Falconry: Intro to Harris Hawks

[@joshuahull9982]

Most falconers I know really love Harris hawks. They describe them as a dog in a hawks body and say that they are very easy to train because they are used to a pack lifestyle.

[@grrrit1]

As always, I enjoyed the film! Thanks Ben!

[@davemyers7507]

I love ❤️ Harris Hawk I have two of them 14 years old thanks for the viewing got my first HH in 1974 got to have one 🎉

[@saker147]

Harris hawks I've found can be fairly 'easy' for a beginner to get going flying to the glove or whatnot, but because of there intelligence they just have so much unlocked potential and if you put in loads of effort and real skill they just keep getting better with age

[@kevinparker461]

There is a true saying that many a good Harris has trained many a bad falconer. The birds intelligence can be a double edged sword.

[@karelcardet588]

Thank you for your videos, they are very enlightening.

[@beefboy9500120953]

I'm just starting to get into this journey and will 10000 per cent be getting a Harris hawk for my first bird. From everything I'm reading and listening to it sounds like the perfect bird to fan the flame and enhance the passion of a new falconer. Then as my confidence, experience and knowledge grows ill work my way towards more challenging birds. I see no use in having the difficulty Diminish as you progress. to me that's a sure way to dampen the satisfaction and reward from the sport? I can imagine getting your first bird and it being so hard to work with it puts you off.

[@gregoryh4601]

Thanks Ben for the lesson on the Harris Hawk. In my State I have to catch a Redtail Hawk first as Apprentice. I also work at a Rehab Center for the Birds of Prey to get some more training. God Bless and take Care. Greg of Ohio

[@2devious724]

Such unique and intelligent hawks. I'd love to work with them someday.

[@captcan78]

They are very often used by falconers even here in Europe. I was just wondering about the Milvus genus and if it is suitable for falconry. It rarely can be seen in captivity, even though red kites are very common in central Europe. Such beautiful birds!

[@forkehausfalconry]

Love your videos!

[@MalkyMcCallum]

the one at 0:30 has some cool markings, never seen one like it

[@PRE-Hengstede]

Very informative video and some new information for me, even after going through the "standard" literature on HHs. Thanks!

[@PegasusFleets]

Super !!

[@CROTNIK-yu4mq]

Hi ben, nice video, I think that I have nice theme for next video, It is about meeting two birds of prey, Im really confused about that one,thanks!

[@kieranpickavance2584]

2 years on and I greatly appreciate your time, I have been really wanting a harrises (is that the correct spelling?) hawk for my first bird, I have been researching them for the last few years and I still feel I need more knowledge before I get mine, thank you.

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

There's some interesting details that I didn't realize about Harris Hawks! One of the things you mentioned was that Harris Hawks could perch on your head or even your bare hands. You wouldn't have to worry about this hawk suddenly putting pressure on you with its talons, just as long as it is not in "hunting" mode of course. The fact that a Harris Hawk doesn't want to harm you shows your importance to the pack, and without you, this hawk can't hunt as effectively unless it finds another hawk! At the 15:10 mark, I heard something really surprising, something that I never thought was possible to do with any bird of prey. That was putting the hawk under your coat when it's extremely cold outside! Even though you aren't cuddling and snuggling with this hawk, you sure are giving this hawk a chance to feel your heartbeat on your chest! That's close enough to snuggling to me! Haha!

[@maltorspaltor]

Great video. I have heard once that Harris' Hawks do grab each others feet to show dominance. Can you confirm that? I was wondering if that wrapping your hand around the claw to warm them could be misinterpreted...

[@lohikarhu734]

Well, what a nice video, informative and interesting...the story about the pheasant, and the cold-weather behaviours that you can use, really bring out the idea of some kind of real intelligence in these birds...maybe the socialization over centuries has allowed their brains to develop in these directions, like more "trusting", like getting into a jacket, which would probably freak out a lot of them, without a lot of training. Sounds like you find something to love about *most* raptors! Any "un-favourites' ?

[@Catastromech413]

Hi Ben, Love the content. Would you consider doing a video on RHDV-2 which is spreading across the Southwest US right now? I would love to hear your take on the disease and what it means for the future of dirt hawking and the merit of Red-Tailed Hawks as apprentice birds in areas where squirrels aren’t readily available.

[@jamescharles6296]

Hi Ben - I had a buzzard 20 years or so ago - would like to eventually move on to a Goshawk, what would you suggest a Harris or a Red Tail?

[@Two_Buck]

Love your videos so much great information. As a wannabe falconer I am so amazed by the sport. I have never tried it because I know it is a serious sport which takes commitment and responsibility and I would never take it lightly. Maybe some day. I've always wondered about maybe just tagging along with a falconer just to be amazed. Do falconers welcome this or are they usually not interested?

[@stevengeary4261]

Hi Ben, how about an intro to Red-tail Hawks, especially for the growing band of UK Reds.

[@beatajarosz2314]

I do have a question, if I may : do you know why the Harris hawk could have a moist casting pellets? Nothing wrong with the bird, flying, hunting, very active, good appetite, faeces fine, but from 2 days the casting pellets are moist, and not formed, normal colour, not smelly and not slimy. I can't find any info regarding this, did you come across similar situation?

[@junchan_3200]

Yeah I am the people who only want to fly Harris hawk but I would try to learn other how raptors like.

[@jameslowery9879]

Really debating getting one but don’t know what would be best to house it in, and how many times you need to hunt or fly them to get them out/exercised and stop them becoming unhealthy? Would I need to get 2 because they aren’t solitary or will it learn to live alone?

[@junchan_3200]

I saw on the internet someone selling micro Harris’s hawk but I could not find any information about that. Do you happen to have any clue what that bird is?

[@kevinparker461]

Probably means the Peruvian Harris hawk, Males are around 1lb & Females around 1lb 8 - 10 oz

[@junchan_3200]

kevin parker Thanks！

[@D4ni3lS4nk3]

Hi Ben, thanks for the vid, could you talk about the different subspecies of harris hawks?, I have Heard that there is the northern harris, the southern or peruvian harris, and the mithical superior harris, when training and hunting is the same whith all of those? Are there significant differences? I haven't been able to find much info about this

[@trevorgorman4844]

I have a vocal Harris hawk ☹ I bred two Harris Hawks this year, they hatched one day apart in May 2021, one is quite vocal most of the time. What can I do reduce or eliminate this behaviour ? Please help

[@ornithologydude8649]

I will be getting a harris hawk next hunting season

[@shaneshac]

they are awesome birds. Mine will sit on top of a bush and chirp if a rabbit is in there waiting for me to flush it for them. my female will also wag her tail hard when she spots a hare in its form. Cannot fault them

[@Aaron65444]

Do you believe Harris Hawks have a language? Like crows or other intelligent birds? Are other raptors social, to any degree, outside of their mate or young or is this unique to the Harris Hawk?

[@timmccarthy3034]

VERY INTERESTING INFORMATIVE FILM.....THANKS...... Your vids should be required view by law for all apprentice falconers.....I have come across falconers, in my FB groups, like the falconers from Vietnam, which I joined, because I want to know all about what they fly there, the forest eagles, and hawks, (AMAZING)....and I see that they have no laws, no apprentice programs, etc, so , it's just folks getting birds, and trying to see all on their own, how they do , and at times, it turns out very badly, so I try to offer my own advice, to help them....Laws are there to protect the birds, and see they are well cared for, so the same is true in the UK , too...no permits required, no laws, nothing, just buy a bird, and go for it......and that is not good in my opinion...USA has the best laws for falconry, and I AM SO GLAD I LEARNED falconry there...... Uniquely, I started out at 12 yrs old.....flying RTH's illegally, for 4 yrs until I got my license, ( I just couldn't stand to wait 4 MORE LONG yrs, when I discovered falconry.....as a kid) but I had the master falconers in my area to guide me all through the time I was flying my birds..Without them, it would have been a disaster........I have a question for you, regarding Golden Eagles, my buddy in the USA has a newly trapped 2 yr old , female, and she is bating a LOT , like after each time she eats a little food from his glove, she bates......and he doesn't know what to do...What can you say about that?..I'd like to offer some advice, but I only have very limited experience with Goldens...as the one I was working with was not mine, I was just helping a buddy out with his new one .....at the first.....and he didn't have this bating problem........so I don't know what to tell him really....My experience is mostly with RTH's.....and I know Goldens are QUITE different, than RTH's..... and can be tricky.....

[@SlackActionBumble]

Since Harry's Hawks are so gregarious and pack oriented - can they be trained to get along with a dog or even hunt together with a dog? Obviously this would involve training the dog as well. Also, can they accept multiple humans? Like, if me and my wife got one to share, can we both take him out hunting?

[@lukeskywalker4989]

I only use a hh myself but they are easily trained to work with dogs and even ferrets.

[@huntershopene4312]

Harris's hawks are the Labradors of falconry🤣

[@russellsmith1180]

Just like to say about buzzards x Harris hawks been lucky enouth to see one of these offspring hunting in the wild thay are like a supercharged buzzard much faster in flight than a common buzzard and same sort off colouring as a common buzzard but got the white rump off the Harris bit lighter than the brown off the buzzard but you could tell instantly in the speed of the flight that its no normal buzzard never c it catch anything but the speed of the flight was more goshawk like .

[@stewgordon9291]

Come on Ben do a video on common buzzards. I've been told that if you can train and hunt a buzzard you would be most the way there training you a eagle

[@TheQuestingBeastSpotted]

It's completely bizarre to me that Harris's Hawks are not a legal falconry bird in my area. Our legislation is... quirky. Only non-native hawks in the tribe "Accipitrinae" are legal here, plus the native Red Tail, Swainson's, Goshawk, Cooper's and Sharpies. Don't even get me started on the falcon rules lol

[@jackkrell4238]

If I may ask, where are you located?

[@bigjacks420]

The thing that made falconry what it is today is.......... digital scales. Everyday is a school day people

[@masonvoogt8353]

canada geese*

[@jacygreen9520]

Harris hawk will fly for anyone as long as tge grater good is employed ok the priblems is people have there favright and falconry is a life style much more than a hobby and what I want and incorage is harmony and all raptors have atrabutes that set them apart from eachother that fact will never change of any introduce species ok but battle feild test remain and respect will be the last men and women standing of all species.