Falconry: What people forget when training imprints

In this falconry video I discuss an important principle in training imprint hawks and falcons, that is often overlooked when raising an imprint raptor. From goshawks to peregrines, from eagles to owls, this principle applies. Properly imprinting any bird of prey must be done correctly, or it can lead to excessive vocalizing or aggression. Most discussion about raising imprint haws or imprint falcons is centered on addressing or avoiding those to behaviors. This video discusses the principle of addressing other smaller but equally important skills that must be learned that imprints don't have natural opportunities to acquire.
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[@chordsofgratitude2073]

The only thought that came to me on imprinting was the movie Fly Away Home.... Ducks imprinted to migrate through the use of a home built small plane painted like a large duck so they would follow it and learn to fly.... Maybe start with a drone painted like a predator bird to start imprinting tactical moves??🤷‍♀️

[@ethanovenell2173]

neat idea i might have to try that!

[@ethanovenell2173]

I’m so glad you posted this video. I’m hoping to train a common kestrel. There is a nest with 5 eggs in our attic.

[@chordsofgratitude2073]

Be sure they aren't brining right dents in the house....or you could end up with respiratory issues. I hate autocorrect auto fill.....😥😥😥 Edited: bringing dead rodents....

[@ethanovenell2173]

@@chordsofgratitude2073 will do

[@StoneE4]

@@chordsofgratitude2073 "Brining right dents?" What kind of dent is the right dent to brine?

[@thomasbrown6332]

@@StoneE4and after you find out which is the right dent to use, help me figure out how we are supposed to brine it!

[@mrmarvelous8015]

Can you please do a video Harris hawk Versus Peregrine falcon to iconic birds of prey would love to see that also amazing video

[@Greenereefs]

Hi Ben, interesting video. I’d be very interested in a video on hacking, both tame versus more traditional. But extolling the benefits and any pitfalls. I greatly enjoy your musings, please keep it coming.

[@jeromangkuputraweda820]

Thanks ben❤

[@anthonycapuano8554]

Hey Ben Thanks for the info and insight you provide on this channel. A couple topics I'd be interested in hearing you do a video on if you are so inclined: 1. Dogs in falconry, what to train for and how to get them to coexist with a bird 2. Falconry being used for nuisance bird abatement; what are your thoughts on the ethics of it and optics for the sport?

[@mamiiicab9184]

Tres jolies! Merci beaucoup! 😊👍👍👍

[@Nobodyspecial5150]

Please make a video about hacking

[@RaptorGirlkathy]

So true! Let a bird be what it is meant to be; ultimately better for bird! Wonderful Thank you, Ben! I am working with a rescued, adult, female Kestrel, for educational purposes. She tolerates me & is sweet. Should she be trained to glove-eat? Pls recommend enrichment for bird with irreparably damaged wing/can't fly? txs 🥰😉

[@doyouwanttogivemelekiss3097]

On the difficulty of flying: that's why I am also always fascinated by the free flying parrot owners (e.g. Mikey and Mia) - because many of these birds are rescues that started out with clipped wings and learn flying as adults. And apparently flying down, landing, fear of heights (and many more), are all issues these birds have to overcome.

[@AriesLT]

I don't know if this is the reason for sure, but I assumed that parrots not having the super-powered eyesight of raptors was a factor of indoor birds being freaked out by heights when outdoors. though, I couldn't find sources on how good parrot vision is. I suspect it also takes a lot of muscular control to land softly when descending steeply. My cockatiel is very hesitant to come off of a door if I am right under it but has no issues if I am walking away from the door (this is all inside so height isn't a huge factor).

[@Conan_Obrien]

Hi Ben, would be great to see a video on hacking from your perspective. Cheers

[@peregrinesmith1117]

Read "High Flying Gyrfalcons" by Vic Hardaswick and Kent Christopher. A detailed account of how to raise an imprint.

[@serhiykyslytsia1907]

Ben, you asked to share our experience and I have one duable trick. When falconer uses the lure instead of glove to call the bird, some times imprints start protect the lure and it rise the aggresion. In this case I tie the meat NOT to the lure directly, I fix it on the lure's rope (30-35 sm from lure). I use this approach in the start of lure trainings. The imprint does not bind meat with the lure and never protects it. Lure it's signal, not a food.

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

That is a really REALLY ingenious approach!!!! I appreciate you sharing it. I’ll have to try it out. But I can see the logic and it is a brilliant idea!

[@serhiykyslytsia1907]

​ @benwoodrufffalconry I forgot about one important detail. For Accipiters this approach works in case if lure NOT looks like real prey. We need to use leather lure only. If you use some wool or feathers, accipiters probably will try to kill the lure anyway. For falcons this is not the case, we are able to use any type of lure

[@nflores7994]

I have a video topic idea! Kites have always been my favorite BOP. I was wondering if they would be trainable and used to hunt in falconry! Kites like black winged kites, white tailed kites, Mississippi kites etc. Maybe it could fit into micro hawking!

[@yvonnerogers6429]

😎

[@astriixaniimates9077]

weird question, i have a soft imprint, mainly just a social imprint. would it effect his temperament towards me if i bring home an eyass to imprint? not that he would get "jealous" per say but would or could he become confused or possessive of me?

[@davidirving2006]

Interesting video, I am not sure there is a "best of both worlds" With parent reared or passage birds we will never completely be part the birds "bubble". But they will have natural behaviour and be able to bred naturally in the future. With imprints we are part of their bubble, but at a massive loss of natural behaviour. As Falconers we have to be very personally honest. Are we imprinting a bird for their benefit. Or because we want a more mammalian centric interaction with bird? Also if we chose to imprint. Do we accept a full life responsibility to that bird?

[@kreuzbergediting]

What's that second bird at 0:04 ? Thanks!

[@Barakon]

What about parrots?

[@lla7131]

Have you ever read Gyrfalcon by Norman Barichello? The wild gyrs he observed would follow large mammals such as caribou, foxes and human skiers who would eventually flush out the ptarmigan they hunt. Some mated pairs stay together throughout the year to hunt together - one would flush the prey, the other would pursue. Falcons and covids scored the highest on the Lefebvre IQ Index. How would you say an imprint falcon and a parrot may differ in personality? I am writing a medieval fantasy series that includes a white gyr as a character. Think Brian from Family Guy, but way more "realistic" shall we say? Brian sometimes has human girlfriends because cartoon logic. The white gyr has a human spouse and an (unfertilzed) egg on the way because imprint logic. I never handled actual birds before, so it is a little difficult for me to get the comparisons to parrots. Can you give some specific examples? Also, what gives them their "dumb" reputation?

[@foleydvm]

wolves are pack animals ...lmost raptors are not . that's why there's much less socialization and intelligence...that's why crows are so smart and hawks are so "dumb"

[@peregrinesmith1117]

I've been flying imprints for 60 years and have not experienced any of the "problems" you are babbling about.

[@thelastfalconer]

What have you done to not experience those problems

[@peregrinesmith1117]

​@@thelastfalconerl will be brief. Take the falcon at around twenty days. Keep them with around you as much as possible. Never let them get hungry. When they are hard penned call them to the just once a session and feed them up. Do not ever take food from them. You can reduce the food intake by the size of the meal. Proceed to flying every day.

[@peregrinesmith1117]

​@@thelastfalconerread, "High Flying Gyrfalcons" by Vic Hardaswick And Kent Christopher.