WHILST HARRIS HAWK MOULTS we visit Icarus Falconry Centre

[@williampinchers]

I love Daves all round love of nature

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks William for watching, yes Dave has a vast knowledge of everything.

[@kilakila992kilakila2]

Lovely video, well shot loved the bit on your Harris at the start. Well done.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you much appreciated encouragement 👍

[@britishgal1808-Sue]

Awesome video, Pete. What a great place to visit, it was lovely to see all the different BOP and the other critters. And the weather looked really good. Always good to see Woody outside sitting on your glove :)

[@freebirdofreason1994]

This was a lovely weekend, I’m glad I can share a glimpse of the day, enjoy your weekend. Thanks for watching👍

[@phillipwasson2980]

First rate show. Thanks for the video. 👌

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you.

[@rhyswelyn]

Enjoyed vid, well filmed. Our two harris have now decided to full to come out, fully into the moult

[@freebirdofreason1994]

I’m not sure how long I can go getting him out , maybe not much longer. Good luck with the moulting

[@rhyswelyn]

Ours only stopped last weekend, still chatting away though

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

Wow Pete, what a professional type production. You sir, have mad talent with that camera! 😎🎥👍

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you Mike , I tried to do this falconry centre justice , this centre has a lot passion behind it . They do so much for falconry. Good luck with the moult and keep catching those fish.

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

Wow, it looks like you had quite a fun time while visiting Dave and his staff at Icarus Falconry Centre! The flights were very impressive, especially in slo-mo! The way the lure was being spun around and around must give the arms a real workout! Dave definitely knows what he is talking about when he explains about their hunting styles! I gotta say, the vultures were pretty ugly and the owls were mysterious! I'd say those are my least favorite birds of them all, owls especially only because it is hard to do anything with them during the day when they aren't active! Falcons can be advantageous for their speed and agility, whereas an eagle can bring sheer power and strength! The ability that you want that bird to have is all based on how you train it! Now about Woody, oh no, he was all alone for 4 whole days! That's too long man! He's gotta have some interaction, this way when you return, he'll still remember you!

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Woody still came out when I got back, but as with the last moult he is starting to get more unhappy but very content sitting watching from the aviary. I will still have contact as long as possible but I don’t want to slow his moult with any stress. He certainly doesn’t want enrichment toys like I tried, this enrichment in the video on KZbin must be when the hawks are at lower weight, at fat weight they are not interested even in food for the most part, so expecting them to engage in lifting stuff for food is not happening. I will still make videos of what’s happening, we have great plans for the next hunting season.

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

I remember you explaining about the hawks getting stress lines on the tail feathers if they have gone through too much stress or not eating the correct foods. I know Woody can be fun to hang out with even at his fat weight! He was at a lower weight when you first tried the enrichment, which is why he was more willing to fly down to take the meal from the block when you lifted it up. Maybe, if you kept kept lifting up the block yourself and hand fed him the meal, and do that repeatedly every single day, he would get in the habit of releasing how easy it is to obtain that meal! Then he'll be able to do that even at his fat weight! I really want Woody to feel happy seeing you! If he is alone too much, then that's what he'll expect the rest of the moulting season. You GOTTA spend at least half of the day being within the hawk's sight, even if you are just gardening outside! That would make me happy! You can't think too far ahead, because then you'll think to yourself, "things will get better when the hunting season starts again". But I know things can get better right now! Woody has to overcome his laziness and stubbornness somehow! I know there's a way! One idea I have is creating a series called "Reading with Woody", where you could read an enlightening book that could really help you as well as the audience. This can also help Woody by hearing your voice, that way he remembers you more!

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@JeremyThePlayer88 woody want eat from my glove at the moment, he is so content in weight he isn't even taking a small piece of his favourite meal, chicks.from me. I still get him out ,I hope to film this very soon, he sometimes eats on the perch outside but not all the time. He always sits watching every thing that goes on in the garden, it funny or interesting to see that if anyone but me goes and says hi , he will open his wings and scream at them, but nothing with me. This shows they certainly recognise faces, and I mean no harm, this screaming by the way is something that only happens at fat weight, he get grumpy .

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

Hmmm, I do wonder if this is why the hawk at the Jacksonville Airport sometimes flies off before I can approach him, even if he is across the street! It must be because he is at his fat weight, but he still has nestlings to feed! So he still has to hunt anyways, but he doesn't want to deal with me and would rather self-hunt! Why does a hawk have to change its attitude so much just for being at a higher weight? He has been impatient sometimes due to this! Last week, I tried tying raw chicken inside a zip lock bag, poked 2 holes in the bag and slipped a fishing line in so that both ends are secured to the wooden post! Then I put super glue on top to try to trap him. I do have nail polish remover to get the glue off, as well as gloves and a bag to protect myself and the hawk from the mess! When I did this a 2nd time several days later, he was watching me from 100 feet away, then as I was pouring the super glue on the zip-lock bag, he decided to fly away towards his nest without waiting any longer! I think he knew what I was doing because I did this in the past, and he knows that the fishing line means he can only stay to eat the food! He ended up ripping up the bag to get to the chicken, but only ate a few bites until I got too close to him even though I was 60 feet away! That was when he flew off without anything, and he ended up standing on the fence next to the chicken that was hanging slightly from the post. Then he flew off without giving me the chance to throw any meat to him. The video of that happening is right here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2e5lJhmZpiGY9E. He ended up trying to fly off with the chicken at the 4:00 mark, but then he flew back and grabbed the chicken to keep eating. Once he was full from eating and tried flying away with it at 7:35, and then perched on the same spot as before, he gave up and flew off. If that happens again, this hawk might lose trust with me! But...if I can trap him, I can at least show him that I mean no harm and I just want to approach him to hand-feed him! Then I'll crouch down and raise my arm towards his beak, and he should accept my food! After that, he'll be willing to stay to let me hand-feed him again and again! The biggest problem with this hawk is that his nest is in a deep forest, far away from any people! So he never had opportunities to swoop on prey when people are near. Also, he's been hunting longer than I've lived here in Georgia, which means that this hawk could even be 10 years old for all I know! There is a wise saying that goes, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", nor can you do the same thing with a hawk either! So even if I succeeded at building trust with this hawk, he may forget about me hand-feeding him very quickly and be back to his usual ways of only allowing me to throw the food or set it down for him if he's across the street! I could use a bal-chatri trap but I'm not willing to spend $100 for a used one at the moment! If I did, I don't have any live prey to use to make any movements so that it can adjust its talons to get stuck in the nooses. So I'd have to attach a long fishing line to a chicken leg and make the leg move myself! Woody is too physically attached to his perch! Maybe he will enjoy standing on your glove more as you keep on manning him! He does seem that he's very territorial because there's really nothing else for a hawk to do at fat weight! And you should be glad that Woody doesn't scream at you, that's because you are the one feeding Woody! I've tried way too hard for this hawk and things aren't improving with him, but I just really, REALLY need a hawk friend! This is why I need to trap him, he's gotta overcome his fear of me somehow and that is the only way!

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@JeremyThePlayer88 Hawks have a very different mind to us, at high weight or fat weight they really seem to have attitude, it’s a mystery to me . All I can say is, we need to accept this and work with what we have I guess. Now , you must not use super glues it’s toxic, just imagine a Hawk getting this on its feet the having its talons stuck together, it could die . Super glue sticks skin in seconds and it’s so difficult to release. The fumes from it and nail varnished remover will kill birds of prey. Wait until you have a sponsor. I do appreciate your comment, and the link. Keep feeding and watching your wild hawks, and remember they are wild and will alway be fearful of humans and predators. Only use equipment legally in use in your country. I hope this advice is useful. Good luck with your hawk watching.

[@daleskidmore1685]

What a great place to visit. I went to Leeds Castle and saw their Falconry show and really enjoyed it; They are well worth visiting just to help them keep going and assist the breeding programmes. Hope you enjoyed the few days away.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

We had a nice break, I wasn’t one for displays but this was quality. I think I need to visit Leeds castle not been there for years, was is recently you saw a falconry display there or in the past.

[@daleskidmore1685]

@@freebirdofreason1994 Yes, probably 4 or 5 years ago now, but really good.

[@matthewlong8569]

Looks like a decent weekend, you did well getting the footage the speed some of those birds travelled! Great job. How much longer do you think you can keep Woody manned sensibly?

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you it was a fantastic day, I tried show what it was like , to be there was so interesting. Im not sure how long I will manage to keep Woody manned, if he shows signs of stress I will stop, last year I missed about a week due to a holiday and when I returned I couldn’t get him out, seems almost like they have a short memory to me, I’m trying to keep it going , but I will follow his lead.

[@matthewlong8569]

@@freebirdofreason1994 he's a creature of habit, no shame in that. Interesting to see if keeping him manned any less or more time makes any difference at the end of the moult, I look forward to hopefully finding out.

[@Icarusfalconryholdenby]

Hi Woody 😊

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Hi 👍😎

[@Zombie_Longwinger]

I’m just curious how come you’re still handling your Hawk and not put him away to moult ?

[@freebirdofreason1994]

He is moulting out but I have kept contact just to see if I can keep him slightly manned, then when we are out flying he will be better earlier. I may stop if he reacts badly, at the moment he is ok. I’m feeding him after he has been out most times, some day straight through the chute. Next year I may do different.

[@Zombie_Longwinger]

@@freebirdofreason1994 Got you with a nice a aviary like yours you can isolate him with your hatch I’d just feed him all he wants but not let him get crazy fat not bother weighing him and just leave him alone you have the option with your aviary of cleaning it out jet washing picking up feathers with your design. This isn’t negative criticism he won’t forget who you are he will just go slightly wild put some permanent jesses on him for when you pick him up later in the year just lower his ration everyday until he jumps to the glove I think he will moult faster not being handled. I moult my falcons at the block but I’m sure not handling them and leaving them alone to get on with it would produce better results I’ll probably revert back to a seclusion aviary next year. You’ve done an excellent job with your Harris Peter you should be proud you won’t lose your bond if you do decide to leave him alone it’s whatever makes you happy at the end of the day. Mind you it would give you a chance to make some bells copper please thin size small I’ll have some off you if you do decide ££ 👍🏼

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Zombie_Longwinger I did actually wonder if his moult may slow if I handle him, I definitely won't stress him, I'm really only going with what he seems to tolerate, I'm not over feeding this year but he eats plenty good mixed meats . I may make bells at some point, they were more of an exercise to see if I could make them. I know you are right leaving them alone would be fine, he is happy just looking out at what's going on in his garden , also permanent flying Jesse's are now left on, learnt a lesson last season moult end. Good luck

[@Zombie_Longwinger]

@@freebirdofreason1994 You do what works for you and him I find sometimes they moult then drop nothing for a while at that weight then it’s almost like you need to “Give them the gorge” I call it a nice big crop and put their weight up to stimulate feathers being dropped and feather production give them a shock to their system. I bet if you put him in his shed and gorged him once a week and let his weight go up feathers would fly out of him. You could hook one of those plant watering spray hoses right over the top of his perch and soak him to encourage him to preen and pull old feathers out. Permanent jesses are a must to catch them up why stress them out with a tea towel or net. If he’s dropping nicely why bother I think does he think I’m denying him the privilege of flying ? By just handling him daily does he resent seeing me ? Am I doing more harm psychologically by not just stopping all contact. I know peregrines become very moody and bate a lot when being moulted at the block and you 100% risk knocking out or smashing a nice new feather handling them when being moulted especially bating against the perch without a Jess extender the tail is a real risk to keep perfect.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Zombie_Longwinger great comment and advice, i have been giving good feeds , he won’t fill his crop now, just eating small amounts at fat weight, I’m feeding pigeon today, nice red meat. He is bathing well but I like the idea of sprinkler if I can hide the hose which he doesn’t like. I will try to feed latter today and a nice amount. All makes good sense 👍