First Rabbit

This is a first in so many ways.

We headed out to the airport. I knew a field i had hunted before but the only problem with it is its waste deep in briar's for much of the field. You have to crash through them there are that many. The idea was we might fly willow a bit, catch maybe a rat but get her ready for the weekend. Cope out i know but anything was worth a try. Well that was the theory.

My son in law Luke came with me and we pulled up next to the field. and soon he was cussing me because of all the briar's , I guess i didn't use it much last year because of the pain you experienced when you entered and when you left it.

First slip resulted in a confused hawk. She came down in a classic tear drop, i spotted a rabbit hole but with nothing in it we quickly moved on. Second slip resulted in a wing over that was just amazing.

She was soon on the rabbit and telling me about her achievement. She has not said a word in 8 weeks and now she was screaming. I dispatched the rabbit quickly and fed her up. Trade off was crap, something we will have to work on but there was no way in hell she was going to let her rabbit go. We headed home, she ate 100 grams of rabbit tonight, i put her outside hopefully she will be at weight for tomorrow i have another spot to check out.

Sorry no pictures as i forgot my mobile phone.

oh yeah, on the way home i got stopped by the cops, in my excitement i forgot to put my lights on, the cop laughed and i went on my way.

All i can say is way to go Willow !

Day 7

Things are going slow, She refuses to jump to my glove, She will stretch but wont jump, Her manning is coming along. She bates but not that often, she sits on the perch and after bating from the perch will return to it. She currently weighs 1225 grams coming down slowly hopefully tomorrow she will make that big step, she is almost there but not quite, I'm being impatient but its all about trust and right now i still haven't got her trust but we are getting there... even if it is slower than i want.

Sparrow Hawks in Turkey

I love sparrow hawks they are my favorite hawk. Unfortunately even if i could have one i couldn't afford one in the USA.

I watched these videos about a year ago from another site but they recently came up on a listserv i subscribe to and are worth reposting.

Heading towards OKC on Sunday (its my birthday ) to try and pick up a Tiercel Redtail Hawk, I can't wait. The wife is coming and so is my mentor. Things will be very different this year not just in behaviour from a different hawk but in allot of ways its like starting from scratch and as a complete novice. Weight management is going to be very different.

I am also interested in getting some articles, Bill Boni graciously sent me an article on the passage coopers ( next years project maybe) but I'm also after the follow that appeared on American Falconry.

"Duck Hawking with Shortwings" by Don Hunley Vol 25
"The Suburban Passage Coopers Hawk by Paul Hofsommer (vol 26)
"Hawking Quail and sparrows with an Eyas Sharp-Shined Hawk" by Tracy Dewit & Jennifer Coulson Vol 13

If anyone has these volumes or extra ones and they don't want it please email me as i would gladly read them.