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| Wild Birds Talk about Songbirds and Raptors. |
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#1
11-15-2008, 08:25 PM
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"Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
NOTE: Please take into consideration that I'm a state and federal liscensed falconer, and I train birds of prey to hunt wild game, such as rabbits, squirrels, ducks, and the like. If you are okay with this matter, please read on:
As many of you know, I'm a falconer. I've had two Red-Tailed Hawks so far, a male named Bud and a female named Storm, both of whom I hunted cottontail and swamp rabbits with! I went without a hawk all summer (this was KILLING me!) and so when trapping season started up again in September, I grabbed my permits and trap and headed out onto the roads again to trap another hawk. Well, I didn't trap one until late September, but she was well worth the wait! I started training her and getting her manned down (this means to get her used to humans and their lifestyle) and she was doing well. Then, trouble hit. I was feeding her up on phesant and beef heart (both are really good, rich, and nutritious foods for birds of prey), close to 3 ounces a day. She should've been gaining weight like CRAZY, but instead, she wasn't gaining any at all. Something's up, I thought-probably worms. Also, when she was trapped I noticed a leg injury on the inside of her upper leg. She also was very weak when flying, and her keel (the bone that runs down the front of their stomach) was sharp (this means that I could feel it easily, and it should'nt be able to be felt this easily) So, I called up the vet and scheduled an appointment...sorry to say, these vets only really know how to treat the common animals (dogs, cats, hamsters, etc.) and knew little to nothing about hawks. So, I then called up the local rehabber. He took my bird in, seeing as the rehabber's would've been the best place for her. I took a few days to cry and then took my traps out again and looked for another, healthier, hawk. I drove over 1200 miles out trapping in the span of 5 weekends without ANY luck! By then, the rehabber called me back up and heard that I hadn't trapped a new bird so he told me I should take charm back. I was estatic! So, now, I have "Charm" back at home, and she's in perfect condition (other than the roundworms, which we're treating still) and she's flying to me well. From here on out I will try to keep a log of Charm's training and hunts. I will update occasionally!!! Good luck all Bridget
__________________
Sometimes I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings. At times I've drempt my now and envy where I've been. But that's when quiet wisdom takes control; at least I've got a story no one's told. I've finally learned to say: "Whatever will be will be!" I've learned to take to good, the bad, and breathe. 'Cause although we'd like to know what life's got planned, no one knows if shooting stars will land. 
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#2
11-15-2008, 08:27 PM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
11/8/08
WEIGHT: 1370g. EXERCISE:manning HIGH/LOW TEMP: 46/34 F FOOD: Rehabber already cropped Charm up for today. OTHER NOTES: Picked up Charm today. She still remembered how to stand on the fist, and regained the fist when she bated. She bated a few times. Rode home in the giant hood very well. Fitted her bells on tonight when we got home, and then manned her inside and outside of the house around my family and the dogs for an hour or so. I may take her in again tonight for an hour or two to do some more manning. 11/9/08 WT: Weight taken in the early afternoon before she was fed: 1286 g. Weight taken after feeding 1.5 ounces beef heart: 1330g. Weight taken mid-afternoon: 1308 g. Weight taken after feeding 1 ounce beef heart mid-afternoon: 1336 g. EXERCISE: Manning and flew in garage TEMP: 45/35. FOOD: Fed 1.5 ounces beef heart in early afternoon, and 1 ounce beef heart in mid-afternoon. Total of 2.5 ounces beef heart. OTHER NOTES: Today was a great day! Charm was taken in and out of the house throughout the day and she bated some, but always regained the fist and tucks in her wings. Put her on the saw horse in the garage with one of the dogs-the black lab. She kept her eye on him. She hopped to the fist within 10 seconds of presenting it to her for the first time. Continued to gradually move back, and she's now flying the length of the garage. She does seem reluctant, though, and I have to sometimes put my fist beside my leg for a little bit (10 seconds or so) and then raise it again before she starts to really look at the beef heart and then fly to the fist for it. I believe she's reluctant because a) she is still fat, and b) she is still somewhat weary of me. Tomorrow, I won't get home until 3:30-4:00 pm because of school-so I think her weight will be around 1240-1250g, but it all depends on how active she will be in the mews and such. I plan to fly her in the garage tomorrow, and hopefully she will come to the fist quicker than today. Not rushing her though! Before I move her to the creance and introduce the lure, I want her to come instantly to me in the garage. I'm guessing that weight will be 1230g+ or so, but that's just an estimation! Will offer her 2.5 to 3 ounces of beef heart tomorrow, depending on her weight.
__________________
Sometimes I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings. At times I've drempt my now and envy where I've been. But that's when quiet wisdom takes control; at least I've got a story no one's told. I've finally learned to say: "Whatever will be will be!" I've learned to take to good, the bad, and breathe. 'Cause although we'd like to know what life's got planned, no one knows if shooting stars will land.
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#3
11-15-2008, 08:30 PM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
11/15/08
Charm is doing great. I've brought her weight slowly down to the 1240's, and she's flying instantly at this weight out on the creance. Also has been shown the lure 3 different times so far; She's flying for the lure right when I whistle-she must've remembered the lure from before the rehabbers! Today I flew her early in the morning because I was busy all day. Her weight was high-around 1262g. I could tell a difference in her flying at this weight. Thank God I had her on the creance! 2 or 3 times she tried to fly off into the wind. (it was very windy today). She goes after the lure but still won't attack it as furiously as I'd like. Cool thing was, though, when she tried to fly off around the end of the session, I whistled, pulled out the lure, and she turned around in the air on the creance and landed on the ground by the lure and footed it and ate. She's getting really wed to that lure!!! Planning on flying her around 3:30-4p.m.-ish tomorrow night, so her weight should be back down to 1240 or so! I should have her out flying in the field for bunnies in a few weeks! The vet is supposed to call on Monday to schedule an appointment to see Charm, since I fould a roundworm in her bathpan a few days back. She will be looking him over and giving me some dewormer. Also, taking Charm out with us to KS next weekend on a college trip. Will meet up with with a good falconer-friend out there next weekend. CAN'T WAIT! December 1st at school we are having a Midevil Craftfair, and my teacher talked me into doing falconry, so Charm will be coming to school with me for the midevil craft fair-it will be a great manning experience! Will update here in a few days or so!! Bridget
__________________
Sometimes I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings. At times I've drempt my now and envy where I've been. But that's when quiet wisdom takes control; at least I've got a story no one's told. I've finally learned to say: "Whatever will be will be!" I've learned to take to good, the bad, and breathe. 'Cause although we'd like to know what life's got planned, no one knows if shooting stars will land.
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#4
11-15-2008, 08:31 PM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
Here's some pictures of my girl!
(On her one toe she has an injury that wasn't there before. She probably got this in her flight pen at the rehabbers. It's healing up great!)   
__________________
Sometimes I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings. At times I've drempt my now and envy where I've been. But that's when quiet wisdom takes control; at least I've got a story no one's told. I've finally learned to say: "Whatever will be will be!" I've learned to take to good, the bad, and breathe. 'Cause although we'd like to know what life's got planned, no one knows if shooting stars will land.
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#5
11-16-2008, 05:09 PM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
Here's Charm's Log for today:
Date: Nov. 16th Weight: after lunch-1288g; 3 PM- 1270g; 4 PM-1268g (before feeding); 4:30 PM-1408g (after feeding) Exercise: flew on creance; lure work High temp: 47 F Low temp: 28 F Food: 2 oz beef heart tid-bits, 3.75 g washed meat on lure Other Notes: It was really windy today, and I was somewhat reluctant to fly her in the wind, but I decided to anyways. Took her out to a nearby field and unraveled to creance to 75 feet. Because yesterday she tried to fly off at 1262g, I thought today she would try it again today. (I thought she would be back down to 1240-ish today, but her washed meat yesterday wasn't as washed as it could've been, and that's what I'm guessing made here 20 grams or so higher than I thought today) She did surpizingly well today!! Attached her to the creance and then took off the leash. Set her on a fencepost and walked to about 50 feet. She turned around, sat a few seconds, and then took off for my fist-which she hit surprisingly hard because of wind behind her! She was flown 10 times, and each time she was flown, it took her less than 15 seconds to respond! Whistled, pulled out the lure, and she was off the pole quick! Today is a good day-she ATTACKED that lure with both of her feet! (Before today, all she's been doing is flying down to the ground near the lure, and then footing it.) Once she was done, I traded her off and weighed her again and then put her up in the mews. For some odd reason, I'm noticing that she's been really batey when it's windy-but it's not like she's scared of me-it's like she wants to land on another perch, such as a tree branch or a fence post that I'd walk past. Fed her 2 ounces of tidbits, not the regular 2.5 or 3 ounces, so she should lose a bit of weight and be down to 1250g tomorrow, so we will see how she does! ***NOTE!!! I'd love for anyone to post comments, questions, remarks, criticism, etc. on this thread. I'd appreciate it!!! Bridget
__________________
Sometimes I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings. At times I've drempt my now and envy where I've been. But that's when quiet wisdom takes control; at least I've got a story no one's told. I've finally learned to say: "Whatever will be will be!" I've learned to take to good, the bad, and breathe. 'Cause although we'd like to know what life's got planned, no one knows if shooting stars will land.
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#6
10-11-2009, 10:45 PM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
Hey guys and gals! Haven't updated in a while!
I kept Charm through the summer and she moulted into one of the prettiest Red-Tailed hawks I've ever had or ever seen. Hunting has started since the beginning of October, and currently, Charm has caught 1 fox squirrel, 2 mice, and a garter snake. I'm really working the rabbit fields, but the brush is just way too overgrown. We'll keep on trying though. Here are some pictures of her and me, hunting, sunning, etc etc etc. She loves to fly, that's for sure! On a hunt, ready to go after cottontails:  Rabbit! (Sorry rehabbers...)  Flying to the fist!  She's transformed into an adult!  Me and my hunting partner:  Bridget
__________________
Sometimes I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings. At times I've drempt my now and envy where I've been. But that's when quiet wisdom takes control; at least I've got a story no one's told. I've finally learned to say: "Whatever will be will be!" I've learned to take to good, the bad, and breathe. 'Cause although we'd like to know what life's got planned, no one knows if shooting stars will land.
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#7
10-11-2009, 11:28 PM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
interesting sport, I have an aquaintence that does this. Last year I got a really big redtail with an injured wing. Luckily she healed well enough to be released which is rare. I love the redtail call also, happy hunting
 Last edited by Bear : 10-11-2009 at 11:35 PM.
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#8
10-12-2009, 08:25 AM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
Great pics and great job!!!
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MissDolittle Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator (Texas) Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened!  Rainbow Wildlife Rescue - Kittenbaby - Puppyeducation - Wildife Blog
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#9
11-16-2009, 12:03 AM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
Thank you so much, Bear and MissDoolittle!
Welp this season has turned out to be such a blast! I'm hunting with Charm like there's no tomorrow- trying to get in all the time I can for her to stretch her wings and fly and go after game and just be her natural self. So far, here are our tallies for the season: 1 Cottontail Rabbit 2 Fox Squirrels 2 Grey Squirrels 3 Mice 2 Snakes 1 Frog 1 Crawdad Fox squirrel from the other day:  One of her grey squirrels:  Snakes:   "I'm so regal." :  It's quite amazing and very inspiring to take this bird that I trapped at 1050g- couldn't even fly half the length of my garage because it was so weak and sickly- and have her flying well over 1200g and having her flying so strong and beautiful and whole-heartedly chasing game. It'll be something wonderful to release her back into the wild in the spring; this season will be our last, but we have made some awesome memories, and will continue to make memories until the day I release her. She is an amazing bird whom I am very privelaged to share my life with. Hopefully I have helped the Red-Tail population by taking her in and helping her get to this state, as well as give her a few years to get some experience with game, but with the dependancy of food from me as well. Hopefully I will trap one of her offspring someday. Bridget
__________________
Sometimes I feel like I'm a bird with broken wings. At times I've drempt my now and envy where I've been. But that's when quiet wisdom takes control; at least I've got a story no one's told. I've finally learned to say: "Whatever will be will be!" I've learned to take to good, the bad, and breathe. 'Cause although we'd like to know what life's got planned, no one knows if shooting stars will land.
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#10
11-16-2009, 06:24 AM
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Re: "Charm" my third passage female Red-Tailed Hawk
Not only is her eyesight amazing but to see a camo snake in the grass is incredible. Great work indeed, Thanks FG
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