April Update

Life has been busy, New Move and New Job. I've spent first month in Bartlesville unpacking and learning my new job. I've been involved in IT for 20 Years now starting off using computers and programming them for music then got my first real job working for Brother International . Computing has really changed in that time My first Computer was an Atari ST and my First PC was a home built 386DX. computers are so different from what they where.

My new job is completely different to anything i have really done before. Team Foundation Server Administrator for a large development department for a leading energy company. There is some programming involved but it's mainly fixing MS Build  and user permissions.  i am totally loving it. For the last 5 years i have been doing two jobs free lance photographer and web designer/Creative Technologist/.net programmer and on top of that husband , father and stressed to a massive level . In fact if it wasn't for falconry i'm not to sure i would be sane or even alive right now and i kinda question the sane bit.

I have been miserable and i probably haven't been the best person to speak to or get on with. To those that have felt the brunt of that i apologies.

It seems very strange not having a raptor in the house something i hope to change in the not to distant future.

I still want a coopers hawk but i also want some sort of falcon. The number of starlings and birds around this area is like 20 times more than Colbert . I have rabbits in my back yard (Never had that before)  and dove constantly come to feed. I have already seen a couple of pairs of adult coopers in the local neighborhood. I don't think i realized how barren of nature Bryan county is right now. I arrive hear and it seems strange listening to birds sing and having sparrows in the rafters , Jays, Dove , Boat Tailed Grackle, Common Grackle, Brewers Black Bird and Starlings flying into the yard on an hourly basis.

I have a co-worker that's been telling me about a field of quail he walks his dogs in.

The house we are renting has a fairly large yard and i am planing on moving my pigeon up here before the start of the season as well as build a weathering area ( I like to keep mu birds in the house at night )

I have had a request form the land lord to get liability insurance to cover him in case of the raptor escaping and hurting someone even by accident. I have spoken to a few renters insurance companies and Falconry birds have now been classed as exotic pets and therefore require special insurance. so far i have found one company that offers that kind of insurance  http://www.xinsurance.com/insurance-options/personal-liability/exoticpets/

It a requirement of the lease and its expensive but i can kind of see where the landlord is coming from.

I'll start posting pictures of the mews construction and loft construction. if any OFA Members in the Tulsa/Bartlesville area want to waste a few hours helping me and share a few beers and cook out as i construct things you would be more than welcome and please get in contact.