Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire falcon training day 10 - life is a contact sport! (pics)

so here we are at day 10 and it's time for 'Dora (and my daughter) to take their first flight on the creance (long line).

Both were somewhat nervous about this but there comes a point where the talking's done and it's time to go for it

the exercise here is to fly 20 feet, land on the glove,jump to a thrown tidbit on the ground, then back to the glove. return to perch and repeat.

(sounds simple I know but there are a lotta moving parts and it happens pretty fast)

1st try:


coming along:





these things do happen!





here we go:



[img]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x134/utahlefty/falconry/DSC08237_zps7484fccf.jpg[/img]

perfect!


[img]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x134/utahlefty/falconry/DSC08238_zps85f70220.jpg[/img]


[img]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x134/utahlefty/falconry/DSC08233_zps5b780989.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x134/utahlefty/falconry/DSC08234_zpsbb5f70fe.jpg[/img]

this 16 week old bird and 13 year old girl have a grand total of 20 days experience between them so lets give a shout out for staying in the batter's box &knocking this one out of the park!

Way, way cool.

Nifty!

What is the end goal? IIRC I have seen hunting shows where they used falcons to go after pheasant

rabbits mostly, although these two have long enough tails to be maneuverable enough to go after pheasants & even puddle jump ducks.

U.L.,

Great post! I couldn't help but notice that as your daughter's body language in the photos became more relaxed, so did the bird's posture become more relaxed and natural. It may be one of those "chicken or egg" things but there it is.

Did the talons draw blood on her arm/shoulder?

Thanks for posting and please keep 'em coming. I've never seen falcon training before. Fascinating.

RS

That is a brave young lady. Looks like you have a winning pair.

Very cool! You and your daughter ought to be pleased with how this is progressing.

I can see the school paper now "How I spent my summer, training a falcon!"

Outstanding.

Guy

this does not pass the smell test sir

All awesome stuff,but I would like to see your daughter wearing protective eyewear.

What kind of raptor is that?

Thanks for posting some really cool pics.

she's got some superficial skin scratches but no real injuries to speak of -- 'Dora is really pretty light-footed.

as to the rest -- yeah towards the end of the session they were both relaxed, synched-up and working together. That's really a big part of the process (building trust).

It's pretty intimidating for a 100# kid to have a hungry bird with a 4-foot wingspan flying at her feet first !

I can imagination it would be intimidating to me and I am an even 200.

Beyond cool...... Please keep posting.... Would love to read a post or two from your daughter about her experience......

it's one of a pair of Harris Hawks we're training up for this hunting season

+1

I find falconry fascinating!

My 5th grade teacher / boy scout leader was a falconer, he got a peregrine the second year I knew him. Watched him fly that bird a lot bringing down pigeons, your pics bring back memories.

Good for your daughter! Though some type of arm/shoulder pad might be a good investment, lots of falconers have puncture scars. Maybe look into some paintball pads?

Neat pictures!
I have a question, Left: after you catch/trap a falcon or hawk, what makes them want to stay with you and not fly off the first time you turn them loose?

Impressive work.

There are actually two different answers to that, depending on the species.

#1) Harris Hawks. These are the only social raptor and hunt in packs in the wild. They bond tightly to their handler and want to be close. They see the falconer as a hunting partner and have a "hunting" association, not a food association. Bad behavioral stuff happens to Harris' that see the falconer as a vending machine.

#2) All other raptors. These are not social and the bond is a food-bond. They associate the falconer with food and "allow" the falconer to come along on their hunts. They become more responsive as their weight approaches ideal hunting weight. Let one loose too heavy and it won't come back!

That's really neat. You have the coolest hobbies.

awesome pictures.