Eat Mor Falcon

For the past couple of years, while shooting Air Force football, I been obsessed with getting a picture of one of the falcon mascots inside a KFC bucket. Yes. When I dream, I dream big.

When you'se gots a big, giant head
you'se sure gets hungry.

During the Wyoming game on September 21st Cowboy Steve, or whatever the hell this freak is called, wore the above sandwich board and wanted to hangout with the falcon mascots...

GET IN MY BELLY!

...the bird-handlers didn't take the bait and all us photographers lost the chance for a pretty sweet photo.

Living like we do, in a time where giant-headed mascots can start blatantly harassing performing birds, it was only a matter of time before someone trumped my idea and took all the 'bird in a bucket' glory from me. It was time to act (and act I did thanks to Russ who got me the KFC bucket! Thanks Russ!).

Here are the Air Force Cadet falconers in happier times.

Falconer John attempts to get his
wee falcon, Howard Buzz, to chill in the KFC bucket.

Howard's in the bucket! Howard's Buzz is in the bucket!

And once the bird was set in his new bucket home all the vulture photographers started to jump my claim. Even the guy from CBS Sport Network turned his TV camera towards us (but since it was CBS Sports Network I wasn't too worried because if this pic below is what their in-stadium signage looks like how good could their camera shots be?)

Think there's some more room for tape on the bottom boys!

In the end this photo was too important to keep to myself. Smiles! Smiles everyone! Come shoot a picture of a wee bird in a fried chicken bucket! 

Thank you John!
And thank you Howard Buzz!
(for not clawing my eyes out you filthy bird!)

Shortly after this photo was taken the government shutdown ended. Perhaps all we needed to come together as a country was to see a live bird of prey standing in a KFC bucket. God Bless America!

UPDATE - The bird's name was not Howard, but Buzz. We apologize for the mix up.