Falconry: Hunting with Harriers

[@FalconsLedge]

Though I have zero interest in Harrier hawking, I completely agree with Ben here, we should not eliminate any birds from the possibility of being used in falconry. The only reason to ban a bird from use is if they are endangered or threatened.

[@johnstwistedego1]

Makes sense to me! This seems to be a hot topic for some so I'm glad to hear experienced people giving their take.

[@Ran-vm7fu]

Howdy.. not to be argumentative, but even for endangered species, falconry has proven to be a good thing. Just look at the come back of the peregrine falcon. Sure, not always going to be the same thing, but without falconers, there might not be any peregrines now... And Ben!! Wow, what an exceptional talk on harriers. I love the idea of keeping an open mind, something I have found to be lacking in a lot of falconers. Not all, mind you. But it's really good to see you stress that. I really love your videos, thank you so much!

[@lrn_news9171]

Even threatened and endangered birds I would think that capturing an immature would actually save them as like 40% don't survive the immature phase

[@FalconsLedge]

@@lrn_news9171 80% on average for raptors

[@StoneE4]

Outstanding... I didn't expect such an in depth video so soon after making the request. Well done. 👍👍 Thanks Ben.

[@StoneE4]

Get lost spammers.

[@lanes8237]

Yeah I've lost a few ducks to Northern Harriers. I always tip my hat at such a beautiful fellow hunter. Great video. I don't falcon but your channel is very interesting.

[@keithsprague8461]

I've always been fascinated by Harrier's and curious about their potential, especially after reading some of Hamerstom's works on them. Thanks for providing your insights. You seem to have a very reasonable attitude about them, while still acknowledging their shortcomings for use in falconry.

[@2devious724]

Same here! I'm glad I wasn't alone on this.

[@mayceehash8434]

i appreciate how calm, articulate, and patient you are. i'm really inspired by the way you teach. public outreach is so important for raptor conservation, but education is something i struggle with during my raptor banding demonstrations.

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Maycee Hash thanks for your kind words. I really appreciate it!

[@johnstwistedego1]

Hi Ben! Another great video. I love that you're hitting on some topics that you won't likely get anywhere else.

[@redhawk567]

My goodness; didn't expect such beauty. My deepest regards to you. Thank you for sharing.

[@glennhynes5263]

Ben, your content is utterly fascinating. As are the voices you use for the birds. Lol thanks for all this wonderful info.

[@junebug97]

Thank you for another insightful video :) I've been asking this question forever! I've heard: "too dainty," "too small of feet," "not compatible w humans". But, I had never heard of anyone giving it a shot in N. America. Neat!

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

You did great right here! I didn't expect you to talk about the Haast Eagle here, that's quite an amazing bird! I sure wished that eagle still existed, because it would have broken boundaries in Falconry for sure! As far as Harriers go, yeah, the style of hunting is a little unorthodox, but its still interesting!

[@keerthivasannambiraju955]

The Haast eagle would have made hawking and falconry all the more risky, as this eagle grew big enough to eat a man and it would have dominated Maori culture above all others.

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

I consider myself to be a risk taker! So....lets think...this is a giant bird that could possibly eat me! Well, I better be training that bird all day and all night, if it still existed that is! If all goes well, and if I bring its weight to just slightly above its usual flying weight, I should be okay!

[@bootlegshima3126]

The ways you described hunting with them (letting them do their thing how they would in the wild and bush hawking) both sound like fun to me honestly! If I ever am in the right headspace to become a falconer, I’ll add “hunting with a harrier” to my bucket list

[@APV878]

Fascinating! I've loved Harriers since I was a kid, but I had no idea about them going towards gunshots/duck hunters. I'd have thought because of their sensitive hearing they'd fly away from the sound.

[@ndanieltx]

Fascinating hearing the dynamics and outer limits of birds that can be flown.

[@markmoore4088]

Nice video, Ben! They're cool birds. Very graceful and agile. I would be tempted to fly a male if they were legal to take from the wild in this state. There was a juvenile (passage) male that spent the fall and winter hanging out in my neighborhood, taking advantage of my sparrow and starling trapping efforts. He would follow me around hoping for a handout and actually caught a house sparrow one day, that I inadvertently flushed while heading towards my traps. He apparently left the area for the spring and summer, as I haven't seen him since late March. I hope to see him again in the fall, maybe in his new adult colors.

[@2tommyrad]

A harrier in my neighborhood scarfed up all the Goldfinches we were feeding. Well over 50 birds in about 3 months, just in my yard. Incredible hunter.

[@codydunsmuir9398]

Actually Ben New Zealand used to also have a giant harrier. It was a forest adapted bird like a goshawk. It is also debated as to whether it or the hasst Eagle went extinct first.

[@iliescusorin2055]

how is it named?

[@russellhowell4560]

@@iliescusorin2055 Eyles's harrier

[@jasongreen1774]

A friend and falconry mentor flew a broadwing hawk 20 years ago. He car-hawked it on sparrow and grackles. It was the most unpleasant hawk to be in the car with as it screamed the entire time and could hold his own in a screaming contest with a parrot Only went with him willingly one time.

[@lohikarhu734]

Really lovely birds..they have an amazing amount of wing /tail area, probably able to fly with tiny thermals. I also found the very forward-facing eyes quite interesting, it may fit with there low-level flight, with excellent depth perception for small 'targets ' .interesting video, a good 'pros and cons' approach. Thanks, always interesting, even for a 'lurker' / non-falconer ;-)

[@njfalconry]

Very informative video, thank you Ben!

[@claytonkr05]

@4:07 that answers a long time question I've had, on hunt many years ago, a hawk swooped in and caught a dove I had taken as it was falling from the air! I had no idea what bird would fly towards a gun shot!

[@Capcity44]

I don't see Northern Harriers much, but I recently got a close look at one flying. It reminded me very much of how kites fly

[@kierstencarey]

There are at least two female Harriers in the bog behind my house. I live in Newfoundland, Canada.They are so beautiful to watch. They dance and glide and I'm in love! I wish I could share a video here.

[@TakkuriHimare]

Never expected to hear about this species for falconry! Very exciting stuff.

[@summersja]

Great information, well done! I am not a falconer, but I live in the prairie and am watching a harrier on the ground right now. I was concerned that something was wrong as I have watched them hunt for some time but have never seen one sit on the ground for hours. It is February with an inch of fresh snow and cold so maybe just resting or considering a nesting site. It does not seem to be standing on prey. Anyway, thanks for the great video! 👍

[@saker147]

Hi Ben, what's your opinion on variable reward systems in falconry such as only feeding a hawk occasionally at random when it flighs to the glove?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Saker I definitely support this practice. But I also base it entirely off of the individual bird so I can adjust accordingly.some individuals that are a little more skittish, I would rather at least have a tiny piece of meat the size of a raisin rather than nothing. In that instance the variable rewards swings between a truly tiny piece of meat and a large piece rather than food or no food. But I have definitely seen the variable reward system you describe work well, especially with hawks. I use this method with my Harris hawks extensively.

[@saker147]

@@benwoodrufffalconry cheers 👍👍

[@waksukka]

I wonder if they don’t do well in giant hoods because they are more sensitive to auditory stimuli. Something a regular hood probably blocks, but the giant hood doesn’t.

[@lucyhellbroke]

Hey Ben, I'm new to your Channel as well as to falconry, but I'm really fascinated by your videos. I have a question, would there ever be an appropriate situation in which you would need to hood an owl?

[@russellhowell4560]

Very informative, I love harriers (marsh harriers being my favourite) I wish I were able to train one, but here in the UK no one breeds any type of harrier at all.

[@orphydianwildlife473]

What about the European Western Marsh harrier? Anyone used it in falconry? Do you have any footage of any Harriers being used on the hunt?

[@shaheershams2110]

Simply amazing and well explained I did few trainings on harriers pretty much has eye like an accipiter did have few success on white strokes in the swamp lands had to release it back to the area where we trapped and had to Bragg about them to the Arab falconers who thout I was crazy and it was carrion eater

[@wintermoon424]

I adored this video! I will never fly many species but I still love hearing about their biology and about how people adapt their methods to suit the physical needs and psychology of their birds. Would you ever do a video like this on kites at all? Even if not about using them in falconry if you never have, I’d still like to hear about just their biology and hunting adaptations etc if you feel you know enough and would enjoy talking about them - though understandably the messy taxonomy and arguments as to which are actually kites and which are just falsely named buzzards/other is probably tricky to work around. But you explain so much in such a fun and easy to understand way that sadly many books don’t really. Many books I have sought out in order to learn about certain raptor species have information which is hardly in depth enough, though maybe that’s my fault and I’m looking in the wrong places but I digress. I am always looking to learn more about kites because compared to other species like the buteos I know so little. We have lots of Red kites (Milvus milvus) near me where I am in Europe, not sure what kinds of kites are most common in the states, but often the most common species seem to oddly get ignored by bird books. It’s as if they’re not considered exciting enough to watchers so they don’t write much but given they’re a huge part of my country and homes wildlife and ecosystems this feels like such a shame! Them being common and maybe less gutsy or specialist than peregrines and golden eagles in how they hunt doesn’t mean they’re any less splendid in their own other ways. Much like buteos!

[@KingaKucyk]

Hi. Are long-winged harriers (Circus buffoni) allowed in falconry proffesion, as per 2022+? I found them fascinating, but there's little to no info on them online and I think Your knowledge on raptors is very extensive 👍

[@czserad]

I’m sure they are legal as long as they are captive bred, but I’ll bet no one breeds them for falconry.

[@KingaKucyk]

@@czserad ok, thank You for answer :-)

[@njfalconry]

There really isn’t any very good informative video about drone training a large long wing it be great if you could make a video about that

[@hussamqassas8603]

Everything you said in this video I watched and 100% agreed with it

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Awesome video. Great information. Crow✌️

[@Desmond17]

Hey Ben ! I'm a new fan from France and i discovered falconry during this quaratine period and kept watching videos. If i understood things right, falconeers in the UK are only allowed to use non-wild birds. Do you think it's a better way of raising a raptor rather than taking one from a nest ? Apologies if you already answered that question before. Cheers !

[@GURWINDER_RAI]

Now you can take wild peregrines!

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

AgatheLyrique both ways have their benefits and drawbacks. I have flown many birds taken from the nest from the wild, and I have also purchased many captive bred birds. I have not noticed a big difference in their performance or training. But with a wild bird their is the fun and challenge of finding a nest, researching the species, spending days observing them through scopes and becoming more aware of their world. But at the same time, there are a lot of variables. With birds in the wild you can’t always guarantee their health or gender and maybe the species you want to fly, you aren’t able to locate a nest that year. Where with captive bred birds, you can have a guarantee when you find a breeder, you know the health, you can guarantee the age, gender, know what the bird has been eating, etc. so there is good and bad with both. But again, my experience has been the training is usually pretty close. Right now I have a peregrine I pulled from a nest in 2019 and he is the sweetest bird ever! I also got a 2019 gyr from a breeder, and she is wild and mean spirited and has never fully lost a mean edge. So you just never know.

[@Desmond17]

@@benwoodrufffalconry OK i see. Thanks for the reply !

[@shaheershams2110]

Wish you do good videos on training Falcons for waiting on naturally and specially talk about transforming birds flying from fist to quarry to a waiting on style hunting as I am planning onngoung behind few sand grouse and grey francolins that are really sprint from start but land I the sage bush kinda lands in the desert where these francolins stay

[@shae899]

As a not falconer but a fan of the sport and harriers and cooper's hawks, I wonder if this species would make a good flushing partner worked together with an accipiter or harris hawk. Hmm.

[@davemyers7507]

What about the Ornate hawk eagle for hunting?

[@diegomessi8046]

Hi, I am thinking of getting into falconry, can you make a video on red-tail hawks

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Diego Messi absolutely!!! I have one scripted up and half shot. I just need to get a few more clips of video footage and I will put it together. It should be up in the next week or two, but if you don’t see it soon, just remind me.

[@diegomessi8046]

Ok and thank you

[@mikemortensen4973]

I'm not a falconer. Maybe you'll be able to tell that fact by the question I'm about to ask. Has anyone ever tried to train a Osprey to go fishing? Could it be done?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Yes! There is an amazing falconer name Kennon McLendon who has pioneered their use. He has written a book and has a website and also here is his KZbin channel. kzbin.info/door/FpAVvu_6HLiftwShWYI24Q

[@raphlvlogs271]

their adaptations are very unique

[@jamiegrieve5875]

Is this the same hen harriers that we have in the UK

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

The northern harrier of North America is nearly identical to the Hen Harrier. They are closely related enough that some scientists consider them to be subspecies of the same species. It is clear that they diverged during the Pleistocene and were free to hunt vast expanses between the old world and the new world by means of the ,now submerged, landmass of Beringia. I don’t know if DNA sequencing has been done on these species, but current taxonomy lists them as two closely related, separate species.

[@neilshirke2515]

Hey Ben please tell us about training a Black Kite

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

I sadly have not had any experience flying black kites first hand. But let me see what I can put together.

[@neilshirke2515]

@@benwoodrufffalconry It's alright. It would be very helpful if you could throw some light on it.

[@masguapoako]

*I got lucky and was able to video a Northern Harrier taking on a deer*

[@orphydianwildlife473]

I'm in Europe, do you happen to know somebody here or there that is training and hunting with the most common raptor around here the Common Buzzard Bute Buteo. I know it felt out of use with the exotic species import and their mass produce by breeders and its not the easier bird to train, neither the most agresive but hey maybe there is some falconer passionate about it😀

[@ryancook5843]

Could you do a video on sharp shinned hawks Thanks

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Ryan Cook absolutely. It may be later in the summer so I can get some nesting video footage, but it’s coming soon 👍

[@joshuahull9982]

@@benwoodrufffalconry your mollucan cockatoo is beautiful. I have an umbrella cockatoo and my mother has 2 umbrella cockatoos and a mollucan. They are insanely intelligent.

[@russellsmith1180]

We have two species of harrier in England the Marsh harrier and the hen harrier

[@lamaspacos]

Circus cyaneus at magpies... What you think?

[@markusbuelow7871]

OLD FRANK BEEBE allways talked about a Harrier × Goshawk crossbreed - he figured it be a great falconry Bird.. a waiting on Hawk ?

[@johnlefevre839]

However , been noticed on the fens , east anglia, uk

[@johnlefevre839]

Rarely seen on yhe east of the uk

[@lilithmelanthaestrella7086]

I love how you mentioned ospreys in this video and your appreciation for their hunting abilities. Even though, as you mentioned, the natural hunting style of an osprey is not very conducive to falconry, there is one German falconer, Hugo Richter, who has successfully hunted fish with an osprey. His experiences are documented in this very interesting PDF at sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/jrr/v009n03-04/p00051-p00054.pdf However, it is true that he had many resources that may not be easily available e.g. a fish pond, a large area of pond shore free from distractions and much free time to pioneer suitable techniques for manning and training the bird. So, I think that it would be best for falconers to stay open-minded about the potential of any bird of prey to be used in this sport and, as you said, fight for legal rights for the few enthusiasts each couple of years that try to train unconventional birds.

[@sauronthegreat489]

Thanks for the link!

[@BrianReplies]

Didn't I hear you say you lived in Utah?

[@BigEd931]

Harriers hunting style seems similar to the barn owl. Low and slow.

[@markmoore4088]

They are surprisingly quick and agile when they need to be. I saw a juvenile male catch a house sparrow that tried to reach a bush for safety.

[@johnlefevre839]

Always known as the marsh harrier

[@Sardonic_Cynic]

ha, harriers are like the Kiawa 'copter