Falconry: New perspective on socializing raptors

This falconry video discusses a new perspective on socializing birds of prey. In my videos I teach and am an advocate of socializing and acclimating raptors for the health, safety, and psychological well being and wellness of both the bird and the trainer. On a recent camping trip that I just returned from (which is why I am so tired and my words slur in this video) I had some very important thoughts on a perspective we need to remember when training birds. The first part of the video is just the setup. Watch the whole thing to actually get what I am talking about.
Falconry has age old proven techniques, but as we continue to better understand the minds and biology of our fellow life forms, advances in training and techniques will always develop in falconry. I hope that sharing this simple perspective based principle will help you in training and socializing your birds.
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[@megan3702]

Hi Ben! New subscriber here! I was wondering if you’ve ever done a special on your personal birds? Like the ones you currently have (or used to have) and their backstories? I’d love an up close and personal look at your birds. I’m not quite sure of your set up, like how many personal birds you own at one time. I’d like to know more about your individual birds :)

[@Yellow260]

Ben I am a bit shocked this is news to so many falconers. German falconer and ornithologist here. I love birds. I want to see my goshawk all the time. He‘s not an imprint, 21 years old now and I can pick that bird up like a chicken, touch his feet and kiss his head (only regret that move twice in my entire time with him). He‘s around multiple people constantly. He‘s eating or sleeping next to other birds and has excellent recall on very high weight. Weird situations like a vet trip don‘t freak him out, he doesn‘t care about dogs or screeching children. And this is only a gos; my „sponsor“ flies golden eagles and those HAVE to be chill around people in our rather developed small country. An aspect you missed, btw, talking about the „birds perspective“; Do birds get bored? They do. I saw multiple eagles in closed mews getting self destructive or territorially aggressive when they don‘t see much and only got interacted with once or twice a day „off season“ during feeding time. That behavior improved drastically after these birds simply had more environmental input and got handled every day. YOU learn to read your bird better when spending more time with it, and the bird will do the same and learn to read your behaviour too. Just sit down and look at it, indoors or outdoors. It‘s not a hunting tool that we take out put away like in the old days.

[@Sardonic_Cynic]

he's 21?!? that's Amazing!

[@Yellow260]

@@Sardonic_Cynic Yes! Still flying well. He‘s getting another cardiogram soon and might develop arthritis in his legs in the next years, but he‘s not even the oldest gos in my city and still robust and agile. What I noted is that he likes to lie down sometimes as he gets older so I gave him some padded flat surfaces in high spaces so he can be a comfy pancake and feel safe up there. Works great!

[@Sardonic_Cynic]

@@Yellow260 I'm so pleased for you - please give him all the scritches for me, and tell him I love him

[@Yellow260]

@@Sardonic_Cynic I told him, his response was loud meeping. I guess this is something between „HOW DARE YOU“ and „I love you too but where is my food?!“

[@kristensorensen2219]

Great video showing the results of the difference in social settings from the birds point of view!! Even predators have vulnerable times. Your friend gave his bird a profound sense of comfort being with its human all of the time. Great!!

[@justinmathieu9385]

I have a 2nd year red tail, lives on the perch on a wall in living room around dogs all the time during season. She can go into any situation without much stress. I have raised puppies for police and sport work for 10 years so socialization and confidence building is my expertise I used similar principles and they worked with my bird. Lots of food and time doing things other than hunting. Love your videos Ben, from massachusetts

[@briansmith9734]

Beautiful brown redtail

[@RaptorGirlkathy]

Agree with you, Ben, on your socializing philosophy, spending "time" with the bird!! Your camping trip sounds awesome! I have caged birds, so they are part of my family, lol If I had raptors, they would be, as well; but I would have to rethink the caged birds, lol I think the birds are a product of their instinct, upbringing, training and experiences, and my mission, in my volunteer work, at the rehab, with the falconry & educational ambassador raptors, is to work with them, making each of them as well-rounded, as possible, I hope, happier birds! Many components to this, we work on.

[@ricusmate]

I've 8 times witnessed Aussie Hobbys following Sparrow Hawks in the suburbs hunting invasive doves. The Hobby keep the doves in cover and the Sparrow Hawk flushes them from cover. I've seen a downhill flat scissor dogfight between the two initiated by the Sparrow Hawk so I assume it's more the Hobbys advantage.

[@ricusmate]

I've also seen a pair of Perigrines forcing a Swamp Harrier to hunt for them with constant alternating stoops.

[@shereesmazik5030]

I wonder if living with your bird is getting too close to the forbidden “P word” .

[@AtlantaFalconry]

I take and feed my coops and prairie in public at the local parks year around where i have people, dogs, annoying APEX AFs (red shoulders) all around etc. Been doing this for years with great success. Most of my coops can ride in car no hood and are calm. In crowds. No issues, most of time with a foot up. As much exposure to city life year around. My pariaire lives in my office most of the time.

[@Athelas7]

Nice vidéo Ben, i waiting for all ur New vidéos and i’m always happy when i can finally watch it! Ty for ur great job! 😊

[@davidkengyelics684]

Great video and the comments section was very informative.Ta everyone

[@brucehuber4015]

Concise video. Thank you.

[@michelwaylander5005]

I was lucky enough to finally start my journey with an eurasian kestrel. A few perches here and there, free flying in the appartment. Worked VERY well. It probably wont work with anything bigger, though. You only have with the looks and comments of dog and cat owners, though. She also was VERY very fit, exercising whenever she wants is a great plus, it seems to be far better then the normal aviary. She would fly and go crazy for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening + the time when we go outside. The difference on how she treated the branches i set up and my hand was gigantic. She would eat on my ungloved hand without leaving a scratch - but pounce the branches (and spider) to the point, where i had to replace them branches due to the damage her divebombing left on them. PLUS - a great alarm clock.... (if you dont mind your alarm clock landing on your face) :P

[@johndread1724]

As a zookeeper working with large carnivores and birds of prey I can't overstate the importance of socialising, empathy and time spent with the animal in the creation of a trust based, mutually beneficial relationship with it. Keep spreading the good knowledge.

[@wilgarcia1]

So do you think an Aviary should be attached to the house and have a window to the interior? lol they may enjoy watching the humans in their natural habitat =P

[@michellegroncki9257]

Yes! I think so. People watching is a form of enrichment, I think. 👍🏻

[@shereesmazik5030]

They love to people watch -we must seem so strange to them .

[@falconryguyuk]

Lamping Ben awesome way of getting them used to nights out I lamp all of mine even lamp trained my lanner only to be able to retrieve her if lost tye hhs I always hunt in the dark awesome way of hunting and getting back in dark.

[@lohikarhu734]

How do you deal with "hawk chalk" in the house? Do the birds have a location that is "good to go", so to speak, or do you have to put floor and furniture covers most everywhere? Practical question, no?

[@AtlantaFalconry]

As a mosly coop and sharpie flier, equipment is key. Use a accip perch with backsplash that is easy to clean and it will be about as much trouble as a house cat to maintain.

[@Yellow260]

Some people managed to teach their bird to defecate on command, but getting them housebroken is something you can pretty much forget about. I covered the couch where the gos perches on and he managed to fling some of his food‘s guts against the TV instead . Falcons are easier because they don‘t have as much „pressure“ in their little behinds. Cover your bird‘s area. If you let the bird loose in your living room, live with the consequences.

[@CoreyCollum]

Honestly Anvil the Passage Redtail in the video currently lives in a 10 foot by 12 foot bedroom with a 12x14 tarp on the ground and up on the walls that gets cleaned several times a week. the Slicing isn't bad at all if you stay on top of it.

[@kristensorensen2219]

❤

[@angelgreen3532]

Do you think a bird can be TOO socialized? For example, I fly passage red tails. The bird I flew this past season was extremely well manned and socialized. I wanted to make sure that she didn't have "stranger danger" issues to ensure we could go out with other people, and took her everywhere with me once I knew it wouldn't stress her out. Unfortunately, it worked a little too well, and she would go follow other random people in the woods if she didn't feel I was flushing enough game. I also worry about birds being too social after we've released them and getting injured or killed by other people. What are your thoughts on that?

[@user-ck7ro7ep3d]

Hi Ben, I'm trying to find a copy of your trapping book. I'm trying to set up a small farm business on 13 acres and I have 5 hawks that are circling constantly and picking off my laying hens. Thank you

[@ComicusFreemanius]

The RT feels like the handler is better than any shelter probably, eliminates the need. My bird would pretty much ask to be picked up over sitting alone. I honestly believe that the kites out here know I raised one of them and I represent some sort of security and they come by to check on me everyday because I'm apart of their circle even though they're free. They'll go about their business totally normally and sometimes even seem like they include me and pick where I am to be. They got invaded by caracara last week and when I whipped the phone out on one a kite went over and swooped at the remaining caracara right in front of me. Thought I was going to have to trap the caracara to relocate them for a minute.

[@luxordeathbed]

Maybe breaking the mold of a falcon is not a pet needs to happen BUT not a pet, a half way point.

[@ComicusFreemanius]

I have a feeling all the raptors that make good pets are not traditional birds or have needs that are difficult to provide. Kites, Honey buzzard, roadside hawks, harriers, caracara, laughing falcons, ect.. More skittish but more welcoming of community. Just have to trade traditional hunting for display flying imo.

[@OgokiGlobalDefence7656]

Can you do a video on Gyrfalcon Saker Hybrid?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

I have flown several, but don’t have a lot of video footage. Let me dig through and see if I have some good photos to utilize. This would be actually a very good video to do.

[@partsguy9423]

Is your necklace charm an eagle talon?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

The claw is from an African lion. And I carved the white beads out of wooly mammoth tusk

[@karvinjones4246]

Great Content Ben I am a new subscriber who also has a Falconry youtube channel called KJ Falconry check it out

[@stompyowl]

'Socializing' vs 'Habituation' vs 'Acclimation'... not all the same thing. Micros should not be kept inside just because it's easier for us. Yes, it's another variable to control, but the benefit to them being around humans/activity/dogs/etc doesn't outcompete them being outside in natural light and air if you're looking at it from their perspective, which you touch on later in the video. What you're calling 'socialization' is potentially flooding of an aversive stimulus. Glad you're thinking of this and talking about it, but from the bird's perspective, why would he care where you are? Passage or not? They live in the moment. Either option becomes 'normal' for the animal, they are masters of adaptation. I enjoyed this video, but it mostly makes me want to have a beer with you and passionately chat about raptor behavior.

[@ComicusFreemanius]

They seem to enjoy routine, they have a routine outside just the same. Favorite tree, favorite field, favorite place to get out of the wind. Just because they don't do play like a dog doesn't mean they're disinterested.

[@mcchambersSV]

Question about touching, In the closing video i see a woman stroking the bird's breast, and a commenter mentioned kissing the top of the head. I've also seen someone stroking the beak between two fingers. What do the birds think of this? Do they learn to enjoy it or just tolerate the silly human?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

There are a lot of species of birds that do enjoy being pet or massaged. Especially parrots and Corvids like ravens crows and magpies. With birds of prey they usually just tolerate it. But some absolutely do enjoy it. I’m have had a number of owls, golden eagles, and a few hawks who genuinely did enjoy being touched or having their feathers played with

[@jujucattys156]

Lol I have an Ak that lives indoors he has his own spot in my room at Mine I have male golden living in me Living room lol