Falconry
Falconry is the process (some say art) of training birds of
prey to hunt with you. We use falconry training techniques to
evaluate a bird's ability to survive in the wild. If a bird's ability
to survive due to an injury or disease is in question, we will
train this bird and take it out hunting. The bird is free flying
while hunting and not only is this great exercise, but makes it
easier to judge whether this bird can make it out on its own. If
the bird is successful at hunting it will be released shortly.
The downside to using falconry is that it is very time
consuming and most rehabilitation facilities cannot put this
kind of time into a bird.
prey to hunt with you. We use falconry training techniques to
evaluate a bird's ability to survive in the wild. If a bird's ability
to survive due to an injury or disease is in question, we will
train this bird and take it out hunting. The bird is free flying
while hunting and not only is this great exercise, but makes it
easier to judge whether this bird can make it out on its own. If
the bird is successful at hunting it will be released shortly.
The downside to using falconry is that it is very time
consuming and most rehabilitation facilities cannot put this
kind of time into a bird.
"Dino", a young Coopers Hawk out at hack
Hacking is a procedure where the bird is trained
to come to a lure or a hack board feeding site
once a day for food but is free to come and go as
it wants. This allows the bird to get experience
living in the wild while having a steady supply of
food available until it learns to hunt on its own.
After a few weeks of hacking, I will cut the feeding
down to every two days and then down to every
third day at which point most birds have gone off
on their own. Hacking gives the bird exercise and
experience that can never be gained in a flight
cage. We usually use hacking with young birds
that have no experience in the wild.
to come to a lure or a hack board feeding site
once a day for food but is free to come and go as
it wants. This allows the bird to get experience
living in the wild while having a steady supply of
food available until it learns to hunt on its own.
After a few weeks of hacking, I will cut the feeding
down to every two days and then down to every
third day at which point most birds have gone off
on their own. Hacking gives the bird exercise and
experience that can never be gained in a flight
cage. We usually use hacking with young birds
that have no experience in the wild.
This is a lure, which is simply a piece
of leather, usually weighted, with
straps for tying on pieces of meat
of leather, usually weighted, with
straps for tying on pieces of meat
Here is a close-up photo of a radio
tracking transmitter attached to a tail
feather. The transmitter is used to
track down birds that have taken off on
their own. A special metal piece is
crimped around the feather shaft and
then the transmitter clips into it.
tracking transmitter attached to a tail
feather. The transmitter is used to
track down birds that have taken off on
their own. A special metal piece is
crimped around the feather shaft and
then the transmitter clips into it.