I had a friend take pictures of my hawk, she takes much better pictures than me! I thought you guys might like to see my 'big bird'.


Sorry it came out so big, I reduced the size like I normal do but it's still big.
Ekkies

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow, is she trained to hunt?

ha, maybe she can teach my vasa not to head hunt. But hopefuly not by eating him.

No he isn't trained to hunt, he flies for pleasure. I take him for walks, he follows me by flying between trees. That doesn't mean if something was there for the taking he wouldn't do it but he hasn't yet. He sees the easy option as getting his food from me.

WOW!!!!!!! How do you house it? Can you actually handle it like a pet, as far as stroking or petting? I would love to hold it. Have you had it since it was young? Whats the story?????????

That is so cool Ekkies......Rob is in the process of doing a falconry apprenticeship ...he LOVES them as well. Very impressive. I've seen a few up close and personal myself.

When Rob gets home from work I'll have to show him the picture....he'll be so jealous. A bird of prey is the next on his wish list actually. He is learning to fly them to hunt however. (He works at an airport tower, became friends with the "bird man" and started working with them that way). He is just fascinated by them! I have seen him handle them a few times and WOW are they intimidating.

It's funny though because the guy that is teaching him came over because he wanted to see our B&G (just had the one at the time) and he was more nervous of her then of his hawks/falcons. I of course found that odd....but as Rob explained....birds of prey don't generally bite...it's the talons you have to worry about...hence the kangaroo hide gloves. So with our birds he was worried about a nicely placed bite!!!!

Very cool though! Would love to see more pictures and hear all about it!!! Much different from a companion bird....not generally the touchy feely kind of pet....but very interesting none the less.

Thanks so much for sharing!

He doesn't handle like a pet Leigh, I do get to stroke him and generally touch him to check he's ok. I kiss him on his wing everytime I put him down but keep that to yourself! Don't tell another falconer, they'd have a fit, lol.
Yes, Kris it's the talons you have to watch, he doesn't bite but will foot you. He's caught me a couple of times when I haven't been quick enough and my hand got in the way of his dinner, he didn't do it on purpose it was my fault not his. I would worry more about Charlie's beak than my hawks!

I had him when he was 18 weeks old and trained him myself, he's 5 years old. I fly him for 7 months of the year through the winter, then he moults out in his aviary in the summer. He has a 40' by 20' aviary with lots of branches and a indoor house.
Ekkies

How did you acquire it? I would love to keep one if it came my way, someday when we have land. Maybe one thats in need of rehab and couldnt be released. Is it more partial to only one of you? Can other people handle it?

How did you train him for flying with out hunting? I don't know much about keeping raptors or training them, but I am very curious about this.