MY FALCONRY WEB PAGE

"It's WABBIT SEASON!"

"It's DUCK SEASON!"

What is Falconry?

Falconry is classified as an art and as a sport. The art and sport of training birds of prey or "raptors", mainly falcons & hawks, for hunting. The main objective of the "falconer" is to train a "raptor" to return to the "fist" or "glove" when called, and then to train the bird to hunt with, or for the falconer. Falconry is called a sport because it is a type of legalized hunting, highly supervised and licensed by the Federal and individual State governments. Falconry is also referred to as an art because of the Falconer's interaction with the bird. The bird's behavior, is based on that interaction with the "Falconer". Falconry has a recorded history dating as far back as 6000 BC. For me, it started when I was a young child, always loving birds and Ornithology and wanting to own a falcon or a hawk. Forty one years later, it became a reality for me, a lifelong dream come true, thanks to my sponsor Rick Tobin and my lifelong friends and fellow falconers Mark & Laura Westman and Bill Ahern.

Dusty and I give "Thanks" to all who "beat the bushes" for that elusive cottontail...

HAWKIN' PARTY !

L.-R. Bill Ahern, Mark Westman, Laura Westman, Rick Tobin & son Sean holding Gonzo-A Jack Russell terrier (The best rabbit dog on earth!), with "Lozen" (Red-tailed), "Montu" (Red-tailed) & "Doc" (Harris). Photo by John Sims.

MY FIRST RAPTOR, "DUSTY"

"DUSTY", A passage hen Red-tailed Hawk trapped October 17, 1998; 6:30 P.M. @ 1354 grams (47.85 oz., 3.0 lbs.), now 11 times intermewed.

"DUSTY" - The RED-TAILED HAWK

The Red-tailed Hawk species (Buteo jamaicensis) is the most likely to be seen throughout North America. It has obtained the highest population of any raptor species in North America. Since this bird of prey can readily adjust to human environments, they are often found nesting or hunting within highly civilized areas.

A Red-tailed Hawk stands between 18-25" and the wing measurements average 337-396mm tip to tip for the male, while females average from 370-427mm. Average weight for male is 1,028g, and the average female is 1225g. Some females can obtain 1500g. The female (hen) Red-tailed Hawk is more desirable in falconry to some, based on her larger size, and is quite capable of taking game such as pheasant, ducks and small to medium mammals, but the male (tiercel) is used as well as they have slightly more speed.

The Red-tailed hawk has a large wingspan, over four feet, and has a short tail. It soars on wide, flat or slightly raised wings. Seen from below it is light-colored, and a dark belly band is usually present. It flies with a deep flap; that is, its wings flap strongly, moving well below and above the body.

The Red-tailed Hawk is often flown by the "apprentice" falconer. The Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Red-shouldered Hawk are usually the first raptors allowed by law for the apprentice falconer to obtain and train. However, the Red-tailed Hawk is one of the great hunting birds of all time, and many very experienced falconers continue to fly them regardless of their falconry status as a "first" bird.

The Red-tailed Hawk is fairly easy to train, and once trained, it is very cooperative. They are also very hardy, and do not die or get sick as easily as other raptors. In fact, many falconers are still flying their first Red-tailed hawk in addition to their other birds. I plan to keep "Dusty" for a long, long time as she has shown me that she is a fantastic and well-dispositioned bird of prey. Here is a good picture of "Dusty" looking for quarry to chase just 5 weeks after trapping her!

Many falconers decide to stay with the Red-tailed Hawk, even though they can acquire or trap a different species (Goshawk, Cooper's Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Harris hawk, Peregrine Falcon, etc). They obviously decide to stay with "the best". The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the best birds of prey, and many falconers know this. These pictures of "Dusty" are when she was still in her "immature" plumage which is sometimes equal to that of the typical adult except for the reddish tail and a sometimes lighter colored eye.

"Dusty" and her new home

Dusty checking out her new surroundings and her mew

"Manning" Dusty

The training begins with "manning" the bird, which consist of the steps that must be taken toward getting the hawk accustomed to you and its new surroundings. You, and everything around you, have to be accepted by the hawk, and you are only trusted as a loyal provider of food. That's it, nothing more, nothing less (well, maybe less!). This is accomplished by offering the bird quality food, combined with lots of patience. Once the hawk is "manned", and has gotten somewhat accustomed to its new surroundings and equipment (i.e., hood, anklets, jesses, bells, leash, perch, mews, etc.), and will readily feed from your "fist" or "glove", the serious training can begin. The hawk now must learn to come to only you for food. This is done by the "reward" system. With the hawk bound to a tether called a "creance" and perched on a post or your sponsor's glove, you hold a fresh piece of raw meat in your gloved fist so the hawk can see it. At first it will probably only come for a very short distance, maybe only stepping onto the glove at first, but in a few days you will be able to increase the distance to about 50-100 yards. When the bird flys this far to you without any hesitation, the hawk is ready to be flown free at the quarry, usually small game.

DUSTY as a Passage Hen

Hunting rabbits in the Cane Fields

The business end of a Raptor

Continuing to bond with Dusty

Looking for Rabbits in the Sugar Cane Fields

From that point on, the training of "short wings" (accipiters), "broad wings" (true hawks and buzzards) and "long wings" (falcons) differ greatly. If the bird is caught in the wild, hunting can soon begin as the bird already knows how to hunt, but if the hawk is captive bred or taken as a nestling it is not quite as easy. They must be taught to hunt. When a "short wing" is about ready to be introduced to "quarry", a "long wing's" training is not yet complete. Depending on the quarry you want to fly the bird at, training continues in either of two ways. Either the bird must gain condition and agility from chasing a "lure" which resembles the quarry, in order to be able to pursue quarry in long flights from the fist, or if it's flying game you're after, such as ducks, quail, etc., the falcon must learn to "wait-on" high above the falconer until the game is flushed and the falcon can "stoop" at it. Some falconers use both methods for their game hawks. Some "hawkers" train their birds to "follow" them, flying from tree to tree, if available, waiting for the quarry to flush to begin the chase. This is how I have trained "Dusty" as the environment she hunts in readily allows this practice of "following". She loves to chase rabbits, quail, ducks and especially squirrels.

So...you want to be a Falconer? CLICK HERE AND READ THIS FIRST!

Janet Gill, Talon Westman, Myself & Mark Westman after a nice day in the field hunting with Mark's bird "Lozen", a hen Red-tailed Hawk

Dusty's Mews (Made to easily protect her, clean, break down and transport if required)

A "Gyrfalcon" in a stoop, going after a Ring-necked duck in a flock. The falcon has already chosen her prey from the hundreds of ducks in the flock, usually choosing the slowest, sick or injured quarry.

Me, Janet, Rick Tobin (my Sponsor), Marina, Ed, Mark & Talon getting ready to go hawking

DUSTY taking a sun bath and relaxing...

Dusty in "Yarak"

Click here to learn more about...

Utilizing GPS (Global Positioning Satellite System) and Radio Telemetry to find your bird

This was my "QSL" card when I first got involved with CB radio ("Falcon" is my handle, Call sign KYU-4772, Sugar Poppa 46, So. East Florida 578) in my youth, around 13 years old.

and here is a T-shirt I had hand painted in my youth...(I wish it would still fit me!)

Northern Goshawk (My next bird)

THE MOST MAJESTIC AND WIDELY KNOWN RAPTOR