iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 2h

Kaya's big sis got a magpie yesterday. Kaya got 2 crows. On the 2nd photo (Kaya), the patch of forest in the background is the local Ruhewald, which will be our likely final resting place. Appropriately, it's within the borders of one of our hawking territories.

A Harris hawk mantling over her prey on a grassy field in the sun.

A Harris hawk mantling over her prey on a dirt field. Behind her is a patch of forest, a bit of fog, and a blue and cloudy sky.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Our hawks were successful in the Rhein valley yesterday (3 hawks, 6 crows). The 1st photo is darling Aik on his kill looking at his falconer who he knows has better treats than the crow he dispatched. Crows destroy crops and kill young birds/mammels, and they are clever, worthy adversaries.

A close up of a Harris hawk mantling over his deceased prey and looking off camera for a tasty reward.

A Harris hawk mantling over her prey on a field with young crops. Her falconer's leather glove and bag are on the ground in front of the hawk.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Kaya nabbed 2 crows yesterday, making her total 11 so far this season (+ 1 magpie), and has today off. Her older brother, whose falconer is a friend of mine, was less enthusiastic about hawking and spent most of his time in trees. We're at it again tomorrow in the Rhein valley.

A Harris hawk mantling over her prey on a dry brown field, looking back over her right shoulder. She has plucked some of the deceased crow's feathers, which are strewn about her feet.

A falconer standing on a grassy field with her glove raised. She is trying to entice her Harris hawk, who is in a tall leafy tree to return to her. The sky is blue with some light clouds in the distance.

A Harris hawk mantling over her prey on a grassy field on a sunny day. She is looking at something off camera in front her and it is a sunny day. Her falconer's glove and bag lie on the ground near her.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

My parents (83) have a Tesla w/FSD. I wondered what would happen if the driver has a stroke and googled it. Found a video that fit. It's a guy in Wisconsin (!) who drives his Tesla around and talks about it. Suddenly I notice he's driving past the [xxx] - that's 1.5 miles from my parents' house!

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

On today's plan: 1) Collecting poo samples from Kaya 2) Getting gem. Hack & a day-old Brötchen from the butcher 3) Browsing at the local Büchermarkt Re: #2, guess what's for dinner? 😅 Kaya was successful Wednesday & yesterday, and we're out again tomorrow morning.

A Harris hawk mantling on her falconer's glove over her thawed chick reward after a kill. She (the hawk) is giving the photographer the side-eye, warning him not to try to steal her tasty treat.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Caught a bag today. 😅🦅 She also bagged two crows. 😉📯

A Harris hawk sitting on her falconer's leather bag lying in the grass. I'm never sure why we say birds are sitting on something when they're clearly standing.
There is a white house behind the hawk.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The start of Kaya's 5th season has not been smooth, but today we had her 5th successful hunt and she got a big reward.

A Harris hawk standing on her deceased prey while gulping down a chick as part of her reward for not letting this one get away. In front of her in the dirt is her falconer's leather bag. She is on a dry and plowed field and it's a bright sunny day.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Just read that the average price for a Mass (liter) of beer at Oktoberfest this year will be 15,61€, which is 5 times more expensive than it was in 1985. Since I don't like beer or crowds, I'll be skipping the Fest again this year. 🍻 Have fun y'all.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I'm pretty sure my 20-yr-old self would be thrilled, relieved, and wowed. There are additional reasons, but...three years earlier I had been on an exchange program and lived in Esslingen with my host family for 6 months and knew I needed to come back to Germany, preferrably permanently.

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Reposted by Kaya's falconer

Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Mitch McConnell nearly voted “no” with Democrats until Republicans stepped in and reminded him which way they wanted him to vote.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

My absentee ballot for the mid-terms arrived today. As always, I'm reading the instructions carefully and checking them twice so they can't find a reason to consider my ballot invalid. It will be in the mail tomorrow.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

When Mom photographs you during your Morgentoilette. "Seriously?? A little privacy, please. You better not post that on Bluesky."

A Harris hawk sitting on her indoor bow perch and preening the feathers on her right wing.

A Harris hawk sitting on her indoor bow perch and preening the feathers on the front of her neck.

A disgruntled Harris hawk sitting on her indoor bow perch is interrupted in the middle of her morning preening session by the click of the camera. Her beak is slightly open and she is looking directly at the camera.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

In this novel I just read that the British cuss word "bloody" is a short form of "By our Lady" referencing the virgin Mary. Does anyone know if there's something to this?? If true, that would explain to me why it's considered so vulgar by older Brits (my MiL).

The novel "The Autobiography of Henry VIII" by Margaret George. The book is lying in the grass.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Went hawking again today. 🥴😂🦅 She did get her crow, but on all her misses she hung out in a tree (once on a Strommast), and after this one, we threw up the sponge, as Huck Finn would say, and went home. Every hawking day is a good one when the falconer returns with a healthy bird.

A falconer standing on a plowed field in the sun with his glove raised with a tasty tidbit, trying to lure his hawk down from a very tall tree. The hawk is ignoring him.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Had so much fun with a friend today in the Schwarzwald! First the Nationalpark Zentrum in Ruhestein, then lunch, and then the Playmobil "Schwarzwald Marie auf Weltreise" display in Baiersbronn. ❤️

An exhibit in the National Park Center showing wildlife in the forest. This is an owl sitting on a branch with a mouse in his talons.

An interactive exhibit in the National Park Center. It is a book and when you turn the page a new motion display starts that explains an aspect of life in the forest.

A Playmobil display showing a scene in Mexico.

A Playmobil display in the section called "Black Forest" showing a hunter in a deer stand and a fawn in front of the stand lying on its side. It's probably sleeping. Yeah, definitely sleeping.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Kaya got her 2nd crow today and we seem to have worked out the kinks. She's good to go for season 5!

A Harris hawk on her falconer's glove and leaning forward toward the tasty tidbit the falconer is holding for her in her right hand. The hawk is getting a reward for a successful hunt. The falconer is kneeling on a grassy field and the sky above her is bright blue with some clouds.

A brown and bay Harris hawk sitting on a grassy field mantling over her prey and swallowing a meaty reward for a job well done. Behind her the sky is blue with big fluffy clouds.
Mantling means the hawk is crouching over her prey with her wings spread out to cover it so no one steals it from her.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Kaya's big sis got one today! Kaya had some decent flights but didn't grab the prey. We try again tomorrow.

A Harris hawk mantling over her prey, which is mostly hidden behind stalks of grass, and looking toward the camera.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Guten Morgen! You might think this is a photo of a sunrise, but it's actually (also) a photo of my friend trying to lure her Harris hawk out of the tree onto her glove after a missed crow.

A scene at sunrise of a plowed field and row of trees on the left under a mostly cloudy sky. The small, dark, vaguely human-shaped speck between the sun and the trees is a falconer with an empty glove. Her hawk is up in one of the trees having a look around.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Kaya's 5th season has officially begun! 🥳🦅

A Harris hawk on a plowed field mantling over her kill (a crow) and enjoying a chick reward.

A Harris hawk sitting on her falconer's glove on a plowed field. The falconer is smiling and proud of her bird's success.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I need to recreate this meme for Kaya and us. I'll use our own photos, and I'll switch mom and society. But the "What I really do" will be very similar. We rarely need the telemetry to find Kaya, but we spent plenty of time today trying to recall her out of tall trees.

A meme for falconers showing what their friends, mom, society, and other falconers think they do. It ends with "What I really do", and that is searching for their hawk, who buggered off somewhere and is probably sitting comfortably in some tree.

A falconer with a thawed chick on his glove looking up at his hawk up high in a tree, who is so far not inclined to return to him.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Took Kaya to a summer program for 12 kids (8-12 yrs) this afternoon and didn't think to take a single photo, even of just the two of us. It was way too hot for me, but Kaya wasn't bothered. The kids seemed very interested & asked good questions. I am so done with heat. Bring. On. Fall!

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

This is just way too much fun. Just got off the phone again with Vital Records in Michigan. I cannot submit my original BC as proof of the correct spelling of my name. She said I can send my high school diploma, which I just dug out of a box in the basement. 1/

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Appt today at the Ausländeramt. I have a German marriage license, Jagdschein, WBK, employer, health insurance, C1 & LiD certificates, certification from BAMF to teach integration courses, my original birth certificate & a US passport. I can't wait to hear why she also needs an apostille of my BC.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I am enjoying the fact that it's been cool enough for long enough to cook a roast in the oven today. The glorious aroma... ☺️🤤

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In preparing to request an apostille of my birth certificate, I just discovered that on the copies I have of my BC, issued to me by the state of Michigan in 2006... THEY SPELLED MY NAME WRONG. My mom's maiden name is also misspelled. I now have to request a name change from MI vital records. 1/

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Are there any advantages to dual (🇺🇲/🇩🇪) citizenship besides being able to vote where I live? Don't get me wrong, that's a big one. My husband is German, my children are adults in the US, and traveling out of Germany is rare for us because of Kaya.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Pondering going for dual citizenship and just gathered all the documents I need except for the 2 apostile, which we might have downstairs. Waiting time after applying is 3 years. I wonder what the chances are that in those two years, a new gov't will cancel all applications.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Am I the only one who fishes those damn fruit flies out of my wine and just keeps going? You can smell the death farts from those little f*ckers as soon as you bring the glass up for a sip, but I am too wanna-be-Swabian to waste the wine. 🍷

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I believe I saw Dances 5 times, including 1x in German. I met & shook hands with Kevin also, but that's another story. Re: Robin Hood, (I love Costner's version!!), my MiL and I once argued whether Slater said "F*ck me!" or "Blimey!" Turns out we were both right! In the 🇬🇧 version he says blimey!

static.klipy.com

Tatanka Buffalo

ALT: Tatanka Buffalo

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

It finally rained this morning!!! The cisterns are full, the grass is wet, and the hawk is happy (and drenched). 😅🦅🚿 Video shows a Harris hawk with her wings out, flapping them happily in a rain shower.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The US manchild prez has actually signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

My parents (83) bought a self-driving Tesla in May. My mom told me today she has noticed that she no longer feels safe driving their other [normal] car because she has to be in control and it only has a back-up camera. I find this a concerning side effect of using a self-driving car. 😕

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Kaya and her older half-sis hung out together today on a bench during PR work at a Jägerfest for families. They had quite the conversation in cute little grunting tones. I wish I knew what they said!

Two female Harris hawks sitting on the back on a wooden park bench watching something in front of them off camera.

Two female Harris hawks sitting next to each other and looking at each other. The one on the left has her head almost upside down, looking inquisatively at the other. They are half-sisters and know each other.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Our neighbors are having a party in their backyard. Kaya is watching them like a hawk. I'll show myself out.

A view from a mews camera of a Harris hawk sitting on a corner perch staring at the neighbors, who are off camera.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

A little early evening training. This is Kaya's older half-sis. She's not quite ready for free flying, needing a bit less weight and a bit more fitness, but she flew really well on the creance (light-weight leash) today. I should have taken a photo of the horses that came over to watch. 😅

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

It. Is. Raining!! A beautiful, light, steady rain that won't shock the ground too much. How glorious to need the windshield wipers! Here's hoping this carries on for hours or even days. Kaya stretched her wings out for a shower, and now she's contentedly sitting in the rain.

A row of 3 half-timbered houses along a wet street.

A blurry photo from the mews camera of a Harris hawk with her wings spread out as she enjoys a light rain.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The fact that it's cool enough to wear jeans makes me happier than I should be allowed to be. Kaya was distracted during training this morning by a young buzzard/hawk food-begging its parents. They were clearly trying to show the babe why it needs to hunt independently! Kaya sympathized.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

This is Kaya's "Ffs, my humans suck at hunting again based on the portion sizes they're bringing me, and I'm gonna have to take over" face. We're preparing for hawking season, which means putting Kaya on a diet and getting her out exercizing after a summer of big meals and molting.

A Harris hawk sitting on her falconer's glove under a shade tree with a road and cloudy sky in the background.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Complete this sentence: I own a ridiculous amount of… •pens •copies of Khalil Gibran's The Prophet •sweatshirts & fleeces •postcards I think I could keep going. 🫣

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Local lad Michael Jung and his great horse fischerChipmunk are Weltmeister in Aachen!! 🥳🐎🥂💐

A photo taken of a TV screen showing German equestrian Michael Jung riding his horse Chipmunk through a water obstacle during the cross country day.

A photo taken of a TV screen showing German equestrian Michael Jung riding his horse Chipmunk just after their cross country ride. Michi's triumphant fist is in the air, knowing they just delivered an amazing performance.

A photo taken of a TV screen showing German equestrian Michael Jung hugging his horse Chipmunk right after their show jumping round. Michi knows they have just won the gold medal. The horse doesn't care. Wants his oats.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Tried a new recipe tonight because my basil is growing like crazy and I made pesto yesterday. The recipe is from a Käse-Milch-Straße brochure I found in a pile while looking for my eclipse glasses. Nailed it. 🤣🤣 Husband and I agreed: "It was not nearly as bad as I'd feared." 😂

A German recipe for Cheese lasagna with pesto, mozzarella and parmesan. The photo shown has the lasagna still in the casserole dish and looking delicious

The result of the poster having attempted the previously shown lasagna recipe. It is served on the plate and looks cheesy but otherwise not all that appetizing. The olive oil from the pesto is leaking out.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

For anyone who has followed the bald eagles Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear Lake, California, the sad news was announced a few minutes ago - Jackie has died. 😥 She was rescued about 3 weeks ago and the vets at the care facility did everything they could to save her. Fly free, Jackie! 🦅

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

So...this was fun. Can you spot my bird? Her creance (long lightweight leash) ring broke and she flew 200 meters to a tall tree. Her tree of choice was directly next to a train track. She watched 3 short trains speed by but thankfully stayed put. She eventually flew down to my husband's glove.

A leafy tree directly next to a train track on a sunny day. The falconer's glove is seen in the foreground and on it is a fluffy yellow chick bit, with which the falconer is trying to lure her hawk back from the tree.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Every few years I get a basil plant (or two) that goes mad! Usually I have a hard time keeping it alive, but I suspect this summer's heat has helped. 😕/🙂

Two healthy and abundant basil plants in an outside planter.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Trying to help a dear friend get from Schwäbisch Hall to us (he doesn't need help with the DB, but I need to decide where I'll pick him up) and Stuttgart-einund-Iwillneverbefinished-zwanzig is unavoidable. It seems impossible w/o Erstazbusse, overfull trains and additional track closings.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Kaya got tired of my nagging and "dropped" her final 2 tail feathers yesterday and today. We took her for a few flights on the creance (lightweight leash) this morning, and although she allowed herself to be convinced to fly 9 times about 9 meters, she wasn't exactly enthusiastic. 😅

All 12 molted tail feathers from a Harris hawk fanned out on a rug. The base and tip of each feather is white, and between that is dark brown. Some of the feathers are tagged with the date the bird "dropped" the feather and started growing a new one in its place.

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Just learned a new word: to defenestrate someone. With thanks to James Fell, because I love learning new words, I did check dict(dot)cc to see if it's in their dictionary, and indeed it is. to defenestrate someone = "jmdn zum Fenster hinausschmeißen"

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Kaya's falconer @amiimschwabenland.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

TIL that "blinker" may not be a standard American word - that I'm certain I've used all my life - for "turn signal." My US parents had to ask if I meant "turn signal." Last week I learned that "TIL" is not an acronym my adult US children are familiar with. They're 30 & 32. 🧐 What is happening?

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