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| Peregrine/Saker Diary 2007 |
I was asked if I would like a 2 year old Peregrine / Saker from a nice local couple who didn't have the time to fly him or much experience with falcons. He hadn't been touched for 6 months. They told me he was flown by somebody else before them at the lure and game but the couple couldn't tell me much. I went and had a look at him on Friday night. I haven't flown a falcon before and decided to give it a go with the lure while my Female Harris hawk was moulting.
Sat 31st March 2007
Picked up the bird. He wasn't fed on Friday so I tried to see whether he would step onto the fist for food as soon as I went near him he was off to the other side of the aviary so I had to catch him with my carp landing net. He didn't bate much on my fist and it was easy to hood him. I took him home and put him on the block perch in the garden. He only bated when approached. At dusk I took him inside and weighed him 1lb5. I tried him with one chick and after about a minute he dropped his head and started to feed. I sat and watched TV with him on the fist for an hour before putting him away for the night
Sun 1st April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.6oz. Put him on the block all day, he bated when I picked him up. Weighed him at tea time and fed him a chick on the glove. Tried him with the lure, I dropped it to the side of him and he jumped on it almost straight away. As I approached him slowly and low with a pick up piece he tried to fly off with the lure and as he realised he couldn't because I was kneeling on the line he left it and bated he got back on my fist for the pick up piece though. Manned him for an hour in the late evening.
Mon 2nd April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.5oz. Weighed him at tea time, he didn't bate as I picked him up. He ate a chick on the glove. I put him on the block in the house and he came the length of the leash for another. I sat with him on the fist for an hour touching his feet end chest gently every now and then, he didn't seem to be that bothered by it. Try him out side tomorrow.
Tue 3rd April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.5oz at 5.30pm. He seems to be maintaining his weight with 2 skinned and gutted chicks per day. He was tangled up when I got him out, and a bit stressed out. I put him on the block in the garden for a while to settle him. Got him to jump onto the fist for food in the garden then tried to get him to fly about 20 foot as he was coming he lost his nerve and flew past me. My fault I was seeing how keen he was at this weight. I put him back on the block and tried again at about 5 foot then 10 foot then 20 foot, each time he came instantly. Manned him for a couple of hours, he was preening himself and standing on one foot on the glove which is a good sign that he's getting tamer.
Wed 4th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.oz. at tea time, he's not bateing any more. He was slightly tangled on the block again so I shortened his Jesses so they can't straggle the block. Got him to fly to me 4 times about 20 foot, he was coming as I was walking away. Manned him for a hour and a half. Thought he might be imprinted as I don't know any thing about his history and he is very tame, but I changed my mind as he saw himself in a mirror he reacted to his reflection and was very vocal. Need to train him to lure now, he already knows what the lure is, he jumped onto it on Sunday.
Thu 5th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.4oz. at tea time, came across the garden 3 times on the creance to the lure. I hate using the creance its very messy. After he had fed from the lure and was back on my fist I hooded him and set up the lure again. He was coming to the lure almost instantly. I manned him for an hour in the house.
Fri 6th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.3oz. at tea time, Took him onto the school field and flew him with Alf. Alf had him hooded on his fist until I got into position. He came 4 times after about 5 seconds 20, 40, 60, 80 foot after each flight he was hooded and put on Alf's fist as I set up the lure. He had 3 skinned chicks. manned him at home for an hour. Saw a injured wood pigeon flapping as we walked onto the field, he was bating toward it. Didn't let him go as he is still trying to get away with the lure when I approach him, he needs more training yet.
Sat 7th April 2007
Went to London for the bank holiday weekend. Took him to Paul's, he looked after him while I was away. Picked him up on Monday night he had just eaten two chick so I didn't hood him in the travel box, he was fine.
Tue 10th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.2oz. at tea time. Took him onto the school field and flew him with Charlie. He came to me about 80 foot then Charlie threw out the lure about 120 foot, double the length of the creance. The third time he flew about 80 foot and I pulled the lure away before he could get it, he flew past and as I called he swung around and went for if again. After each flight he was hooded as I set up the lure. He didn't try to get away with the lure when I approach him today. He happily took a couple of tip bits as he was feeding on the lure before jumping on the glove for his pick up piece. He had 2 skinned chicks. Manned him out side Charlie's for an hour while all the kids where there. He was a bit nervous at first but eventually settled down.
Wed 11th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.6oz. He was bateing as I approached him. Not a good sign but I thought I would see how he behaves. Took him onto the school field to a different place there was a lot of people about. I fitted the telemetry transmitter onto his back harness, which was already fitted when I got him, to get him used to it for flying free. Charlie tried him about 80 foot but it he didn't come instant, then I threw out the lure about 100 foot he didn't come until I started to pick it up and he ended up flying past me. He did turn though as I threw it out the second time. The third time he flew about 100 foot to Charlie it took over a minute to come so after that we called it a day. He was ok getting off the lure for the pickup piece. Manned him in the garden for 30 minutes he didn't like being touched and wouldn't settle down.
I'm going to weigh him with just jessies on in future for a more accurate reading as slight differences in the position of the swivel as you hold it makes a big difference to the weight. With the weight of the bird being so light it is important to get his weight correct. A 1/4 of an ounce makes a lot of difference to a smaller bird.
I'm going to drop his weight to just under 1lb 4oz and see how he responds. So far he has been doing what I have asked, but he hasn't been really keen. I also got a 200 foot creance yesterday so I can start to increase the distance.
Thu 12th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.1oz with just he's jesses. He is a lot keener today. Took him to a turf field in Newburgh. I fitted the telemetry transmitter. He came 120 foot for the lure then Charlie tried him about 180 foot, then I threw out the lure about 240 foot. I pulled the lure and he flew past me then turned. He seems comfortable now when I'm approaching him when he's on the lure and getting him off the lure for the pickup piece is easy as well. Manned him for an hour. Fed him 2 chicks. I am going to fly him free on Saturday then I've got the hole day to find him if it all goes wrong.
Fri 13th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.8oz with just he's jessies. No food today.
Sat 14th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.5oz. at 8am. He was very keen, as I approached him he was bobbing his head and he jumped onto the glove as I went to pick him up. Took him onto the school field with Charlie and fitted the flying jesses and the transmitter onto his back harness. I threw out the lure about 150 foot from him, he came instantly. We set it up again but used a dead magpie instead of the lure, again he came instantly and I let him have a few mouthfuls. The 3rd time I got him to turn 4 times before letting him have it. Manned him in the garden for 30 minutes 4 time through out the day. He was pulling on his harness and one of the cable tie came off, I had to remove it.
Sun 15th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.0oz at 9am. He was bateing as I picked him up and as I put him in the travel box. Not a good sign especially as I was going to fly him without a transmitter. Took him onto the school field with Lesley. I tried him about 150 foot, he came but his response was slow. The second time we flew him he was slow again, he passed me once circled and went and sat in a tree 200 foot away. I threw the lure out onto the floor and he came for it. As he came I didn't want to reward him for landing so I started to swing it again. I made him pass it once before throwing it out for him. Got him to do one more straight flight to me then called it a day. I'm a bit puzzled with his behaviour at this weight. He had 2 chicks
Mon 16th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 2.8oz at 6pm. He was acting really keen on the block so I went to the top field. Put a chick on each side of the lure. Walked into the field and held up my fist, after a while he took off. Thinking about it I should have hooded him as I walked into the field otherwise he might start to bate as we are walking un-hooded thinking I'm going to swing the lure. He stooped about ten times by then he was low so I threw out the lure, he took a while to get his breath back and start feeding. I let him have one chick and then flew him again about another 8 stoops. I was shouting hoe to get him to turn, in future I will only shout hoe when I'm throwing out the lure this will give me a safe guard so in a worse case scenario when the bird hear hoe it knows its going to get food and will come instantly. Fed him 3 chicks. In future if he is batting when I pick him up I wont fly him. Took him to Paul's, fitted a tail mount a leg bell and cropped his beak. Manned him for an hour while we had coffee.
Tue 17th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.0oz at 6pm. Went to the top field with Charlie my 10 year old nephew. Flew him off Charlie's fist. Stooped him 8 times for a chick then about another 7. As he landed on the lure Charlie shouted a load of tail feathers have fallen out and in his hand was about half a dozen long feathers. I thought Charlie must have been holding them as the bird took off and pulled them out. I looked down at the bird but everything seemed normal. When I looked back at Charlie he was laughing and said they where pheasant feathers he found on the floor. I could have killed him, it was a good one though. Fed 3 chicks.
Wed 18th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.3oz at 6pm. Took him to the top field. He stooped about 8 times then after he got his breath back he stooped about 7 times then landed on the floor. My fault I new he was tired but thought one more. As soon as he landed I shouted hoe and threw out the lure he came straight away. Fed him 4 chicks.
Thu 19th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.3oz at 6pm. Took him to the top field with Susan and Charlie. He seemed keen when I picked him up but in the field it was disastrous. It took ages for him to take off Charlie's fist and when he did he flew a long way over the top of a wood. He looked as though he was going to land but he didn't, Instead he came at the lure from a good height, I miss timed the swing and he nailed it. We set it up again this time as he set off Charlie's fist the jesses got snagged some how and he ended up on the floor. He then flew up into a tree, I continued to swing the lure he came but instead of going for the lure he landed on the floor next to me. I threw out the lure and called it a day. Fed him 2 chicks at home (4 in total). Each time he has played up there has been women about. The fist time to girls were running around the track close to us on the field then Lesley came with me and now Susan. I have read a few time about how a bird doesn't like flying with certain company. This could be the reason why?
Fri 20th April 2007
Fed one chick. Flying early tomorrow.
Sat 21st April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.0oz at 11am. Took him onto the school field on my own, as soon as the hood was off he took flight and did about 5 really good stoops coming from behind bushes and very fast. I got him back on the fist and after a few minutes he took off again. He turned once flew straight past me and ignored the lure and sat in a tree. He took off almost straight away but landed on the floor next to me. Took him home and fed him 2 chicks in the garden. 4 in total. He seems really tired after the first flight and hasn't got the energy to carry on. I'm going to increase he weight and see how he responds. If he's no better I'll only do one set of stoops as I don't want him to get into a routine of going into a tree.
Sun 22nd April 2007
Rained all day fed 4 chicks
Mon 23rd April 2007
Rained all day fed a rabbits back leg
Tue 24th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.4oz at 6pm didn't seem that keen so I gave him one chick
Wed 25th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.0oz at 6pm he seemed a lot keener today. Took him to the top field with Charlie. We had a walk around the Tawd hooded for a bit to see if we could get a flight at a magpie but we never saw any. We stooped him about 5 times when we got back onto the top field then after he got his breath back he stooped about 5 times then did it again about 4 times he was low on the last go. He flew a lot stronger today an ounce heavier and his response was good as well. Fed him the meat of one rabbit back leg.
Thu 26th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.3oz at 6pm. Fed him the back off a small rabbit.
Fri 27th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 3.7oz at 7pm. Fed him 3 chicks
Sat 28th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4.7oz at 1pm. Not as keen as Wednesday. Took him to the top field with Charlie. There was a crow at the bottom of the field. I removed the hood as the crow took flight. He flew towards it but had no chance so I started to swing the lure and got him to stoop about 5 times before giving it to him and then hooding him. We had a walk around and saw two magpie close to some bushes. I removed the hood and as he went for them they managed to get to the bushes so he circled them for a while. He was about to land in a trees so I threw out the lure. We went back towards the car and stooped him about 5 more times when we got to the top field. Fed him 4 chicks and a rabbits back leg
Sun 29th April 2007
No food today.
Mon 30th April 2007
His weight was 1lb 4oz at 6pm. Took him for a walk around the tawd, as we were coming to the end of the wood I saw a magpie, I took his hood off and he went up threw the trees. By the time I was clear of the wood he was gone, I had lost him. I went back to the car got the telemetry out but didn't get a signal. Tried a friends receiver but the same no signal.
Tue 1st May 2007
Was out swinging the lure on all the fields around where I lost him as soon as it came light. Didn't have any luck. Got in touch with the police and IBR and informed the local falconers. I would like to thank Les Baldwin and Bernie Orourke for all there help, I appreciated it.