Ziggy Stardust, a Lesser Yellow-Headed Vulture from Africa. These birds are targeted by poachers and thus endangered