Hunting with The Bonelli's Eagle - First Season with The Colonel

[@Kniv97]

Such style and finesse! And in its first season! Incredible bird!

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Kniv97 Nice one thank you! Been a hard slog and he’s definitely not a finished article yet. Keep an eye out for season 3 👍

[@georgehawking9126]

So fast and agile for a big bird they stoops are unreal u are going to have fun with him in years to come 👍

[@hawkinsfalconry]

George hawking He blew my mind at times considering its his first season. Can’t wait until he moults asap! Thanks

[@AV-wn7xz]

Another great video, time and effort pays off!

[@feldeggi2212]

Absolutely amazing your Bonelli. Wish you a lot more of these spectacular flights, and me a lot of this films. Sorry about my bad english.,best wishes.

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Feldeggi 2 Thanks very much.

[@lamaspacos]

MANY THANKS.

[@pakcanhunter]

Hats off to you sir!

[@biblicaltheologyexegesisan9024]

totally amazing it is as fast as any falcon

[@tommyhandley329]

An absolute joy to watch. Imagine what he'll be like in a few years...

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Tommy Handley Cheers Tommy. Glad you enjoyed it. He’ll be immense. Awesome watching his progression.

[@Luceforall]

Hi! I come from SIcily (when I was young, I climbed with a friend to the top of a mountain and two were circling above us - without knowing, we may have got close to their nest!). In 2019, I developed a strong interest in eagles (especially Bald Eagles) and started posting videos from live streams. One thing lead to another and I came across a video about poachers and Bonelli Eagles - these were captured and taken to Northern Italy (in appalling circumstances) to satisfy the demands of foreign buyers. This story left me quite shocked and I can't help thinking how selfish some men are - all they care about is to satisfy their own particular hobbies. But why should I wonder so much? Just think of the ivory and skin trades! Eagles should be left wild and free and I can only agree to taking care of them when their injuries prevent them from leading a normal life.

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Hi yes I totally agree with your point. In the UK we only fly captive bred birds. The ethics of falconry in different countries takes a fair while to be explained and understood. Originally falconers’ located a nest and observed it at a distance to monitor chicks, (after years of research the evidence gathered shows the survival rates of nests with three or more chicks were two out of the three survived their first twelve months in the wild) Nests that had three or more chicks were selected and only then were falconers allowed, under license to take one chick to train for falconry for one to two seasons before releasing back into the wild. The studies showed that the ecosystem had an abundance of prey for them to survive in the wild, it was more persecution from man - egg collectors, electrocuted, breeding sites destroyed due to urbanisation, shot, starvation etc. Falconry actively boosts the wild population, In fact there are numerous success stories that involved many falconers and representative bodies to breed and release Red Kites, Peregrines, Ospreys & White Tailed Sea Eagles in the UK. Unfortunately to take a stand-off approach has proven to lower the numbers of already endangered species. Thanks Nigel Pa: Great webcam footage on your videos thanks

[@Luceforall]

@@hawkinsfalconry Hi, and thank you for the extensive response! Maybe I should have waited for the sweltering London temperatures to drop, before posting a comment, but I acted on impulse. If I find the video in question, I shall add the link below my response, at a later time. Falconry is an ancient art, and there are certainly 'clean' ways to practise it - I am just rebelling at the approach of ruthlessly selfish people. One thing is saving chicks in danger and releasing them back into the wild when adults and able to breed, another thing is to steal them willy milly from the parents' nest, in a land where the population is already sparse, simply because somebody has placed an order and is willing to pay.

[@hawkinsfalconry]

@@Luceforall Yes it sure has been a hot one, I’ve been showering my two raptors in the garden to keep them cool. They stand in their four inch deep large baths for hours. Take a look at my website, you will soon learn that my life has been dedicated to this passion for the past 20 years. I only have two birds which are flown for hours everyday, replicating their wild cousins. Their life in the wild is ruthless, only the fit & aggressive ones survive. Between 70 to 90% of juveniles die each year. I can assure you that everything I do within falconry is to address the raptors daily needs, flying at 2000ft, hunting for 4 hours most days alongside my German Wire-haired Pointer and ferrets. When they catch their food I assist them getting to the best bits (heart, lungs & liver) and sit watching the sun set with a full crop whilst cooking the daily catch over a camp fire for dogs, ferrets and myself. An unbelievably spiritual experience. The whole ethos behind falconry is the only thing that’s different to wild is after the days flying, the raptor is placed in an aviary, free-lofted (never tethered) in a safe quarters to rest before the next days flying/hunting session. Falconry should replicate wild but I understand what you mean regarding your comments. Far too many ego driven, materialistic humans in the world. The penalty for endangered species nest disturbance and illegal smuggling should be reevaluated to reflect the huge impact it has, in already struggling wild populations. Thanks Nigel Website: www.hawkinsfalconry.co.uk/#

[@Luceforall]

@@hawkinsfalconry Yes, I know mortality rate is very high, among juvies, regrettably I shall make a point of visiting your website! Have you come across Martin Tyner's videos (Southwest Wildlife Foundation of Utah)? He's neem using a Golden Eagle for many years, and some falcons and hawks to catch food which he uses to feed raptors who have been brought to him, sick or injured :) It is starting to cool off, at last! And very good idea to provide a pool for the eagles - they love splashing in water (and I love watching them doing so!). A very good night from 'tropical' London!

[@inyodeconinck2024]

Amazing video. I'm waiting for the next one

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Inyo Deconinck Much appreciated. Hopefully I’ll get some good footage of him next season.

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Thanks, me too! Mission is to get a stoop taking feathered quarry, wait out...

[@FalconrySoutheast]

Stunning bob

[@ipapercenter8301]

This inspired me so much to make HD videos with my Goshawk in Tropical Landscape of Indonesia :D

[@claymarzobestgoofy]

Falconry is legal and practiced in Indonesia? I love indonesia my grandma from java!

[@parithimathi]

Amazing skills, both for the bird and the breeder/photographer

[@hawkinsfalconry]

I do all of the flying, filming and editing. The breeder is Bob Watkins UK Nigel

[@quebecfalconrycentre7867]

Awsome footage. Great work !

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Quebec Falconry Centre Many thanks

[@claymarzobestgoofy]

Wow absolutely incredible! Didn't know eagles could fly so fast!

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Yes Bonelli's are awesome predators with a vast range of stealth hunting tactics thanks.

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

A joy to watch. OSH :-)

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Many thanks OSH

[@manganjames1]

Fantastic! What was his flying weight around?

[@hawkinsfalconry]

manganjames1 Good hunting at the end of the season was around 3lb 2. I definitely think as he matures he will go a couple of ounces above this. I’ve spoken to a few that’s got experience of flying mature birds, they said their first season weights were lower to get them to hunt well.

[@raphlvlogs271]

looks like they prefer wide open places over wooded areas.

[@thebabbler8867]

Fastest bird in the sky.

[@robertnance121787]

Make more videos your work is stunning

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Mr.freedom-nance30 Taken 8 months of filming and 24 hours to a edit 4 minute film. It’s seriously time consuming! Keep an eye out soon as I’m making two more videos in the next couple of months.

[@robertnance121787]

I hear ya can’t wait to see more tho

[@timmccarthy3034]

GREAT JOB with this film.....I want to do a painting of your bird, based on this film...OUTSTANDING footage , the dives, etc are SPECTACULAR......I really love these eagles....perhaps someday I will get one myself....here in France....my new home...I am a master falconer from the USA.......

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Tim McCarthy Great Tim thank you. I’m just editing this season’s footage, it will be on my channel in the next couple of weeks. Be good to see the painting. Are you flying anything now?

[@timmccarthy3034]

@@hawkinsfalconry THX for that reply.....No, sadly, I have no bird now...here in France it is a LOT more complicated to get a bird for me....My USA falconry license means "nothing" to the French....so, I have been stuck for the last 5 yrs here with no bird, driving me crazy.......To get my permit here, for a bird, I must first speak fluent FRENCH ......OMG........at my age, 59....that is like going to the Moon......so, I am working on it......I must also pass a gun hunting safety course here , which is BS because I hate guns, do not own a gun, and only want to fly a bird.....not ever hunt with a gun, but the French are REALLY INTO "PAPERWORK" ...(TAXES TAXES TAXES)....and making money off BS like making me pay for a gun hunting course that I will never use.....I LOVE MY NEW FRENCH WIFE , but I do NOT "love" the French govt.......drives me crazy. .Now, we are all under total martial law here , because they let the Cornavirus get so out of control, before they started to implement any protective measures....Now its a real serious problem........I am SO looking forward to getting another bird , but it's going to be another couple yrs for me...at least....A Bonnelis would be so COOL , because they seem to be so FAST and versatile , going after birds, as well as ground game....and here in the south of France, we have more birds like pheasants, ducks, quail to hunt , than rabbits..I also think about a Harris or Gos too....I also think A LOT about the beautiful European Buzzards I see all over here......as they look just like my old Red Tailed Hawks that I flew for years in the USA...and can take a variety of game too..I think about falcons too , because the most common birds we have here , are pigeons and doves.......I do have a great little hunting dog, who is a GREAT hunting dog, and she goes into every little hole , bush, etc that she can, to find whatever she can....She LIVES for the hunt.....I can't WAIT to put her to work, in a serious way, with a hawk, eagle or falcon......so she can find her true purpose in Life......

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Tim McCarthy Yes a frustrating situation indeed. Can’t you join a club so you’re at least watching other falconers hunt and socialise in their circles.

[@lamaspacos]

The dream of many people, especially of Félix Rodriguez de la Fuente.

[@hawkinsfalconry]

lamaspacos Yes very true

[@davemyers7507]

Cool I hunt a African Hawk Eagle slimmer habitat

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Great they are beautiful looking birds. How long have you been flying him? How was his temperament the first season compared to his fourth? Does he have tantrums? Skitty? Aggressive? Footy? Is he hard to get hunting weight correct consistently? Is he selective on hunts? Thanks Nigel

[@davemyers7507]

Hawkins Falconry mine is wild trapped from Tanzania at 3 years old easy training caught a jackrabbit the second time out and vary seldom misses 4years hunting 87 rabbits 3 turkey and some small birds female hunts at 4 lbs

[@hawkinsfalconry]

@@davemyers7507 That’s very interesting Dave, most people I know that’s had captive bred AHE & Bonelli’s have found it very challenging. All of these falconers have multiple years flying Goshawks very successfully. I’d even go as far to say that some have even packed in falconry or moved back to Goshawks due to the inconsistency & frustration they have experienced. Have a look on Bonelli’s World Facebook page and read some of their experiences.

[@davemyers7507]

Hawkins Falconry we have some Bonellis coming to the USA soon might be hunting one some day

[@hawkinsfalconry]

@@davemyers7507 Awesome species! If you want to witness them at their best it takes serious time to get them to hunt like their wild cousins. Great at following -on, great ferreting off the glove, superb following in woodland and epic at waiting on in hill country. I’m just going into his fourth season and every one of his past seasons has blown me away with his hunting strategies. Can’t wait for the moult to finish…!

[@TheUltraBeast1]

That's an eagle? Never heard of a Bonellis eagle, thing looks like more of a goshawk with than an eagle lol. Amazing footage

[@hawkinsfalconry]

TheUltraBeast1 Similar flight style to a goshawk. Good in woodland, off the glove, open fields, ferreting, following-on and awesome soaring and stoops. But they are 10 times more challenging than a goshawk! Thanks...

[@TheUltraBeast1]

@@hawkinsfalconry 10x more difficult than a goshawk? Jesus I can't even imagine.

[@hawkinsfalconry]

TheUltraBeast1 There’s only a few being flown in the UK and everyone has the same opinion regarding their temperament. There’s a Facebook page called Bonelli’s World where people from all over the world share their experiences if you’re interested in finding out more.

[@milleniumhandicrafts1429]

@Hawkins Falconry Brother i have rescued an Adult Eagle from my nearby Graveyard. He was injured in left wing which was cut by wire. So i bring this beautiful bird at my home and done the treatment by cleaning the injury by antiseptic liquid and then sewed it with thread.. Fortunately the bird is safe now and healthy. I am feeding him 100-200 grams of beef & chicken per day by hand & little bit warm water in 2 days. I want to keep the bird so i just want to know, how to train the bird just like your... ?? I am from India... Falconry is not a sport or interest here... There is nothing to learn about Falconry here

[@hawkinsfalconry]

Millenium Handicrafts Hi can’t you get to a vet or ask them to send you painkillers or antibiotics? It’s going to be difficult to explain on here but it sounds like you need to get it to expert care asap. I’ll post some links to watch to give you a basic knowledge in birds of prey and their needs. Here’s some links to look at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJm5namFraxsr5I www.themodernapprentice.com/

[@ΜπάμπηςΨυχλουδης]

Hello my friend i want a bonelli eagle male ,how much money

[@susanolvera3626]

🐕👍