SCAVENGER HUNT
by Megan Antosy
P
.J. SIMONIS IS A POPULAR GUY. I went up to the Boardwalk to meet him one afternoon. He was at 11th Street, so I started walking south and spotted him. He stands out even in the summer crowds on the boards. Carrying a large bird of prey on your arm will do that. As I stepped towards him, I passed a news crew setting up for a live shot, pointing at the guy carrying a hawk excitedly and discussing the seagull abatement program. P.J. was talking to a couple of college-aged guys about the bird, standing under the Children’s Pavilion. After the one boy was finished asking questions, P.J. prompted the other one. When he didn’t have any questions, P.J. recommended taking a picture of the bird. If you’ve seen P.J. or one of the other falconers walking the Boardwalk, you know they attract a crowd pretty quickly. In the few steps it took to meet up to P.J., someone asked if their daughter could take a picture with the bird. P.J. placed her a safe distance in front of him for the snap. Afterwards, we started walking south, along with fellow falconer Paul Totten, talking about interactions with the public and all the
