Part 1, HARRIS HAWK, IM DOING THIS SO YOU DONT HAVE TOO

[@jamespaterson4834]

Morning Pete, That's why I've always been a big fan of your journey with Woody, you have never shied away from showing your early days mistakes or editing out what can happen , which is as important to folk like me as it is to see the successes.( good work today calling him out of the tree I would've had squeaky bum time at that 😂. Having animals does mean you've just to carry on even on days you dont want to through illness etc. But there is great healing in them as they never ask too much from you Keep well .

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@jamespaterson4834 very true, animals are great, thank you for your encouraging words.

[@NS-hy7gg]

A risky one Pete. So few people know their birds that well. Well done for keeping your mind busy in these difficult times. Brilliant 👍

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@NS-hy7gg yes I agree ,know the bird is a daily quest. Cheers thank you for you support means alot 👍

[@shaunlivock8800]

Hi pete lilly says thankyou so much for another brill video and she sends her love ❤❤ we are all there for you pete and family ❤❤

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@shaunlivock8800 I thought she may like that, thank you too .👍

[@shaunlivock8800]

@@freebirdofreason1994 lilly loved it thankyou ❤️❤️

[@Slugz207]

Thank you for publishing.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Slugz207 Thank you 👍

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

Thank you Pete, for sharing this informative video. We can tell you're carrying a heavy heart, we can hear it in your voice. You're in our prayers my friend. 😟🙏❤

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@oldschoolhawking8191 Lovely to hear from you guys, yes it's a drag but I'm feeling so much better each day. Fortunately I have falconry to drag me through. ❤ Looking forward to seeing you and Anthony out flying

[@auggie7687]

Oh Pete,I am so sorry for your loss,I wish you much strength Be well

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@auggie7687 Thank you ,appreciated 👍

[@martyn6792]

Beatiful bird, I have a pair of Buzzards behind my garden, often see and hear them

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@martyn6792 I do like buzzards, thank you .

[@kilakila992kilakila2]

Hard and all as i am sure it is for you at the moment Pete it is great to see you back in the saddle again. Keep her lit and well done.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@kilakila992kilakila2 Thanks we are pushing onwards. Take care and enjoy .👍

[@johnwilkes7190]

good points and an interesting illustration on weight and tractability

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@johnwilkes7190 Thank you, just shows what peaple don't see I guess.

[@Raven3744]

Woody is looking fantastic ❤ You and your family have been in my thoughts. My feathered and fur babies have got me through some pretty hard times. They need me as much as I need them ❤🦜🐶

[@Raven3744]

What's the Facebook group called to see the gathering pictures and videos please? X

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Raven3744 very true words.i hope all is well 👍

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Raven3744 Falconers Gathering 2024.

[@Bobbymcloed]

Good to see the effects of weight has no matter how small.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Bobbymcloed Thank you ,glad you enjoyed it .👍

[@jasoncraig1678]

Another great video Pete, thank u so much for all the information and tips. Getting my new hawk next weekend so I'll probably be on here picking ur brain for help. Take care in the meantime u and ur family thinking and praying for u all 💙.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@jasoncraig1678 Thank you, ask what ever you need too. Good luck ,exciting times ahead.

[@jasoncraig1678]

@@freebirdofreason1994 so looking forward to this Pete and thank u so much for always being there for a helping hand. 👍🏻

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@jasoncraig1678 please let me know how you get on.

[@jasoncraig1678]

@@freebirdofreason1994 will do Pete 👍🏻

[@MichaelDavis-pq6ei]

Thanks Pete Crazy what an oz or 2 can do to a hawk. Woody looks in great shape ready for the coming season. Our thought are with you and your family my friend. Hope to meet you one day.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@MichaelDavis-pq6ei Thank you, yes we will meet somewhere I'm sure.👍

[@juliealmond9546]

I think i can be pretty certain that whatever you go through and share with us, we go through with you. Thank you for your time your put together video and your knowledge.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@juliealmond9546 Thank you Julie ,hope all going well for you.

[@juliealmond9546]

@freebirdofreason1994 when your life is not so wobbly I will give you a catch-up. In the meantime be assured you are in my thought.

[@juliealmond9546]

@freebirdofreason1994 could be better but all OK thank you.

[@juliealmond9546]

@freebirdofreason1994 could be better but all OK thank you.

[@loughx]

Thanks for the video Pete at this difficult time.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@loughx my pleasure, it helps both ways.👍

[@Falconryandme22]

Hello Pete!yesterday I got to go out with my mentor and fly a few birds!we flew 2 Harris hawks,a Harris x retailed hawk mix and we tried his kestrel on a creance!it was great fun but one of the Harris hawks was a bit stubborn and sat in a tree for a bit-hope your doing better though and I can’t wait to get my own hawk 😊

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Falconryandme22 I'm doing OK thanks, sounds like you had a great time. Good luck with your future falconry. Appreciate your comment 👍

[@jthejh]

You have definitely proven that a hawk is never "starved" by a Falconer. Woody eats every day, which most wild hawks don't do. Some hawks can take 4 days to catch a meal, its very true! Woody comes back to you eventually because he's driven to come back. The repetition of each swoop on the glove just makes it easier and convienient for him to eat the food. At 6:25 I started to get worried that Woody would start self-hunting and you'd be chasing him around. However, if he did, that would be okay because all that flying could have reduced his weight low enough that he wouldn't self-hunt for the rest of the day and come more readily to the glove. But his weight was too high for that! I'm glad you showed the entire process of when you started whistling for Woody until he finally flew to it. It didn't take too long. I remembered you waiting 45 minutes for Woody to return when you first got him as a juvenile hawk! I'd say over the years it seems easier to keep him at higher weights! He knows you are asking him to come down. At 10:40 you popped the hood on Woody while you were walking. I wonder if you got that idea from the Falconry channel. I believe so because Dave was hooding his Golden Eagle while he walked to prevent him from bating too much. I know Woody just molted and you don't want his feathers getting broken before the first hunt. (whenever he finally decides to catch something) I think that's all I got for now....but another thought will surely come up later on. My hawk Molly won't take my food if I throw it to the ground. So since she won't do it, then Woody won't either at his high weight. Both hawks think alike. Back in the day, Molly used to take my food when she used to be perched on the lower branches of the trees. But nowadays she always perches on the tops of the trees. This is how I know she is not very hungry at all. So she is looking up higher for her meals, perhaps an unsuspecting bird that's flying past might interest her or if I place food on the wooden stand. Unfortunately, she rarely takes food from my glove anymore now that she poked her neck on the barbed wire fence. I was sure it was going to happen eventually, and sadly, she did! She is okay since she made a 2nd swoop afterwards when she successfully grabbed my chicken thigh. It was just too heavy for her to fly up and she didn't realize it at first. She ended up flying down and then sideways after she grabbed it the 2nd time. You warned people about flying their hawks near barbed wire fences and power lines. And now I know why!

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@jthejh Thanks for watching Jeremy and the interesting comment. Take care.

[@callum71knight]

Beauty

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@callum71knight Thanks

[@kilakila992kilakila2]

Even doe Woody has been working with you for years now they can still show a very independent streak now and then.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@kilakila992kilakila2 very true 👍 they are their own spirit.

[@bullfishingchannel8863]

Hi Pete, thanks for the new video, as this is my first year of flying with my male harris , now i see that he has to loose some of the weight. or the temperature needs to drop also.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@bullfishingchannel8863 Thank you, yes bit of cold weather helps sort weight a little faster. Weight management in the warm can be slow.

[@nrthlincspyro8622]

Part of it is knowing your bird but the thing is ther so bloody clever so weight is a huge part but also the type of food the take weather etc as u well no and not 1 season is ever the same as the last Mine was 2 .2 hunting last year at min shes at 2 5 and catching but a bit slow on recall so prob at her max hunting weight few grams lower n later in the day different bird keep it up mate

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@nrthlincspyro8622 yep it's always changing, glad all going well for you 👍

[@cubsotics2940]

Hi Pete I’ve recently got my female flying free perfect recall and I tried her on a rabbit carcass dragging along she nailed it should I now start hunting or do a little bit more free flying just for rewards on the glove