Falconry: Respecting raptor intelligence

[@j3-in-ga]

Just wasted to say thank you for all your videos. I Took my falconery exam on 9/30 and passed it the first time and found a sponsor today. Thanks again for all your hard work and passing on your knowledge and wisdom

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

J3 B congratulations!!!!!!!

[@jessepadilla5919]

Good stuff Ben. I always tell other falconers, understand how the bird hunts naturally in the wild. Don't expect an owl will chase game the way a hawk does. Hawks/Eagles - Chase prey Falcon - Stoop and chase Owls - Ambush prey when they feel safe and stealthy

[@elizabethkaufman3032]

In addition, owls almost always carry their prey. It makes some of them very anxious to consume a food item where they 'caught' it.

[@junchan_3200]

Really happy to see more videos uploading these days and even more excited to hear more coming! Love you and your channel!

[@brandonstein87]

I live in Utah as well pretty close to the Salt Flats. Been looking into Falconry religiously lately and your videos are gems man!

[@thomasbergeaux2647]

Really like your perspective on things. Looking forward to more videos. Especially can't wait for more on Accipiters, specifically passage Cooper's

[@Toothandtalon]

I worked at the aquarium you’re talking about for 2 1/2 years. There are always a lot of people anthropomorphizing the animals

[@jantirpak7902]

Hi Ben, you are making great videos for the falconry community. Despite the fact that I have many years of falconry experience, I like to watch your videos.

[@angelo8516]

Really enjoy your yt vids. Very informative and entertaining content.🎭 Thanks for posting!👍✌☺

[@lohikarhu734]

nice... you made me *laugh*! Hard to do... a good overview of something to think about. Always! We tend to adore beautiful creatures, and forget, as you have so clearly elucidated, that they are a different creature from us, and, in many ways, at 'the top of the heap' in the avian food chain, and have all of these instincts, and training from egg to freedom, that one needs to admire, respect, and work *with*... I hope that I got the message? I hope you, and your raptor partners, have a fun and successful season!

[@falconryandconservation9079]

Lovely..mr Ben always teaches something new!! Thank you!

[@StrangeSoap]

Hi Ben, great video. I'd like to also hear more about getting into a hunting mindset, as in, dealing with taking an animal, especially cute ones... for instance there are a ton of Quail around here and i just love them they're so cute and funny but I'm probably going to have to deal with ending their adorable little lives when i finally move to where i can build a mew and obtain a hawk

[@APV878]

"Your head weighs more than your bird"..."HOLLOO BORD!". Exactly. That is a fantastic analogy and I need to remember to use it when applicable. Just the same with the audience and photographers who make kissy sounds and wave at the bird trying to get them to look and pose.... People forget they're people and animals are different/not people sometimes. Maybe the (owl) doesn't want to look at you. Eye contact is threatening to many animals. I also have a (theory) that camera lenses to most animals in their perspective look like "eyes" staring back at them. So yeah let me shove this giant unblinking eye in your face and oh isn't this wonderful. Although there are some raptors I've seen at programs that do seem to actually like the attention. Oh but wait that suggests that birds are individuals and intelligent....Ruh roh!

[@ThatSocratesguy]

09:10 unique Harris Hawk with regards to sociability/familiarity

[@dougclark4561]

It's all about the BRT, baby. Then, invite your bird to commit... to the quarry. It feels like I've heard these principles somewhere before...good to know it applies to raptors too.

[@dakotaadra1044]

You made some interesting comments about the mindsets and temperaments of raptors. Do you plan on doing a video comparing and contrasting the differences in mindset and temperament of some of the falcon, hawk, and buteo species that you have worked with in the past? There does not seem to be very much detailed literature about this that I can find. How do most hawks compare to falcons in temperament etc.?

[@emmanuelatunde771]

Would you consider making a video of how to rid off your birds fear of you in the first week of getting that bird I'm new to falconry

[@mariarl3303]

Ben - you are brilliant - I learn so much from your videos ...you remind me of temple grandin- ( I imagine you are familiar with her ) you know your stuff! However I think the smartest birds I have ever encountered are owls. I passed my masters in intensive falconry course with kitty Carroll January 2020

[@maltorspaltor]

Very inspiring

[@lubospaprcka5975]

Good stuff Ben! Would you consider making video about screaming hawks? Especially Harris Hawks. Im getting back to falconry after a few years pause and in 1month from now Im getting female harris hawk ( raised under parents ) and i really want to avoid making some mistakes that could lead to her screaming at me for food. Thanks a lot a keep it up.

[@jantirpak7902]

Ahoj Ľuboš, tvoj haris by nemal vidieť prípravu krmiva, potrebné je často meniť miesto umiestnenia posedu a čo najskôr začať voľné sledovanie a lov. To sú skutočnosti ktoré potláčajú potravinový imprint a tým aj volanie. Hi Ľuboš, your haris should not see the preparation of feed, it is necessary to change the place of bow and start free tracking and hunting as soon as possible. These are the facts that suppress food imprint and thus the call.

[@lubospaprcka5975]

@@jantirpak7902 dakujem za rady, nevedel som ze tieto videa pozeraju aj slovaci )

[@jantirpak7902]

@@lubospaprcka5975 Je to autor, ktorý má bohaté skúsenosti a veľmi dobre vysvetľuje sokoliarske praktiky. He is an author who has extensive experience and explains falconry practices very well.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Brilliant. And the English accent was not bad . Good bit of reasoning and advice cheers .

[@MKrištínWildness]

Interesting video dear friend. i like it. 106. Greetings.

[@mariarl3303]

PS. A must read ... “the falcon thief” by Joshua hammer published 2020

[@GURWINDER_RAI]

Hi Ben....my shikra is slow in the wing as usually they are in wild....what tips can improve her hunting skills....nice video ☺

[@richlaw5136]

lol, i can imagine a red tail watching falconry videos on youtube

[@gregorywojtera7283]

Great video!

[@georgeblanco436]

Hey ben what is your opinion on ferruginous hawks for falconry? Only seen a few at nafa meets ; saw one take a very long successful slip on geese .

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

They are amazing birds. But deceptively complex. I’ve flown both imprint and passage. Got a new one now that came from education I am training to hunt with. They are very high maintenance and require a lot of extra thinking and trouble shooting. I think this is one of the biggest reasons more aren’t flown. Most buteos are very straight forward and comparatively easy. But Ferrugies test you and some individuals require as much thought and troubleshooting as a goshawk. Most of the people who fly them are people who are passionate about them as a species. Their wings are narrow and more like gyr falcon wings than a buteo. Their chest muscles are insanely larger than any othe rAmerican hawk, and overlap over the sides. I’ll have a video about them coming up soon and give more details.

[@frankieesteban3113]

I have a question. What is the rarest bird that can be used for falconry?

[@mariarl3303]

Why do you want to know? To be successful at falconry depends on mastering each level of experience with training and avian knowledge ... you can’t master algebra or geometry unless you are familiar with numbers / formulas and spatial concepts

[@mik3ymomo]

Parakeet.

[@rickabrams3422]

no offence but does anyone else think he looks like the hair guy in Despicable Me2? 45:22 thanks for the vids and information; yes i'm a child 😬

[@colinday7822]

Just wondering was your last video aimed at 5 yr olds . Very annoying