Instagram story viewer> @thatsnoot> Posts

Alexandra Goguen

@thatsnoot

3K

followers

834

following

Bird trainer working at The Raptors, based on Vancouver Island 💜

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

💜

Thank you @isleofgabbyphotography for these amazing photos! I can't wait to see the rest! by @thatsnoot

69

11

9 months ago

Haven't posted in so long that I couldn't find the button to post 😅 by @thatsnoot

51

0

10 months ago

Always love spending time with this handsome guy 💜 by @thatsnoot

26

1

a year ago

I had an absolutely incredible time in the Vernon, as part of our team at @abnc.vernon ! We were at the Allan Brook's Nature Centre providing flying demonstrations and up close encounters with our birds to the residents of the Okanagan. My only regret is not having more time to explore the beautiful area!

Memorable moments included:

@birdchaserbrys immediately losing her voice on the first day of flying demonstrations (if you spotted her tea mug or a pack of fisherman's friends you knew she wasn't far away)

A weather balloon that launched daily from directly behind the flying field at 4:15- which was the middle of the last flying demo 😂

Insanely windy conditions that made for one of the funnest flying demos ever 🌬️

Judge Dredd (Turkey Vulture) soaring with wild turkey vultures for about 30 minutes before making his triumphant return as soon as Morgan and I went into the tent to make a plan to find him 😂

Marmots stealing my favourite lure?!?

Overall it was such a fun experience with some amazing birds and humans. The team at @abnc.vernon is incredible and if you are ever in the area definitely give them a visit 💜 by @thatsnoot

47

0

a year ago

I'm so lucky to work with such a star ✨⭐✨ by @thatsnoot

68

3

a year ago

What I love about working with birds is getting to glimpse those moments of learning and experimentation, when they are figuring out how to navigate the world. Gizmo & Gremlin, (black vultures) were navigating the wind and rain and sometimes that makes for some more challenging flying conditions! And just like us, sometimes they "slip up" 😂 by @thatsnoot

75

2

2 years ago

I often call Basil an "unproblematic" bird. While Harris Hawks are generally considered easy to work with, their intelligence and curiosity can make them prone to distractions, especially at Waste Management sites/Landfills. Unlike a lot of other young Harris's Hawks I've worked with, his interest in picking at, shredding, or attempting to eat random "stuff" he may find is quite low. Working through distractions like this is one of the more challenging parts of working at these kinds of sites, but also one of the reasons I love it! Problem solving how to encourage alternative behaviours and change what I am doing to set the bird up for success is one of my favourite parts of the job, as frustrating as it can be sometimes. Though Basil has had his moments, overall he's much more interested in his job and the treats we have for him 🙌 I’m very lucky to work with such a great bird 🥰

#wildlife #raptor #birdtraining #animaltraining #freeflight #falconry #nature #britishcolumbia #canada #islandraptors #wildlifemanagement #birdabatement by @thatsnoot

72

1

2 years ago

Goodbye 2024 👋 Hello 2025 💜 This year was one of the most challenging years I've faced yet, and I was the lowest I had felt in years. New health issues, burn out, and maintaining a work-life balance made my mental health plummet. I am SO privileged to be surrounded by so many amazing people who helped me, and continue to help me, though these challenges. Whether it be my partner, family, coworkers or friends. I am blessed to be able to rely on support from all these different facets of my life, and I don't think I would have made it through 2024 relatively unscathed without all this support.

While 2024 was tough, I also got the opportunity to do so many amazing things- I presented at a conference for the first time ever, I got to work at different sites with awesome people, I got to attend the wedding of two of my favourite people, I got to attend the eras tour with my best friends, and I got to rekindle my passion for training and free flying birds when I felt at the end of my rope. Even though 2024 was tough, I feel like I've come through to 2025 stronger and better than ever 🎉 by @thatsnoot

90

6

2 years ago

So excited to get this girl flying again by @thatsnoot

74

3

2 years ago

Living for flying this fluffy cloud right now 💜 by @thatsnoot

74

5

2 years ago

I haven't had much bandwidth for social media lately but I do miss taking photos and videos of the birds to share. So here is Herc being handsome as heck.
Hercules is such a star and I'm pretty lucky to know him 💜 by @thatsnoot

58

4

2 years ago

Terns are such cool little birds! by @thatsnoot

36

1

2 years ago