stubby Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 hi all, the pest control firm that I work for, covers the pest management contract for london underground, we have four night techs, which I'm one of, and two day techs that run the falconry section, flying the birds in train depots now my manager called me a few days ago, saying he had the deal of a lifetime for me, as I'm known within the firm to do lots of country sports, he said the management wanted to send me on a falconry course, pay for an aviary/mews to be built in my garden, and give me one of the harris hawks, and that I would have full use of the bird for my own, as long as I covered three weeks per year when the day guys take holidays at first I accepted, thinking it would be great, but then had different thoughts, what little I know about falconry and using the birds, they need daily interaction, feeding,weighing?, and flying, therefore more work for me, not so bad you may say, but it also ties me to being at home every day, at this moment in time Im in the process of buying some woodland, and had planned on spending whole weekends there in the summer times, camping,working,shooting etc, and of course having a hawk at home would put a stop to that idea, wouldn't it?? I explained all this to my boss, who could see my point, but is still adamant I could learn falconry, without having a hawk at home, and thus still cover the three weeks a year, is that a sensible solution? I thought that with falconry you needed to build up trust with the bird being flown, or could you walk upto a previously unknown bird and fly it for a week here or there?? answers to the questions with after them please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 ask the current bloke, he has one that is working day in day out and will know the answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted November 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 ask the current bloke, he has one that is working day in day out and will know the answers. for reasons that I'm not prepared to go into on an open forum, I cant, which is why I asked here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumpy Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Ask these guy's they will be able to answer any questions you have regarding hawks www.facebook.com/groups/161970453921586/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee-kinsman Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 With a harris hawk that is trained to fly in public areas in the way thatthe pest control firms do you won't need to have a relationship with the bird. Me and a mate used to share the flying of a pair of harris hawks, occasionally we would take people out just for the days experience and the birds would work to them also. Any other commonly flown falcons or hawks I would have to say no to, but I would recommend a harris hawk to any novice as a starter bird. Most harris hawks can be trained to be petted like chickens. Regards, Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkeyes Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 mate flys four harris' doing pest control in various towns and cities across Ireland to great effect , have to say they're the most docile birds i've ever encountered , they would happily let my kids stroke them for hours if they could i say give it a go stubby ya might enjoy it ps for one summer anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrypen Posted December 1, 2012 Report Share Posted December 1, 2012 so explain why you dont think this will fit in with your projected plans Take the bird with you when you eventually get your forest ,,,what better way to build the required relationship harrypen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 Stubbs, you'll only ever get old and boring and regret not doing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 so explain why you dont think this will fit in with your projected plans Take the bird with you when you eventually get your forest ,,,what better way to build the required relationship harrypen as parents we have done the norm with kids pets, that we now look after, the kids are nearly ready to fly the roost, or do their own thing, as were both bikers, we see the future as our time, split between my shooting and sodding off on the bikes abroad, having yet another pet, that ties me to the house is not an option I want, the dog we can sit in a side car,lol, cant see that happening with a bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrypen Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 as parents we have done the norm with kids pets, that we now look after, the kids are nearly ready to fly the roost, or do their own thing, as were both bikers, we see the future as our time, split between my shooting and sodding off on the bikes abroad, having yet another pet, that ties me to the house is not an option I want, the dog we can sit in a side car,lol, cant see that happening with a bird You never mentioned this in first post,,,,,but at least you thought of another reason WHY NOT ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 You never mentioned this in first post,,,,,but at least you thought of another reason WHY NOT ? you seem to be getting upset over this sorry I didn't give my life story in the first post, but if you read my questions, you'll see I wanted to know if falconry was ok to do, WITH NOT KEEPING A BIRD AT HOME, at the end of the day, Im looking at whats best for me, and the harris hawk, or would you rather I be one of the many numpties out there that like the idea, gets a bird, chucks it in an aviary, chucks in dead chicks now and again, then gets the hump because the bird won't fly,overweight, not trained etc, attacking babies in prams in the park as last news report Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrypen Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 you seem to be getting upset over this sorry I didn't give my life story in the first post, but if you read my questions, you'll see I wanted to know if falconry was ok to do, WITH NOT KEEPING A BIRD AT HOME, at the end of the day, Im looking at whats best for me, and the harris hawk, or would you rather I be one of the many numpties out there that like the idea, gets a bird, chucks it in an aviary, chucks in dead chicks now and again, then gets the hump because the bird won't fly,overweight, not trained etc, attacking babies in prams in the park as last news report hold on boy you got me completely wrong , perhaps I need to use more smileys :lookaround: :innocent: I asked what I thought was a pertinent question to your original post did you not want sensible responces if not , my mistake Will now crawl back into my corner and stop wasting my time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 (edited) To answer part of your question. (quote)"I thought that with falconry you needed to build up trust with the bird being flown, or could you walk upto a previously unknown bird and fly it for a week here or there??" I take out clients hunting with hawks at least three times a week threw out the hunting season. all three of my hawks are more than happy to fly and work for complete strangers, providing they are on weight. however having a hawk on its true weight at the right time of the day is where the art comes into falconry. as one PW member said(quote) " Harris hawks can be one of the most docile birds I've ever encountered" but they would be pest control hawks that genially fly at higher weight than hunting hawks. Edited December 2, 2012 by Actionpigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkhawk67 Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 Hi. To be brutally honest if your hearts not in it don't do it! You can get away with "learning falconry" without a bird but do you really want to? I teach falconry at an agricultural college and would not recommend it if you're not 100% up for it. This may not be a popular answer but it's my honest opinion. I fly 25+ birds and haven't had a proper holiday for years the closest I get is a weekend away doing displays at gamefairs but I live for it ! Whatever you decide good luck and if you ever need any help just shout out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 To answer part of your question. (quote)"I thought that with falconry you needed to build up trust with the bird being flown, or could you walk upto a previously unknown bird and fly it for a week here or there??" I take out clients hunting with hawks at least three times a week threw out the hunting season. all three of my hawks are more than happy to fly and work for complete strangers, providing they are on weight. however having a hawk on its true weight at the right time of the day is where the art comes into falconry. as one PW member said(quote) " Harris hawks can be one of the most docile birds I've ever encountered" but they would be pest control hawks that genially fly at higher weight than hunting hawks. Hi. To be brutally honest if your hearts not in it don't do it! You can get away with "learning falconry" without a bird but do you really want to? I teach falconry at an agricultural college and would not recommend it if you're not 100% up for it. This may not be a popular answer but it's my honest opinion. I fly 25+ birds and haven't had a proper holiday for years the closest I get is a weekend away doing displays at gamefairs but I live for it ! Whatever you decide good luck and if you ever need any help just shout out. thank you for both replies, so going by the first reply, me covering three or four weeks holiday rota for the day falconry guy sounds doable, as long as I perhaps get the training, and pop out on jobs with him maybe one day a month its not so much as my heart not being into it 100%, we have night techs (me) and day techs, I would never become a day tech if I can help it, we have it too easy on nights, but Id be happy to do the cover, I just dont want to be a full time falconer, which I could see me becoming, if I housed a work bird at home you know how it works with big firms, it would be.... can you just come off nights for a week and cover this contract to save the falconer driving to essex, one job would become two jobs would become three etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 well, started my weeks falconry training today, told the instructor my concerns, and within an hour had forgotten them, and was planning turning an old dog run into an aviary, bloody love it, and will be in talks with bosses about housing a bird at home, along with a pay rise of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkhawk67 Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Hi Glad you're enjoying your course Just to be pedantic birds of prey are kept in mews or weatherings not aviaries. What qualification do you come out with at the end of you're course? Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted January 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Hi Glad you're enjoying your course Just to be pedantic birds of prey are kept in mews or weatherings not aviaries. yup did know that, you always get one,lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olly321 Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 what you got to loss give it a go bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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