Falconry Video : Red_tail hunting

So many on here have expressed intrest in falconry I decided to post a video I shot at a falconry picnic of ours. It has some great flights and you can see how hard a red-tail works.

WARNING: this is a Red-tail hunting squirrels, it is not graphic but it does show a squirrel getting caught by the red-tail ( this happens everyday in the wild, now the red-tail is hunting with humans instead of by itself)...please do not download it if you are going to be offended...

Now back to the video... you can DL it HERE

It is mixed to KORN's "blind" :headbang:..

I hope you all enjoy it...I hope it gives you an idea of how awesome raptors are.

Downloading away i love watching raptors hunt :rockon:

How can any one not be interested? Its an awsome sport. I like it especially because you have to be very good and comitted and if you arent every one knows about it. Its not for people who dont have the utmost respect for their animals.

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Originally Posted by steveo

Downloading away i love watching raptors hunt :rockon:

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Steveo, i See you are in the UK.. falconry is 100X more popular there than here. It is such a quet sport and I dont know Why. I guess due to the fact of all of the red tape you have to get through to get a license here in the states. Are you a falconer?

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Originally Posted by Cl@!r3

How can any one not be interested? Its an awsome sport. I like it especially because you have to be very good and comitted and if you arent every one knows about it. Its not for people who dont have the utmost respect for their animals.

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Claire, I agree 100%. It takes devotion and determination to get the birds to be trained right... there is a fine line you are running when the birds is hunting. You could easily lose them or get hurt yourself.

It is great to see that you know how much it takes, you will do great when you finally get one. I will never forget the first Red-tail i trapped. It was amazing and I still get the same rush today

Very cool video Chris! :sweeet: We have lots of Redtails around us and I never get tired of watching them.

yeah its a big sport over here
as for myself sadly im not a falconer.....yet :) im seriously thinking over taking up a falconly course in the future thou , ive heard Harris Hawks and EEO's are great to start out with :) alot of people i know have Birds of Prey alot of them take the larger birds out to hunt foxes and rabbits especially the Eagle owls

THAT WAS SO COOOOOOL!!! Totally gave me goose bumps!!!! :eek:

Amazing video, please feel free to share more vids or still photo's of these amazing bird of prey. I love how they use their wings to cover the prey. I was amazed that Luna allowed her handler to come close and touch her prey and herself like that....truly an amazing bond of trust between bird and falconer. :)

that was the coolest thing i think i've ever seen. but how do you control the bird in the sense that you know its not gonna just up and take off and you will never see it again. thats the part the confuses me.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Amazing video, please feel free to share more vids or still photo's of these amazing bird of prey. I love how they use their wings to cover the prey. I was amazed that Luna allowed her handler to come close and touch her prey and herself like that....truly an amazing bond of trust between bird and falconer. :)

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indeed it is franky a very special one at that :cool:

truely amazing video Sevo

just curious.... do they bring the prey to you or just go aheaad and eat it?

Thank you so much for sharing Chris. That was a truly amazing video. I'd love to see some still shots too. :yes: I can't tell ya how much I appreciate your sharing your love of these beautiful animals.

Huntin' bushy-tails huh Chris? Not much of that here in Utah, probably because there aren't many trees :rolleyes: , lots and lots of bunnies though. Has any of your birds ever had a bad bite from one? Do you use chaps? I love watching RTs chase squirrels, it is just so much different than chasing rabbits. Thanks for posting that!

-Evan

cool vid , awesome flying....had a work colleague who flew Harris Hawk a whiles back...stunning to watch the two of them ' work '... most peeps dont understand the dedication that is involved...thanks for sharing ....long may your primary's flourish my friend !

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Originally Posted by Monty

that was the coolest thing i think i've ever seen. but how do you control the bird in the sense that you know its not gonna just up and take off and you will never see it again. thats the part the confuses me.

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Training a raptor in short is just training the bird to ALLOW the falconer to be a part of the hunt, and to help the bird gain confidence on they prey type that you would like to hunt. The bird learns that it can be more successful to hunt with the falconer, and that if all attempts fail it will still get fed at the end of the day, unlike in the wild. That being said, it is not a guarantee that you will go home with your bird after every hunt, as they have the freedom to fly away any time they want to.

Here is one of the most amazing examples I've ever seen of how well trained some raptors can be (not to mention their amazing eyesight) :

I was out with a fellow falconer flying his male gyrfalcon/merlin hybrid and hunting grouse. The bird missed the prey on the initial stoop (dive), and it started a tail chase (which can go for miles sometimes). It was almost a mile away and looking like the grouse was going to live another day before it's trainer pulled out the lure and began swinging away. It IMMEDIATELY turned around and flew back to him, got a tid-bit, and was ready to go again.

There is nothing quite like hunting with a BOP. I've never hunted any other way :D .

-Evan

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Originally Posted by Laooda

THAT WAS SO COOOOOOL!!! Totally gave me goose bumps!!!! :eek:

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Laura, that is what I feel evertime I take my birds out... I am glad the video gives you the same buzz it gives me

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Amazing video, please feel free to share more vids or still photo's of these amazing bird of prey. I love how they use their wings to cover the prey. I was amazed that Luna allowed her handler to come close and touch her prey and herself like that....truly an amazing bond of trust between bird and falconer. :)

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Joanna, Thank you for the compliments. Here is what will blow you away about luna, She was a wild Red-tail 2 months befor that video. The art of falconry is taking wild raptors and manning them down to hunt with you. It shows you the bond you must create with them. At first the bird want nothing to do with you, but then they learn your not going to hurt them and you are a constant source of food. I will get some more picture up soon. I have not forgotten about the peregrines.. I have a suprise for you:sunny:

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Originally Posted by steveo

indeed it is franky a very special one at that :cool:

truely amazing video Sevo

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Steveo,
Thank you.. It took me a while to edit the video but i thought it came out OK. I am happy everyne is enjoying it

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Originally Posted by python.princess

just curious.... do they bring the prey to you or just go aheaad and eat it?

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No, they really dont. Some times you get lucky and it happens right in front of yo9u, but for the most part you have to go to them. The main reason is that squierrel is doing its best to bite the Red-tail.. so as they are gliding down they are tradding off bites and talons between each other so all of their effoort is into dispatching their prey. A squirrel can bite right through a hawks talons.. they are evil little suckers


Thank you again to everyone. I have to say, I love watching the hawks but if you will watch the video again and pay attention to the squirrel you will see the determination and tenacity those guys have. I have seen them jump from trees as high as three stories to get away and just keep on running. They really are amazing as well.

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

Thank you so much for sharing Chris. That was a truly amazing video. I'd love to see some still shots too. :yes: I can't tell ya how much I appreciate your sharing your love of these beautiful animals.

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Christie,
No problem.. I really love sharing my passion. I am so happy it has been so well received. i was worried at first but it is great to see all of those that truley are enjoying the birds. More pictures to come.. I have a computer full of them. :D

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

Huntin' bushy-tails huh Chris? Not much of that here in Utah, probably because there aren't many trees :rolleyes: , lots and lots of bunnies though. Has any of your birds ever had a bad bite from one? Do you use chaps? I love watching RTs chase squirrels, it is just so much different than chasing rabbits. Thanks for posting that!

-Evan

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Evan, man we are loaded with them. See I am so used to it I would kill for a great rabbit flush.. we have to work so hard for rabbits.. briars up to your neck.. its a royal pain. The ol bushy tail is the game of choice around here.

I have had my bird get bitten, but nothing to lose a talon or toe. I dont fly chaps as I fly my birds pretty naked. I figure their talons are like a surgeons hands. He doesn't wear heavy gloves to operate as he will not have any control or proprioception.. I figure the same with my birds. It is a heated debate around the south weather to fly chaps or not.. my hypothesis is holding so far.

I will be moving to Texas in about 3 years. That is a falconers dream, as the game is endless. Quail, dove, ducks, rabbits, bushy-tails, jacks, pheasants..it is endless.

.. tyhe best falconry and be near VPI.. i think i would be in heaven

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

Training a raptor in short is just training the bird to ALLOW the falconer to be a part of the hunt, and to help the bird gain confidence on they prey type that you would like to hunt. The bird learns that it can be more successful to hunt with the falconer, and that if all attempts fail it will still get fed at the end of the day, unlike in the wild. That being said, it is not a guarantee that you will go home with your bird after every hunt, as they have the freedom to fly away any time they want to.

Here is one of the most amazing examples I've ever seen of how well trained some raptors can be (not to mention their amazing eyesight) :

I was out with a fellow falconer flying his male gyrfalcon/merlin hybrid and hunting grouse. The bird missed the prey on the initial stoop (dive), and it started a tail chase (which can go for miles sometimes). It was almost a mile away and looking like the grouse was going to live another day before it's trainer pulled out the lure and began swinging away. It IMMEDIATELY turned around and flew back to him, got a tid-bit, and was ready to go again.

There is nothing quite like hunting with a BOP. I've never hunted any other way :D .

-Evan

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Evan,
great post .. that really does sum it up.

wow thanks for the explination. i've always been interested in BOP's the first time i ever seen one i was going some where with my parents and i seen a perigrin falcon flying over head awesome site. and one of my fav bop's. i train conures and other big birds but never looked into the raptors. but ill leave that to you guys and the other experts im happy with my conures and my parrots.

and that red tail is beautiful btw.

MORE PICS!!!!!!:)

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Originally Posted by Sevo

I will be moving to Texas in about 3 years. That is a falconers dream, as the game is endless. Quail, dove, ducks, rabbits, bushy-tails, jacks, pheasants..it is endless.

.. tyhe best falconry and be near VPI.. i think i would be in heaven

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Cool.. sounds good because that's what I'm planning on doing too.. lol

What bird(s) do you fly now? I'd love to take up falconry when I move to Texas.. how much time do you spend a week with your birds? (I work full time.. not sure I'd be able to do it..)

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Cool.. sounds good because that's what I'm planning on doing too.. lol

What bird(s) do you fly now? I'd love to take up falconry when I move to Texas.. how much time do you spend a week with your birds? (I work full time.. not sure I'd be able to do it..)

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Shelby,
Where about in Texas were you thinking of living? I need to head out there to see what are I like best. I would like around 500 acres. Land is not to expensive, we will see.

This year I will fly a harris hawk or maybe a cast of them and one of my gos hawks. Kind of depends on what i feel like. Hrris hawks are so easy to fly. My North American Gos is tempermental.

In the off season (the moult/breeding) I dont spend much time at all. Just feeding and amking sure they are healthy. I inspect them about once a week. Now during hunting season it is different. any free time I get I am hunting with them or just taking them for some free flights ( but i am not married nor do I have children)

It is ok if you work a full time job. Most of us do. You just have to find a balance... What you can do is try it. If you feel like you cant devote the time then release the bird and put falconry on the back burner until you have more time. Many of us have had to do that a time or two. Then when you feel you have time get back into it. Falconry does take a a lot of time, but the reward is worth any sacrifice I have ever made for it.

Contact your local falconry club and go on a few outings with. See what you think of it.

Evan, whats your take on it?

Dont hesitate to contact me if you have any questions...

Well said Chris! During the hunting season, consistent hunting, exercise, and close weight management (more so with the smaller birds) can take a fair amount of time. I am lucky enough to be able to drive about 5 minutes from my house to hunt rabbits, and even hunted sparrows and starlings in my back yard with my kestrel, but some falconers drive for hours every weekend to hunt certain game. I think the time factor depends highly on what bird(s) you are flying at the time, and what game you are going for. I am married, and have a lot of other stuff going on, and I still found time to go out almost every day and fly my bird this past season. To give you an idea, I spent more time with my bird last winter than with caring for all my snakes and rodents combined, but it is time well spent!! :D

-Evan

Thanks for the info Chris.

I'm planning on moving to the general vicinity of San Antonio.. or maybe Austin.

How many years have you been doing falconry? Are you a general or master class falconer? (you mention possibly flying three birds which if I remember correctly is only allowed for master class falconers..?)

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

To give you an idea, I spent more time with my bird last winter than with caring for all my snakes and rodents combined, but it is time well spent!! :D

-Evan

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Evan, that is spot on.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Thanks for the info Chris.

I'm planning on moving to the general vicinity of San Antonio.. or maybe Austin.

How many years have you been doing falconry? Are you a general or master class falconer? (you mention possibly flying three birds which if I remember correctly is only allowed for master class falconers..?)

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Shelby,
I have been a falconer for about eight years. I am a general class falconer. You are correct about classes and the numbers one can fly; but, I have a propigation permit as well. So I can transfer birds on and off my prop permit. See my breeder birds are also my falconry birds, right now I have zero birds on my falconry permit as they are all breeding. So what ever I want to fly I just transfer those birds to my Falconry permit. You also get two replacement birds per year ( wild or captive hatched). I could not fly the cast and then go fly the gos... that would be more than 2 birds on my falconry permit, but I can take a harris off and then put a gos on it as I have the ability to have replacements... I hope I explained that so it makes sence.

hope this helps

Ah.. yeah that makes sense.