Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Pretty Darn Cool

  1. #1
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Big Skyz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3,028

    Pretty Darn Cool

    This is pretty cool. Well at least I think it is. My oldest son has him a new Merlin falcon. The bird got it's first kill with him yesterday. Anything that reduces the number of starling in the world is a good thing in my opinion. He has had the falcon about a month and the training has been going very well. Falconry is a fascinating form of hunting and I used to enjoy training raptors with my son when he was a just a kid. Without further delay I'd like to introduce you to Spook the Merlin Falcon.


    My son has also changed quite a bit over the years. I haven't posted a picture of him in a while here is a recent pic. He's kind of hairy bugger these day. Looks the part of a falconer though.

  2. #2
    Administrator BarryBobPosthole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Owasso, OK
    Posts
    22,254
    Very cool indeed. Keep us posted.

    So how does he aquire his birds? Are most of them captive bred in that market?

    BKB
    Viva Renaldo!

  3. #3
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Big Skyz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3,028
    Nope wild birds that he traps. They must be younger yearling birds.

  4. #4
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) airbud7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Aiken, SC
    Posts
    3,875
    Cool...me want one...

  5. #5
    Administrator BarryBobPosthole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Owasso, OK
    Posts
    22,254
    So where is the notch in their beak that is talked about? I’ve heard the way to tell falcons from hawks is falcons have a notch in their beak. But I’ve never been able to figure out where on the beak that is.

    BKB
    Viva Renaldo!

  6. #6
    Administrator LJ3's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Leesburg, VA
    Posts
    6,590
    It's right above his beard.
    If we all threw our problems in a pile, and you saw everyone else's problems-- you'd take yours back.

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    218
    I have a hard enough time taking care of my chickens. Can't imagine the time and effort to trap, train and hunt with a hawk or falcon. One of the mega cool things in the outdoors I would love to be able to do, but sadly never will. Pretty dang ol neat Troy.




    Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Chicken Dinner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Occupied Virginia
    Posts
    8,477
    I’ve seen them work in person a couple times. Very cool!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Raoul Duke

  9. #9
    pUMpHEAD SYSOp Thumper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Mickey Mouseville, Florida
    Posts
    23,869
    I assume it’s a wild bird. How long can you hunt with them before you have to release ‘em Sky?

  10. #10
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) DeputyDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    IN
    Posts
    3,757
    That is so cool. Glad to see he kept his interest in that. I remember the posts from before he went on his mission.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    "Never try to fight an Old Dude. If you win, there's no glory; if you lose, your reputation is shot."

  11. #11
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Big Skyz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3,028
    Thumper I really don't know the answer to that. I'll ask my son and get back to you.

  12. #12
    Administrator BarryBobPosthole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Owasso, OK
    Posts
    22,254
    I could ask like a million questions.

    In trainng do they get to eat the bird and do they bring it back to hand?

    I read up on falcons and that notch in their beak is specialized to sever the spine of the prey right at the neck. How’s that for a handy shaped tooth?

    I found this too which is cool.

    http://redandthepeanut.blogspot.com/...cons-beak.html

    BKB
    Viva Renaldo!

  13. #13
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Big Skyz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3,028
    BKB, they get to eat some of the kill, but they monitor their weight really close. Plus if the bird isn't hungry it won't hunt so you don't want it to get too full. Once the hunt is over though, they get a good meal.

  14. #14
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Bwana's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    North Dakota
    Posts
    3,504
    Just be careful where he flies his bird.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgVz6EEjJtc

  15. #15
    pUMpHEAD SYSOp Thumper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Mickey Mouseville, Florida
    Posts
    23,869
    OH SHIT! That sucks.

  16. #16
    Administrator BarryBobPosthole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Owasso, OK
    Posts
    22,254
    Oh man.

    BKB
    Viva Renaldo!

  17. #17
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) airbud7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Aiken, SC
    Posts
    3,875
    Quote Originally Posted by Bwana View Post
    Just be careful where he flies his bird.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgVz6EEjJtc
    ruh-roh

  18. #18
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Big Skyz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    3,028
    Bwana, as they say...you can't fix stupid. In this case it wasn't the bird so much as the falconer.

  19. #19
    pUMpHEAD SYSOp Thumper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Mickey Mouseville, Florida
    Posts
    23,869
    Quote Originally Posted by Big Skyz View Post
    Bwana, as they say...you can't fix stupid. In this case it wasn't the bird so much as the falconer.
    I agree. That's the first thing that came to MY mind.
    "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness" - Mark Twain

  20. #20
    Senior Member (too much time on their hands) Trav's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,278
    My neighbor does it, he has a Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon and either a Red Shouldered Hawk or a Kestrel I can remember which. It is really a lot of work, you have to weigh them before and after you fly them and a lot of other stuff but they are really cool. He also keeps a pigeon coop for a ready supply of falcon fodder.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body.
But rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming...WOW, What a Ride!"

Our Friend, Tony "Gator" Hunter 1953-2007