My birdfriend's back and they're gonna be in trouble (Hey la, hey la, my birdfriend's back)

[BirdManMike]

Mark let me know yesterday that he put the falcon in with Roach yesterday morning, then checked on them later in the day. She hadnt killed him - which sometimes happens - and Roach was already 'chupping' at her, basically saying 'hey, babe, check ME out'.

So thats good. The little shit is likely to get lucky and Mark may get some new birds from the pair as soon as this year.

 

[bowhuntmontana]

Mark let me know yesterday that he put the falcon in with Roach yesterday morning, then checked on them later in the day. She hadnt killed him - which sometimes happens - and Roach was already 'chupping' at her, basically saying 'hey, babe, check ME out'.

So thats good. The little shit is likely to get lucky and Mark may get some new birds from the pair as soon as this year.

Reminds me of some bar scenes I've witnessed.

 

[Oak]

Mark let me know yesterday that he put the falcon in with Roach yesterday morning, then checked on them later in the day. She hadnt killed him - which sometimes happens - and Roach was already 'chupping' at her, basically saying 'hey, babe, check ME out'.

So thats good. The little shit is likely to get lucky and Mark may get some new birds from the pair as soon as this year.

Did anything come of this? Guess you don’t have a bird this season?

 

[BirdManMike]

Did anything come of this? Guess you don’t have a bird this season?

No. They made a scrape and courted quite heavily but didn’t copulate. They will produce this summer.

I was offered a female from Marks other pair. Was offered a free bird from another breeder, too. Turned them down. Captive falcons breed a month earlier than those in the wild so the first year with a fresh birds means the season starts in early July with the training necessities. I don’t enjoy losing a large part of my summer with the time commitment and inability to travel.

I did a bit of trapping in late August. Had I found a young peregrine or young prairie falcon I’d have flown a wild bird. But I didn’t really put much effort in and ultimately decided on skipping a season. I’ve thought about falconry almost every day, especially when out running Greta on birds which I did a few times/ week before the fields had too much snow, but it’s been a positive break overall after going hard the past 11 seasons.

I’ll be offered birds again this summer. Both Roach’s offspring and others, I’m sure. There isn’t much of a market for captive falcons any more as the old timers age out of the sport. I’ll turn them all down.

My plan is to trap a prairie falcon in late Sept/early October.

 

[BirdManMike]

Also, my wirehair griff, the beauty queen Ms Olive, that I’ve mentioned in these bird topics passed away in January. She would have been 13 in March. I miss her a lot - she was my best girl and was my falconry dog until a couple seasons ago when the arthritis really started and she couldn’t do it every day any more.

 

[BirdManMike]

I guess the little shit got lucky.

I’ve been playing phone tag with Mark for a while now. He has been in and out of town. The first egg was laid two weeks ago.

This is really late in the year. It’s pretty typical for a pair that’s laying for the first time, but established, captive breeders are usually laying in early April or even March. Being so late, it’s really tempting to take one of the young birds as that means I’m starting with all the baby bird training in the second half of August rather than beginning of July and my entire summer isn’t lost, BUT…

I’ve already called the year. I gave away - and culled - my whole flock of homers so I have no pigeons. I’m taking a few years - or longer - off from falconry. Tough decision — I still think of flying birds every day and the urge gets stronger those Tuesdays I go over to Bozeman for the falconer lunch with those elderlies once/month or so, where we talk birds an hour straight.

I just don’t feel I’m chasing anything any longer. I’ve had both great and horrible seasons, but the last couple - even though they weren’t the ‘best’ by head count - were excellent (aside from the many non-hunting headaches). No ‘rat hawking’, no killing game from piddly little pitches, etc. - just high flying, hard stooping, absolutely classic game hawking. I've had a few good birds, but none that have ever flown with such gusto as Roach.

And, it is hard. It is five month, six months, or longer - especially the first year with a young bird - of every day 'work'. There is no leaving or taking time off (if it can be helped), not unless I'm willing to a 'pet keeper' - or close to it, anyway - which doesn't work for me — like most things I do, its balls-to-the-wall or nothing. I have been able to make this work with my job for over a decade, and I could continue making it work, but it's hard, and it can be stressful.

So, that's a wrap, the end of my stories of bird-on-bird violence here on HuntTalk. I'll be a real falconer again one day. Who knows, I may get sucked back in quicker than I think. I still have the elderlies and their birds to watch fly during the season. I'll probably head out to falcon camp again this year - without a bird - to see which of those elderlies are still kicking and hear their old stories for the 100th time. The elderlies have also convinced me to stay on the Board of the MT association - a position they shamed me into a few years ago - even though I am not going to be an active participant in the sport (I think they just like the fact I know how to do the confuser stuff for the club). There it is, I guess.

Fin.

 

[mdhunter]

I understand your decision but I am sorry to hear about it! I really enjoyed your postings and passion. Falconry is something I know nothing about but your threads were fascinating to read.

Good luck with your next endeavor.