FALCONRY: The Super Harris hawk

Just to round off the season and after what I’ve seen; let me inspire you to train and fly the ‘real’ Harris hawk
See this video for a bit more hh action:
• HARRIS HAWK WOODY GOES...

[@davidirving2006]

Still the most undervalued bird in falconry today. Time and effort in - rewards out. Goshawks today are often more of a status symbol than a real hunting bird. Anyone else remember switching from Goshawks to HH back in the day? They will know/understand how good HH really are.

[@peteranddorothybowles5428]

Goshawk owners have more nerves than i do They look good but like you say most owners dress up to look the part It takes a lot from the sport having to use telemetry Harris with a bell does me

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Ooooo

[@kevinparker461]

Flew my first Harris in 1981 after flying Spars & Gos. I needed re-training because the rules changed a bit. Once i got the bird fit & motivated it would take on anything & win!. In one season 19 brown hares out of 23 slips, lost count of the rabbits, ducks & pheasants.

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

And you had to remortgage to buy one then hehe

[@jimmycrosby]

I saw someone flying a Harris Hawk in central London around some very tall buildings. Seemed to be working well to address the pigeon problems that were causing issues. Good stuff 👍

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Yeah deffo ; good birds for such kind of Carrie out right

[@paulbarry6451]

Like all things in life, you only get out of something, what you put in.

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

True fact

[@ThatSocratesguy]

3 questions Dave 1) Why were you so amazed by the birds being so muscular/heavy but still having a good bond with the falconer? 2) 11:45 What do you mean the HH was begging the falconer? Do raptors call for their falconers after they’ve caught a big prey because they can’t kill them theirselves easily? 3) Would you say the HH is also one of the best birds for pest abatement? Cheers

[@kennykd97]

Love Harris hawk they are beautiful birds.

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

They surely are

[@johnwilkes7190]

Really enjoyed watching your Harris Hawk vids keep it up .

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Cheers John

[@lohikarhu734]

great talk! the Harris' seems, to me, "Mr. Lurker", to have a wonderful combination of traits, given the right sort of training, environment, et al... the social nature really looks to make them a real "team player" with the falconer, and, as. we've seen in some cases, they really understand dogs as team members...perhaps they make a kind of "career-long" bird, able to put up with a beginning falconer, and bonding, and then the ability to just keep getting better! even that one clip showed the speed, maneuverability, and sheer bloody tenacity! I've seen some videos from an Italian fellow who flies a pair (or three?), and they show that amazing teamwork among birds, falconer, and dogs...thanks for another HH video...if was 10 years younger....

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Thankyou! Ten years younger would help me out too!

[@sprk11]

just got a remote control car to help get my bird really fit for next season. Car training and ground squirrel for the summer and then when Duck and hare open up I'm hoping for that lighting quick confident HH that I know she can be. Would love a Gos but they don't fit my nature . My favorite coffee shop is just down the road and we love to sit on the deck with the bird on the rail and talk about the hunt we just had or the hunt we're heading out to,

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Hehe I used a rc car to train the eagle for fitness first few seasons!

[@lukegerlach9904]

Hey Sir, greetings from the US, Arizona to be specific, and I heard you mention that Harris' are good at ground game, and after observing them fly in the wild, since here where I live we have the Northernmost population of Harris', The reason behind that I believe is because they hunt a lit of rabbits, mostly jackrabbits, which are actually a very large and extremely powerful desert hare, as well as pack rats, and roadrunners (of all things) and they are social so taking large prey is just inherent to them, where as a goshawk is solitary and whilst capable of taking hares, rabbits, hell, even geese, they by nature want to be hunting doves, pigeons, songbirds, squirrels and other swift small quarry. I am not a falconer, but aspire to become one when I have the time and money, but I love all things birds of prey, and so correct me if you think the reason is otherwise. Thanks-Luke

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Great observations, what a great place to live! Mind you I think I’d get overwhelmed looking for reptiles! Roadrunners here are only in zoos but what great birds they are! I hope you get the chance to practice falconry asap!

[@kevinmosedale8113]

Totally agree with you Dave. So much of this is down to the keeper. A well manned, fit HH or Redtail is so much better than an unfit posers Finnish Goshawk.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

I wonder how many HH are passed on or not flown because the falconry world has misunderstood this wonderful hawk that can hunt from the fist, follow on through thick forest , hunt from the soar, if flown properly with dedicated enthusiasm. A great video 👍

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

A lot I think

[@Gr8Poseidon]

I love HH because of their willingness to work as a team with other HH.

[@waynekieft4952]

True! I dont think novices learn enough from a Harris Hawk ! They are so intelligent they will always be a few steps ahead of a novice, leaving the Hawk training the novice! I have had 2 GH and they made me go bald! I would sooner have a well conditioned and fit Harris than GH all day long! My favourite bird secon d to my Sakers!

[@shaneshac]

Harris's hawks are superb hunters. they hunt with their brain if you let them develop their skills on enough slips.

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

I think that’s the key with them all eh; having the game to produce good birds

[@Luxfer999]

WHOAAaaa!!! 🍀

[@MichaelDavis-pq6ei]

Nice one Dave. Harris all the way very intelligent. I'm a pestie and wouldn't consider anything else. Good bond with a Harris, it will do anything you ask of it. Great birds.

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

True indeed

[@ThatSocratesguy]

Pestie as in you’re in pest control I assume?

[@MichaelDavis-pq6ei]

@@ThatSocratesguy Yes pest control. Harris is the bird of choice

[@ThatSocratesguy]

@@MichaelDavis-pq6ei Do you do it full time? Seems like a very cool job

[@MichaelDavis-pq6ei]

@@ThatSocratesguy Yes I was full time. I have given up to follow a courier in nuclear building maintenance just up ghe road from where I live. It was a cool job but for a very cut throte company and after 35 years with them I could no longer stand there antics

[@trevorgorman4844]

I love the action photos. Any chance we could see your top 5 or 10 of the season ?

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Probably not for two reasons ; Sod’s Law means they happen when the camera isn’t on but worse , far worse … I film and edit the videos all on my phone …. Even with iCloud the phones still fill fairly with data , too full and videos can’t be saved …. I delete almost everything after a film Is made so little To recycle ! The videos have it all … somewhere on them! One day time will allow me to film on cameras and edit on a dedicated laptop ….

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

Check out some of the journals and red letter day for sure

[@trevorgorman4844]

​@@falconry.davesharpenatureboy The image of the Hawk with talons out about to bind is superb.

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

I’m lucky to get some of those sent by quality photographers for sure

[@ThatSocratesguy]

Dave you have to see this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npaoeqJ-qayeabcsi=lm-G4LtrZBEGnFwn This guy is making puzzles/enrichment toys for his Harris Hawks to solve and get food as a reward. Much like people train crows to do. It seems like a fantastic idea for falconers to bond more with their bird, especially during the moult. Maybe you could try one of these at your coming falconry meet. To see whose Harris Hawk is best at solving them.

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

All good stuff I was trying that sort of stuff out in 2010 with a young hh , they’re smarter than just rabbiting hawks that’s for sure , no parrots or ravens but pretty clever beasties

[@peteranddorothybowles5428]

Take the stress out of hawking don't they

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

A lot !

[@alanarmer8069]

👍👍🦅🦅👍👍

[@robinmoore1994]

peruvian brown crow,most are more inteligent than there owner

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

True!

[@rogerparker9228]

I like hunting, but i honestly dont get the enjoyment in this. Miss more than u catch,

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

It’s seeing the birds go; most hunting it’s just your skill with inanimate equipment, with the birds it takes so so much time to get them right , any success is so much more

[@rogerparker9228]

@@falconry.davesharpenatureboy I work lurchers on the lamp mostly. Takes extensive training too

[@falconry.davesharpenatureboy]

@rogerparker9228 can’t fault that , I lamped lurcher before birds. Very different tho. Dogs love you from their soul and want to please you , birds depsite Being captive bred here are wild at their soul and have no love for you , just a realisation you make life easier for them . To get one hunting and wanting to be with you is very much more work . And they’ll never take as many rabbits as a good dog at night , but if you can get a bird truly fit , and see it slip at winter fit quarry , it’s about the flight not what’s bagged ,a different type of hunting for sure