HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

Go to the Wish List Forum and bump the thread for a Raptor or Birds of Prey Forum. I got kicked off a Pet forum trying to meet other falconers because I was "being offensive to all small pet owners." Yet they were all encouraging me to update how the training was going. Sorry a Falcon doesn't eat celery and sunflower seeds - but excells in hunting rabbit. So lets get a forum here for those interested in hunting with hawks, falcons, and other raptors to discuss and help each other out on their care, maintenance and training...

This is a photo of her first prey on the creance. Since she has also caught two quail. She is a Lanner Falcon form Iran (known as Wakiri):

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

Finishing off the rabbit. For those that know little about falconry - the goal is to have a falcon who can be released into the wild, get a high pitch to find prey, attack it and then wait for the falconer to come and pick her up with a morsel from the glove... the falcon catches it for the falconer and receives it's primary source of food from the glove...

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

This was her second hunt to a quail. As long as she is at a good flying weight she responds very fast. After two years of hunting vigerously in a desert - I think she is appreciating being brought to food by a falconer [8D]

The rabbit was a bit harder for her to bring down then a quail - quail she just pops the head off and it's over. Last quail she swallowed the entire head. A falcon, like most raptors eats very fast and fills a crop up before the food enters the stomach. Once in a secure area they begin to digest - and several hours later they spit up undigestable items like feathers and bone in a cast.

It is currently the offseason and she will soon begin to shed her wings (showing some signs of it now) and the day time temperature will get around 110-130. So for now, I get her prey from a local animal market - but by the late summer, early fall... she will be more than ready for free flight hunts. She is fed primarily with frozen pigeon and quail - both very nutritious. When I first got her I fed her a lot of beef steak - but she is much more submissive in training to the quail and pigeon. I hear raptors love egg yolk - but I haven't tried that yet...

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

Here is a mug shot while she is enjoying the weather with feathers ruffled and on one foot. Standing on one foot is a good sign the raptor is in good health. You need to keep at a good flying weight for a decent response during training. At the top weight, they respond to slowly... if at all. Too light though and you risk harming the bird - signs of this are lowered response and laziness (like not perching on one foot). Frequent weighing and inspection of the breast area for fullness is necessary since a raptor can drop weight rather quickly. Due to the high intelligence - general disposition is easy to determine... for mine at least. ;) Ever since I started letting her chase game, she has been very eager during the evenings to see me... during her scheduled feedings... the last few days she has been a bit vocal - almost like she is begging... and very alert.

She still needs a name too - I am horrible with names... kinda like no name is better than the wrong one [:'(] ...

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

very cool, you can count me in on that vote.


count squirrelhunter91 in also ( he's my bro)

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

I've always been intrigued at the thought of falconry , could you suggest some starting tips ? Is it an expensive venture ? Are special permits required to own Raptors ?

I'll bump you too ! :)

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

this has my vote!!! i would surely love to get into this! nice bird!

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

Very cool stuff. Great pics. Let us all know more about it. I think you have an interested audience, just not an experienced one.

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

I think that falconry is an absolutely incredible sport, and one that I've long been interested in. Unfortunately, it's a fairly exclusive venture with few practitioners, so finding a master falconer to train under isn't easy from the bit of research I've done. I also know that training and caring for a raptor requires much time and dedication, but I think the results would be worth it.

How did you acquire your falcon, if I may ask? Did you have to travel to Iran to get her?

Mike

RE: HELP - need raptor forum interests! PLZ
 

I also am intrigued by falconry. Is it very expensive to start? I am very interested in hearing more. You have my vote. Good Luck. BB