This is a composite post of three different hunts. Unlike the HHs, the RT is a one-and-done affair and one usually will let the bird "crop up" on the first dozen or so kills to cement the falconer-hunt-food feedback loop.

Once she's plenty full, she's traded off the kill using a shirt or towel to cover the kill with another small meal on top to focus her attention. Later this can be done before she breaks into the pheasant if you like.

Only real downside to this is it takes her about an hour to eat, which kinda sucks when it's 12*F out....

Pics and process are really great. Love to see them and especially some of the content and thought behind training/working the birds.

twofish

Obviously her mother taught her to chew her food well before swallowing. That's a good hawk!

RS

It's getting late in the year -- they tend to get a wandering eye come springtime thermals. we're hoping to get out 3-4 more times but it may end up more like 2-3 depending on her weight -- a full crop of pheasant = 6-7 days downtime...

Fat and happy! Great pics as always.

Great pics as always UL...thanks for sharing!

Has Lily suffered any hunting scars from chasing pheasants? I recall on occasion the HHs would have some battle wounds.

she split her left hallux talon skidding on the ice, but only at the tip.

little work on the file and GTG!

when we get on rabbits next year, risk will go up compared to pheasants

Once again UL,

thanks so much for sharing this with us. Only a few of you folks left, in relative terms, and it's nice to "know" one who brings us pics and tales of successes.

Falconry Fridays are a great thing on a rainy day here in the PNW.

Geno

So, I have a question: How much interaction do you have with a bird on a given day when you're NOT out hunting? Are the birds in cages out in the garage and you step out to feed them once or twice a day? Or, are they loose in the house, sitting on the arm of your chair, begging for food and/or attention as you sit and watch TV? Something in between? Do they even want any human interaction?

Fantastic pics and story. You are the only falconer I know of.

Thanks for the Friday treat. I had a flock of turkeys roosting in some aspen trees close to my house. The other day an eagle grabbed one of the turkeys out of the roost. They have not been back.

Lily the RT lives in the basement on a 20x20 pad:



and she goes out daily to sun (called weathering)

she's not "social" like the HHs are but still has an hour of work per day, even if flying indoors for food tidbits.

the Harris Hawks live in an 8x20 heated house called a "mew" in the winter and in a 12x15x20 outdoor flight chamber in the summer.

they also hang with us indoors for about 2 hours per day.


an hour per bird per day during the off season is a good rule of thumb. that jumps up to 2-3 hours per day during the hunting season

Thanks for sharing the information !

Cooper's Hawk in the yard today. [img:center][/img]

Lefty, I always look forward to this thread every Friday. I love it, keep it coming.

Interesting stuff! Thanks!

I have always had a fascination with falconry and birds of prey in general and as a kid I always dreamed of having my own pet hawk or falcon. I never did get one.

Your posts are sure educational. For one, I had no idea how much work is involved it procuring, raising, training, and supporting a bird of prey. This is really fascinating stuff. I would have to think it's got to be some what of a leap of faith knowing that bird could just fly away after all that hard work.

Very fascinating stuff. Thanks for educating us and for all the pictures.

Very cool indeed,,
I like the jewelry on the one,

Great stuff.