Falconry: Disciplining birds of prey?

Many animals can be trained in a way that involves discipline. Is this true in falconry? This video discusses the topic and shares some good training practices.

[@carmz0r]

Hi Ben, I just stumbled across your channel this week and have probably spent close to 20 hours watching you and other falconers with an interest on falconry. I am very much enjoying these talking to the camera and giving your personal experiences and sharing what has worked for you as well as considering mentality of birds you have worked with in the past. I live in Utah myself and I briefly started to research state regulations on the sport and was wondering if there was any resource or points of advice you'd give someone who is interested in falconry, but not sure where to go to truly learn more about the permit process, finding a sponsor, what kind of living conditions you the human should take into account before trying to "pull the trigger" on falconry. I would love to hear from you if at all possible or if you have a "If you are considering falconry, consider these things" type of video that I have missed, from the perspective of someone who is not even an apprentice but wants to know more. Thanks much for the awesome content!

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

TPA Willy let me see the best way. Definitely good to check out the website “the modern apprentice “ I also have an online falconry course. But let me see if I can make a new video on this subject as well.

[@ThatGuyFromNantucket06]

Thanks for putting out these videos. I'm waiting for this nonsense to be over and finding a sponsor finally.

[@micahswett2505]

you and me both

[@ThatSocratesguy]

Well did both of you find any?

[@ThatGuyFromNantucket06]

@@ThatSocratesguy Still haven't. And after having a first child I have to put the whole thing on hold for a few years.

[@dorianneelliott5545]

Ben, your content is fantastic! I am a falconer and a veterinarian and this video particularly is so important to get out there! Thank you.

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Dorianne Elliott thanks I appreciate it! I’ll have a new one up later today about aggression and what to do if you get footed

[@harrishawkhunter]

Ben your such a massive inspiration in my falconry helped me so much over last few years of watching your channel thank u 🙏

[@pakcanhunter]

Man. This guy is a legend.

[@jantirpak7902]

Hi Ben a very good processed video in which you explain the hunger of calming the bird of prey. Everything works falconry hood, darkroom and water. The falconer should still have some of it with him. I have water in my car. I have a dark chamber at home.

[@LJ-yq9cx]

As always, insightful. Thank you!

[@rogerpirestv]

Olá, Ben. Gostei demais deste vídeo. Obrigado por compartilhar.

[@footedan1973]

Great information!!!!!! Incredible useful in the skills and information in teaching and interacting with humans too. Understanding that like donkeys if they dont understand the point of coming here , they just might not, do it, and that will be your learning session for the day, where you get to learn that they said no . PATIENCE AND RESPECT have to be at the fundamental level of all relationships human or animal. Even the good parents with good intentions go off the path by clouding the difference between disciple and punishnment, and not trying to use both sides of the "hammer" of punishment, positive and negative rewards.

[@TheSilkyPickle]

This is hugely genius stuff

[@RevMarket]

Thanks

[@jgrave10]

Hi Ben, Would you please discuss bird aggression; specifically attacks to the face? Are they talons and beak? sustained or unstained? more common with eagles? causes/management strategies... Much thanks!

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Scott thanks for the suggestion. I am editing as we speak a video on what to do if you get footed. I will have it up in an hour or so

[@jgrave10]

@@benwoodrufffalconry Wow, Thank You!

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

I almost thought I was going to find out of a type of negative reinforcement that works on birds of prey! So far, none exists. You did explain what I could do to encourage them to achieve more positive behavior with me. I skipped 7 - 8:20 in the video. I'm light years away from that method! But as for the 2nd method of using the water spray bottle, I'm all for it as weird as you think that method is. You know what's funny, my grandma has a dog that actually hated being sprayed. Its the exact opposite with birds of prey! Who would've known! I do somewhat wonder, if thousands of years ago, if people just gave birds of prey a chance by choosing them as our protector instead of dogs, maybe....just maybe, we could have helped them evolve differently by making them think like us. It would be a steady change, but it may not come even close because of fact that birds think differently than mammals. Since we are mammals just like dogs, it became clear that it would be way easier to get them to think like us!

[@coffeehugger]

I love this KZbin channel. If you will answer a question , what does the falconer do if the bird continues to panic, for example, on the glove? You use dogs as a good example, but also possibly would be similar to horses in which a single traumatic event will cause a trigger of escalating behavior based in avoidance. Maybe what humans call PTSD? This can be extremely hard to reverse. Please tell us if this is true of raptors you have ever worked with.

[@gregoryh4601]

Hi Ben : Thanks again for this video it will come in play when I get my first Bird. Ben when building a Mew may I line the inside of the Mew with Red Cedar wood? Will it be save for the Birds of Prey?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

gregory h red cedar wood should be fine for the walls. I would still paint over them as well if you can. Makes it easier to wash them down. But in the flooring, DONT use cedar park or cedar wood chips. These can harbor aspen spores that can kill your bird. I prefer pea gravel for the flooring.

[@doberchic]

Coming from dog world quickly learn that if my dog isn't doing what is asked it's a failure on my part, not the dog, barring genetic temperament issues(e.g. some breeds are just going to bark A LOT as a default). No one should assume a relationship with a companion animal is a just open the box situation.

[@mohammedalialbalushi7190]

Thankyou for the content

[@paulmilburn5855]

Hi Ben, we have a juvenile female Harris, that we’re trying to man down, but she’s not very friendly. She is quite footy and grips to the glove with real determination when trying to man. She bates a lot from the glove, and screams in your ear. We tried the same processes with her as with our older male. But she’s not appearing to be as receptive. Just wondering if it’s a case of slowing things down with her, and more hands on approach or weather it’s a learnt behaviour that we’re not able to overcome. Your video suggests a hood to try and calm their stress levels when anxious? Do you think we should try that? Your thoughts on this would be very much appreciated. Reg paul

[@ansiilvk7253]

How did it go with your hawk?

[@ThatSocratesguy]

Yeah would be nice to get an update on her? Were you her first owner btw? Or was she a second hand?

[@zooceta]

Very interesting video. I would like to ask you something... I have work with a vulture that tends to bite a lot, especially to new handlers. Some of my coworkers suggested to slap the vulture (not very aggressively, just a small slap) whenever she bites to stop the habit... He said it worked for him as the vulture doesn't bite him in particular anymore... I am a bit more in disagree with the use of positive punishment but as my knowledge about birds of prey is lower I would rather check out other people opinions about it... So what is yours?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Is it an old world vulture or a new world vulture?

[@zooceta]

@@benwoodrufffalconry it is a turkey vulture so new world vulture

[@ThatSocratesguy]

Zooceta could you answer please I am curious to Bens answer too

[@BJ_Andrews]

Do these “coping mechanisms” (for lack of a better word) work for footing as well? Thanks!

[@nielsfieldherping7340]

Hey Ben, can a mature adult wild bird be manned like a yearling passage bird?

[@johnkersey3460]

Good talk ( look on fasebook for Brian Ruppell - your twin in many ways.

[@robertcorradi8573]

👍👍👍👍