Number One studied and studied and tested and jumped through hoops for both the state and federal governments, and he got his Apprentice Falconer's License.
But, by the time he got all the licensing stuff back from the state and the feds last year, he didn't really have time to catch a hawk before the season ended, and he was bummed about that.
He made traps during summer and fall last year, and this winter, he started trying to trap a red tail hawk. He bought a small, friendly rat from Pet Smart, and we named her Remy. (after the rat in Ratatouille) She was cute, and even endured an encounter with some "Just For Men" to darken the white spots on her coat and make her more visible to the hawks. After her dye job, she helped lure in and catch a couple hawks. The trap worked! But the hawks were too old for Number One to keep, there are some age requirements that I don't really pay attention to so that's all I can say about that.
RemyNumber One gave Remy some time off, and she really seemed to improve, then he started taking her out again. In her trap, in the snow one day, she keeled over. Number One went in to town and got a little mouse from the pet store, it was a wild little thing that I didn't like. (I think the pet store just breeds feeder mice, and doesn't handle any of them).
It was getting down to the wire, the trapping season was ending and Number One was calling his falconry sponsor for advice. His sponsor told him that another apprentice had seen some hawks of the appropriate age up north, so Number One took a road trip.
He borrowed a couple traps and some rats from the other apprentice, although he liked his trap better. He put the little wild mouse in one trap, and put it out where the hawks were. At some point, he saw a hawk swoop down toward the trap, but couldn't see what happened. Then he saw the hawk fly off, obviously not trapped, but it looked like he was eating something. That darn wild mouse had escaped from the trap, and the hawk ate it! Feeder mouse, indeed.
Being up in the City, Number One went to Pet Smart and bought a much tamer mouse.
On the last day of the season, after a day and a half straight of throwing out his traps, just as he was about to pack it in, he saw a hawk and decided to try one last time. He used his trap this time with one of the other guys' rats, put it out there, and he caught his hawk!
The hawk really is beautiful. He doesn't have a name yet, but Number One has been having success training him. Now he will jump onto Number One's fist almost every time Number One wants him to! It is amazing. I don't know how long it will be before Number One can actually start training him to fly and return, but I will keep you posted.
Number One made the leg things, called "anklets" and he also made the "jesses", sort of rope-like things that are attached to the anklets, and he borrowed the hood from the other apprentice. The hood helps to keep the bird calm, and Number One is also training him to get into the hood. So much to learn for both of them!
At some point I'll take pictures of Number One's trap, and will definitely keep you posted about the whole process.
6 comments:
What a beautiful bird! Ad looks like he is enjoying himself!
Wow! This s really cool. I think falconry is an art! I had a friend that was a falconer, and he could send his hawk out, and she would come back with a rabbit....I just thtought that was a pretty neat realationship to be able to have with a bird!
really neat, really pretty. we learned about this at a DNR class this summer when we took the girls fishing, its pretty cool that he is able to do that. way to go Adam!
I had a friend in High School that got into Falconry. He traped a red tailed hawk, trained it for a few months (can't remember how long) but I do remember the first time we tried to take it out for a trial run - it flew off and did not return. Then a few months later he found it sitting on top of a power pole by his home (many miles from where he lost it!) Another friend of mine has had Hawks for years and had great fun training and hunting with them.
I'm not sure if Adam has told you that I'm kind of an animal freak, but, I am. As kids we caught all sorts of interesting critters. SO, and I'm serious, I want to come up when it gets a little warmer and (wo)man-handle his hawk. It's been so long since I've been to to ranch!
That is so rad. On an interesting note, when the peregrine falcon neared extinction, falcons held privately provided a vast amount of the breeding stock that aided in the recovery of the species.
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