How to Identify Wild Birds of Prey: A Beginner's Guide to Raptors

[@pannacottacat7337]

Also for the size, most people get the impression of a bird being much larger than it actually is! I think Ben Woodruff made a video about it.

[@MercerFalconry]

Yes I get that a lot at events, often by people who have dabbled or know a very small amount, they often think my birds are all very small and they are actually all very average size

[@EllieS.04]

would love to see a video going over identifying the 5 British owls :)

[@MercerFalconry]

Coming soon!

[@patrickwils700]

Much appreciated, thanks very much.

[@MercerFalconry]

You are very welcome! 😁

[@MaxSchmidl]

This was great, thanks

[@MercerFalconry]

Thank you!

[@johnwilkes7190]

Great id format ....might have to pinch it for my talks 😁

[@MercerFalconry]

Please do, all helps to educate the people!

[@thebushcraftfalconer8584]

Hi Dan. Another great and informative video. However, a bit of bad practice popped up with the Kestrel. On an un-gloved bear hand I believe. No matter how small or large the bird is. And trust you may have with said birds. People look. 'Oh, it's OK to handle a bird of pray, I don't need a glove, it's only a small Kestrel/ barn owl. We know the above can still hert .

[@jakemurray8080]

I would disagree with you on that. Wearing a glove is all about mitigating risk, but If you’re handling a bird which you’re confident doesn’t have a chance of hurting you I would say you are are justified in not wearing a glove. That doesn’t apply to everyone, but I think Dan can read behaviour well enough to asses that. It obviously doesn’t apply to every bird of prey. Some can cause so much damage the risk outweighs even knowing how they’d behave, but I would say for an imprint barn owl or a kestrel that’s not the case.

[@MercerFalconry]

Thank you! I think a lot of people get stuck in the trap of it being a falconry animal so we must wear falconry gear, I’ve handled macaws and other non falconry birds that have a beak that’s far more dangerous than a kestrel could ever be, without any safety gear. I’ve never worn a glove with Nora the kestrel because I’ve had her from a chick and fed her all her life without wearing a glove but I do agree it could give the wrong idea to people who don’t know!

[@davidhuth5659]

My daughter and a girlfriend of hers were traveling on the Alaska Highway about 25 years ago. They claim that they saw an owl standing on the road ahead of them and it was 4 to 5 feet tall. To this day she still says this is true. I chuckle every time she mentions it. They may have been in great grey owl territory so it may have been the largest owl she had ever seen but not as large as she claims. It's funny when people see a hawk or owl and claim that it was"HUGE"!!

[@MercerFalconry]

Wow 4 to 5 feet tall 😂 At events people often try to show me with their hands how big a bird was that they have seen and I often just have to smile and nod and say something along the lines of “they do look bigger when your not used to seeing them often”

[@davidhuth5659]

@@MercerFalconry That soumds familiar! 😃

[@Jonny-lo7hu]

Ben woodruff does a good video on that, called ‘your giant eagle is a lie’ lol

[@schugfamily4972]

“Can you make a video about everything you need to get into owl falconry, including the owls equipment and other necessary gear?” 😊🦉

[@MercerFalconry]

Great idea! I’ll add it to my list

[@schugfamily4972]

@@MercerFalconryThank you 😊

[@gutesherz9049]

💯👍😎💯

[@thehauntedroadtrip9190]

Your birds are so beautiful ❤

[@MercerFalconry]

They really are a stunning bunch!

[@Dragon_master394]

Yay

[@yashas.m8649]

Giss 🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣😭🤣😭

[@MercerFalconry]

I wasn’t sure if KZbin would allow that in the video but I guess it’s ok 😂

[@ickgtib]

let that eagle go!!!! or make reasoning to why you're holding it hostage

[@MercerFalconry]

I think you need to watch the video again, there’s no eagle…

[@ickgtib]

@MercerFalconry so it's a harris's hawk probably. Yes I stopped watching in the beginning because I want an explanation to why it's tied up

[@MercerFalconry]

@ickgtib did you not see the shots of her flying free right at the start like she does every day, do you stop people in the street when they have their dog “tied up” by their neck?

[@ickgtib]

@@MercerFalconry dogs aren't wild animals, if the raptor has no issues surviving in the wild it should not be held in captivity

[@MercerFalconry]

@ickgtib where do you think dogs originally came from, or that cat in your profile picture? Anyway, keep arguing with me, there’s 2 things KZbin loves and that’s views and comments and you keep giving me both!