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08/16/2013

Bitchy the Hawk takes me to new heights.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

 

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 Bitchy is a working Harris hawk.

 

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Rob Wernaart cares for Bitchy at his home outside of Toronto. Bitchy is a working Harris hawk in Toronto whose mere presence is enough to scare away gulls at BMO Field and the Molson Ampitheatre.Wernaart, is a wildlife management specialist.

 

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Rob Wernaart gives Bitchy's beak a caress. Bitchy is also the unofficial mascot for Toronto FC.

 

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Bitchy sits on Rob Wernaart's glove.

 

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Bitchy has been working at BMO field since the opening season, he added the Molson Amphitheatre this year.

 

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Rob Wernaart, loads Bitchy into her travelling box for the drive into the city for a gig at the Molson Amphitheatre for the John Mayer concert. Her box has air holes below her sightlines so she does not get motion sick.

 

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Rob Wernaart and Bitchy cross the bridge for a gig at the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

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Rob Wernaart hauls a boxed Bitchy through the ceiling on the way to her perch on the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

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Rob Wernaart hauls a boxed Bitchy to the top of the stage enroute to her perch on the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

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Rob Wernaart walks across the stage towards her perch on the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

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Rob Wernaart takes Bitchy out of her box on top of the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

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Rob Wernaart pats Bitchy after placing her on her perch on the roof for the John Mayer concert. 

 

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Gulls might fly by once or twice but never lower than the roof once they catch sight of Bitchy.

 

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A fan that lost an entire slice of pizza to a gull was the catalyst for the Amphitheatre to hire Bitchy.

 

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Rob Wernaart checks Bitchy on her perch before the concert starts. Bitchy doesn't have to fly to keep gulls at bay.

 

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Birds give Bitchy a wide berth as they fly by.

 

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Phillip Phillips performs as Bitchy keeps the gulls away.

 

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Bitchy walks along the edge of the roof.

 

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Rob Wernaart picks up Bitchy at twilight, by the time the sun goes down most gulls are back on Leslie Spit and Bitchy might fall prey to an owl. 

 

 

 

 

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