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Today I got my nose pierced accidentally.
How is that possible? I'll explain!
It started while I was cleaning the vulture enclosure at the Raptor Center. (I think any story that starts that way is going to be a pretty interesting story!) I bent over to pick up something, and one of the vultures, who is very fond of people, decided it would be fun to fly down and land on my back. I straightened up, thinking the bird would be sensible and jump off. Instead she scrambled up my back and tried to cling to my shoulder. At this point if I'd held still we probably would have both been okay, though with her you never know, she gives love bites, apparently. But I didn't hold still, I instinctively tried to brush her off. And she decided to steady herself and keep from falling by means of grabbing my nose. Lacking hands she grabbed it with her beak.
So here I am, flailing about, with a vulture biting my nose, trying to cling to my shoulder, while I'm trying to pry her off. I bet it was pretty hilarious to watch. I managed to get one hand on her head and the other hand between her beak and pry the halves apart, and at that point she gave up and sort of flopped to the ground. And was apparently untraumatized enough to attempt to follow me out of the enclosure, nibbling my pants legs the way she normally does. :P
I put my sweater sleeve over my profusely bleeding nose (thankfully I never wear clothes I care about to the Center, I got eagle crap all over my pants today, which is the usual reason why) and headed down to the bird hospital area, where the director was happy enough to break into the supplies and patch me up. Apparently a vulture's beak is cleaner than a cat's claws or teeth, so there's very little concern about infection. :) The senior staff were all a bit worried, I think they thought I might be so traumatized by this that I'd up and quit, and they need every hand they can get. (I was the only volunteer there today, which is another story entirely.) But I pretty much expected to get bitten when I started here. Bitten, clawed, and heaven knows what else. Though I'll admit I didn't expect to be bit on the nose by a vulture. XD That was a bit surprising.
Anyhow, here I am, still feeling a bit of that shaky post-adrenaline-rush feeling, and somewhat perforated, but otherwise quite fine. It doesn't hurt much or anything. And it's a great story. I could get drinks on a story like this!
Oh, and apparently the hole doesn't quite go all the way through, or I'd honestly be tempted to put some jewelry in it and keep it. But I never did like nose piercings anyway, I always find myself picturing the snot that must be stuck to the back side of the things. :P
How is that possible? I'll explain!
It started while I was cleaning the vulture enclosure at the Raptor Center. (I think any story that starts that way is going to be a pretty interesting story!) I bent over to pick up something, and one of the vultures, who is very fond of people, decided it would be fun to fly down and land on my back. I straightened up, thinking the bird would be sensible and jump off. Instead she scrambled up my back and tried to cling to my shoulder. At this point if I'd held still we probably would have both been okay, though with her you never know, she gives love bites, apparently. But I didn't hold still, I instinctively tried to brush her off. And she decided to steady herself and keep from falling by means of grabbing my nose. Lacking hands she grabbed it with her beak.
So here I am, flailing about, with a vulture biting my nose, trying to cling to my shoulder, while I'm trying to pry her off. I bet it was pretty hilarious to watch. I managed to get one hand on her head and the other hand between her beak and pry the halves apart, and at that point she gave up and sort of flopped to the ground. And was apparently untraumatized enough to attempt to follow me out of the enclosure, nibbling my pants legs the way she normally does. :P
I put my sweater sleeve over my profusely bleeding nose (thankfully I never wear clothes I care about to the Center, I got eagle crap all over my pants today, which is the usual reason why) and headed down to the bird hospital area, where the director was happy enough to break into the supplies and patch me up. Apparently a vulture's beak is cleaner than a cat's claws or teeth, so there's very little concern about infection. :) The senior staff were all a bit worried, I think they thought I might be so traumatized by this that I'd up and quit, and they need every hand they can get. (I was the only volunteer there today, which is another story entirely.) But I pretty much expected to get bitten when I started here. Bitten, clawed, and heaven knows what else. Though I'll admit I didn't expect to be bit on the nose by a vulture. XD That was a bit surprising.
Anyhow, here I am, still feeling a bit of that shaky post-adrenaline-rush feeling, and somewhat perforated, but otherwise quite fine. It doesn't hurt much or anything. And it's a great story. I could get drinks on a story like this!
Oh, and apparently the hole doesn't quite go all the way through, or I'd honestly be tempted to put some jewelry in it and keep it. But I never did like nose piercings anyway, I always find myself picturing the snot that must be stuck to the back side of the things. :P