Any Falconers on here?
03 September 2010, 11:07 AM
#1
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Any Falconers on here?
I've always been fascinated by birds of prey but stopped short of going on any falconry courses.
Yesterday whilst out walking the dog I came across this:
A 14 week old Goshawk being walked around the fields to get used to the environment before being trained/flown. Had a great chat with the owner who took my number and said he would call once she was ready to hunt and I can go out hunting with them
He uses ferrets to flush rabbits so would have to learn to handle them as well etc.
He said i'll learn loads more out with him than some commercial 3 day course. Just hope he does call as it may just get me into it properly as opposed to just watching birds of prey through binoculars.
Anyone here own a bird of prey or do falconry?
Yesterday whilst out walking the dog I came across this:
A 14 week old Goshawk being walked around the fields to get used to the environment before being trained/flown. Had a great chat with the owner who took my number and said he would call once she was ready to hunt and I can go out hunting with them
He uses ferrets to flush rabbits so would have to learn to handle them as well etc.He said i'll learn loads more out with him than some commercial 3 day course. Just hope he does call as it may just get me into it properly as opposed to just watching birds of prey through binoculars.
Anyone here own a bird of prey or do falconry?
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 03 September 2010 at 11:09 AM.
03 September 2010, 04:48 PM
#3
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Cheers Les. Done a fair bit of reading up since yesterday and getting more and more interested. Going to find out if there are more people locally to talk to incase this guy doesn't call me back although he was genuinely a friendly and helpful bloke.
Most prohibitive part seems the cost and the science of keeping it's weight spot on. To keep a beginner bird such as a Harris Hawk i'd need a Mews of 10' x 12' in the garden before even looking at anyhting else.
Most prohibitive part seems the cost and the science of keeping it's weight spot on. To keep a beginner bird such as a Harris Hawk i'd need a Mews of 10' x 12' in the garden before even looking at anyhting else.
03 September 2010, 07:19 PM
#6
One of the guys that works for me breeds them, and has hunted all over the UK, he's addicted to the things. Beautiful animals when they are not flying around my factory ****ting on the work when he brings them in for show and tell.
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03 September 2010, 10:01 PM
#12
I would rather see Raptors in the wild myself but I suppose there is room for Falconry so long as the birds are legit. I don't like the idea of the hybrids though. It is definitely a good thing if it helps to stop their persecution in the wild.
03 September 2010, 10:36 PM
#13
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I enjoy seeing them in the wild too. In Kent there are no Buzzards even though they are the most common bird of prey in the UK. So when I went to Cornwall recently I couldn't believe how many Buzzards I saw gliding about. Where I live we just get Kestrels and Sparrow Hawks, nothing big or flash although the Sparrow Hawk is impressive when on the kill. Some Red Kites were released right next to my parents on the Kent/East Sussex border a while back but i've never seen them flying about even though some supposedly stayed close to the release site.
Whilst reading up I was surprised by the massive difference in regulation in falconry between the UK and the USA. Here the only law is that you must keep the bird in an enclosure big enough for it to extend its wings in all directions which is ludicrous oh and obviously birds can not be taken from the wild (although you can in the USA). In the USA to keep a bird of prey you must do an absolute bare minimum of 2 years apprenticeship and quite often is a lot more with an experienced and trained falconer and then be licensed.
Hybrids are a strange one, not something I was aware of until reading up. As long as they aren't bred from then and they are healthy then I guess there is no issue with them.
Whilst reading up I was surprised by the massive difference in regulation in falconry between the UK and the USA. Here the only law is that you must keep the bird in an enclosure big enough for it to extend its wings in all directions which is ludicrous oh and obviously birds can not be taken from the wild (although you can in the USA). In the USA to keep a bird of prey you must do an absolute bare minimum of 2 years apprenticeship and quite often is a lot more with an experienced and trained falconer and then be licensed.
Hybrids are a strange one, not something I was aware of until reading up. As long as they aren't bred from then and they are healthy then I guess there is no issue with them.
04 September 2010, 12:32 PM
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We have a buzzard who often sits on top of the telephone pole next to our house. We are surrounded by fields with bank hedges so it is a good hunting ground for him. He sometimes gets mobbed by motorway crows though.
A most beautiful looking bird.
Les
A most beautiful looking bird.
Les
23 October 2010, 09:35 PM
#19
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Well for Les and Milamber just to update, I went out this afternoon for my first outing with the above Goshawk and it's owner.
I haven't smiled that much in ages, it was bloody fantastic. For a bird he's only had since August he has done an amazing job at training. Not only was the bird 100% happy and relaxed on his arm, it was also not bothered by me, a completer stranger, which for a young Goshawk is very very good.
It never once went to fly off out of site, only ever had it's eyes on him or me when I was running across the field with the lure and it chasing me
It followed us around the field going from tree to tree which again for such a young bird is excellent behaviour.
You have to have a bit of a strong stomach when it comes to feeding/reward time, watching it rip open a Quail, eat it's head and then it's liver, heart and all innards before ripping the meat off and then the bones and feathers took a bit of getting used to
All I can say is I can't wait for my next outing and I so want my own bird, a male Harris Hawk
I haven't smiled that much in ages, it was bloody fantastic. For a bird he's only had since August he has done an amazing job at training. Not only was the bird 100% happy and relaxed on his arm, it was also not bothered by me, a completer stranger, which for a young Goshawk is very very good.
It never once went to fly off out of site, only ever had it's eyes on him or me when I was running across the field with the lure and it chasing me
It followed us around the field going from tree to tree which again for such a young bird is excellent behaviour.You have to have a bit of a strong stomach when it comes to feeding/reward time, watching it rip open a Quail, eat it's head and then it's liver, heart and all innards before ripping the meat off and then the bones and feathers took a bit of getting used to
All I can say is I can't wait for my next outing and I so want my own bird, a male Harris Hawk
25 October 2010, 10:09 PM
#23
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Yes captive bred as illegal to take birds from the wild in the UK - a different story in the USA however. From captive bred there are two types, a parent reared bird or an inprint which is a hand reared chick. Pluses and negatives with both types although i'd only want a parent reared bird which is what the above Goshawk is. Inprinting is not for me due to the negatives which for me out weigh the positives. However the arabs are massively into inprinted birds.
As for getting a Goshawk i believe you'd want to have the best part of a grand where as a Harris Hawk can be had for £200-£300. A white Gyr Falcon £6k and upwards.
As for getting a Goshawk i believe you'd want to have the best part of a grand where as a Harris Hawk can be had for £200-£300. A white Gyr Falcon £6k and upwards.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 25 October 2010 at 10:13 PM.
26 October 2010, 09:01 AM
#25
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I've always been fascinated by birds of prey but stopped short of going on any falconry courses.
Yesterday whilst out walking the dog I came across this:
A 14 week old Goshawk being walked around the fields to get used to the environment before being trained/flown. Had a great chat with the owner who took my number and said he would call once she was ready to hunt and I can go out hunting with them He uses ferrets to flush rabbits so would have to learn to handle them as well etc.
He said i'll learn loads more out with him than some commercial 3 day course. Just hope he does call as it may just get me into it properly as opposed to just watching birds of prey through binoculars.
Anyone here own a bird of prey or do falconry?
Yesterday whilst out walking the dog I came across this:
A 14 week old Goshawk being walked around the fields to get used to the environment before being trained/flown. Had a great chat with the owner who took my number and said he would call once she was ready to hunt and I can go out hunting with them
He uses ferrets to flush rabbits so would have to learn to handle them as well etc.He said i'll learn loads more out with him than some commercial 3 day course. Just hope he does call as it may just get me into it properly as opposed to just watching birds of prey through binoculars.
Anyone here own a bird of prey or do falconry?
26 October 2010, 09:48 AM
#26
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Thanks Lee, she's even more stunning in the flesh especially when she is coming straight at you.
That Sparrow Hawk eating the pigeon alive is what they all do which is why you have to know how to dispatch your birds quarry humanely. You do not stand back and let your bird eat its quarry alive because whilst it may be nature its uneccesary when you are present to prevent any suffering.
That Sparrow Hawk eating the pigeon alive is what they all do which is why you have to know how to dispatch your birds quarry humanely. You do not stand back and let your bird eat its quarry alive because whilst it may be nature its uneccesary when you are present to prevent any suffering.
26 October 2010, 10:29 AM
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I look forward to seeing a photo of you with your Harris Hawk B2Z.
Good for you to despatch the prey before the hawk eats it. I would not condone unnecessary cruelty either.
Les
Good for you to despatch the prey before the hawk eats it. I would not condone unnecessary cruelty either.
Les
26 October 2010, 10:43 AM
#28
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Thanks Les but it will be a long time before I get one. I want to learn as much as possible first and do at least one season watching and learning from the above Goshawk. Who i'm learning from says he'll have me getting one at the end of the season but that's a long way off and I wont get too excited and ahead of myself.
I'll have to go and find Moses over on MLR as he is massively into his falconry from what I remember.
I'll have to go and find Moses over on MLR as he is massively into his falconry from what I remember.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 26 October 2010 at 10:46 AM.
26 October 2010, 01:20 PM
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Yes good thinking B2Z, there is doubtless a lot more to it than one might think and watching is the best way to learn it all. You are lucky that bloke has taken you under his wing, (and the Goshawk's! )
Les
)Les
26 October 2010, 01:24 PM
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it will be a long time before I get one. I want to learn as much as possible first and do at least one season watching and learning from the above Goshawk. Who i'm learning from says he'll have me getting one at the end of the season but that's a long way off and I wont get too excited and ahead of myself.
Where would you keep it and what stops it flying away again?
Soo many questions
Do you need a licence? Do the post office do cheap pet insurance for one