MHC Newsletter 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2014-‐2015 MICHIGAN HAWKING CLUB OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE HEADS ................... 3 A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT .................................................................................................... 4 MICHIGAN HAWKING CLUB ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES FROM 2014 ........... 6 OUTDOORAMA 2015 .......................................................................................................................... 12 2014 TREASURER’S REPORT ........................................................................................................... 13 FALCONRY WORKSHOP 2014 .......................................................................................................... 14 RABBIT FEVER TO THE SECOND POWER ..................................................................................... 15 TO THE FIRST POWER ........................................................................................................................................... 15 RABBIT FEVER TO THE SECOND POWER ............................................................................................................ 17 FALCONRY VENDORS .......................................................................................................................... 19 MICHIGAN HAWKING CLUB ON SOCIAL MEDIA! ........................................................................ 20 WHAT’S IN A YEAR? ............................................................................................................................ 25 THE PUBLIC EYE ................................................................................................................................... 28 FALCONRY HUMOR ............................................................................................................................. 29 PRESERVATION VS. CONSERVATION ............................................................................................ 30 FIVE ACRES OF RABBITS ................................................................................................................... 31 FALCONRY BANDS ............................................................................................................................... 34 WEST SIDE FIELD MEET DECEMBER 6TH, 2014 .......................................................................... 35 2014 STATE OF MICHIGAN RAPTOR TAKE COUNT .................................................................. 39 NORTH AMERICAN FALCONRY ASSOCIATION – N.A.F.A .......................................................... 39 PICTURE GALLERY .............................................................................................................................. 40 MHC APPLICATION / RENEWAL ..................................................................................................... 42 EDITOR’S FINAL THROES .................................................................................................................. 43
* Cover Photo of Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) ‘Hunter’ by Christopher Martello
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MHC Newsletter 2015
2014-‐2015 Michigan Hawking Club Officers and Committee Heads President:
Secretary: Treasurer: Legislative Coordinator: Public Relations Coordinator: Newsletter Editor:
Jeff Alkire 7370 Durand Rd. New Lothrop, MI 48460 (810) 638-‐7779 Christopher Martello 880 Indian Lake Road Lake Orion, MI 48362 (248) 845-‐8167 Gregg Agoston 22449 Moorgate St Novi, MI 48374 (248) 449-‐4842 Dave Hogan 4830 Bluebush Monroe, MI 48163 (734) 241-‐8458 Kory Koch 6065 S. Whiteville Rd. Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 (989) 775-‐6736 Christopher Martello 880 Indian Lake Road Lake Orion, MI 48362 Assisting Editor: Deborah Gaskins
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MHC Newsletter 2015
A Letter from the President
Greetings to Michigan Hawking Club Membership, The mild fall and winter thus far are helpful in soothing the faint sting that still remains from last year’s harsh winter. That being said, a few more inches of snow on the ground would be helpful in my neck of the woods. And so it goes…never happy. I hope this newsletter finds you happy, and that you will find its content informative and enjoyable. I want to thank everyone who gave of themselves in contributing to and putting together this publication. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the membership’s confidence in entrusting me to represent this organization as President for a second year. Here are a few highlights from 2014. As previously announced the MHC has joined with the Peregrine Fund’s Kestrel Partnership in promoting the placement and observation of nesting boxes in the United States and abroad. The MHC has funded the building of extra boxes this year and will continue working to increase the placement and monitoring of these boxes across the state. We have witnessed the defeat of two out of state funded anti-‐hunting initiatives through actions by the State Legislature, and by the voters this past fall. The coordinated efforts of private citizens, clubs, and conservation organizations, such as the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, played an important roll in achieving these victories. Along with preserving Michigan’s hunting rights, and sound wildlife management practices, these actions will also send a clear message of “persona non grata” to those outside organizations who have repeatedly targeted Michigan as an easy place to push their agenda. As some states were still working on becoming certified falconry states, we here in Michigan we are working on the first set of revisions to our falconry regulations
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since becoming certified three years ago. Input from club membership was requested, received, and was incorporated into the discussions with the DNR. Many items were reviewed in the process with some being incorporated as recommended changes. Some items discussed fell under other sections of the regulations and were noted for future consideration as other regulations are opened up for revision. On January 15, 2015, the Natural Resource Commission received the recommendations of the Department of Natural Resources with a presentation from Karen Cleveland of the DNR. Karen presented the proposed falconry regulation changes, and additional statements were presented from the MHC’s legislative liaison, Dave Hogan and myself. Updates will follow as the process continues. Please remember that this falconry / hawking club consists of it’s membership and it is what the membership makes it. Contributing your ideas, time, and abilities further grows our common goals as an organization. There are always opportunities for those who want to be involved so don’t be shy, and if you are waiting for someone to ask you, please consider this your formal invitation. May your footsteps be light, your game bag heavy, and your journey home always include a bird on the fist. Respectfully Yours,
Jeffrey K. Alkire President Michigan Hawking Club
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Michigan Hawking Club Annual Business Meeting Minutes from 2014
Sunday April 13th, 2014 1. 2.
3.
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Call to Order a. Meeting Called to Order by Jeff Alkire at 10:10 AM Roll Call of members in attendance a. Members in attendance signed into the business meeting via sign-‐up sheet. b. Jeff Alkire, Tim Reilly, Chris Martello, Adhem Elbezra, Dannin Barnes-‐Ferrara, Troy Peters, Michah Babcock, Jeff Whitburn, Craig Perdue, Michael Yachcik, Deborah Gaskins, Dave Hogan, Sue Ryan, Chris Wysocki, Ed Taylor, Larry Franzell, Karen Young, Mike Azzopardi, Kory Koch Reading of minutes of last meeting a. Motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting as read: Michael Yachick i. The Motion is seconded by Sue Ryan ii. All in favor, none opposed. iii. The Motion is carried. Officers Reports a. Treasurer’s Report i. Sue Ryan gave an overview of the current status of the financials for the Club. The Club Financials are in good shape for the 2014 year. ii. Motion in favor or accepting the Treasurer Report: Tim Reilly 1. The Motion is seconded by Kory Koch 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. b. Secretary’s Report i. Chris Martello read the membership information regarding membership status and MUCC club membership. ii. Motion to accept the Secretary’s report: Sue Ryan 1. The Motion is seconded by Tim Reilly 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. c. President’s Report i. Jeff Alkire gave a report on the state of the Club ii. 121 Licensed Falconers in Michigan as current of February 2014 from Casey iii. General discussion about ‘state of the club’ for the MHC 1. The state of the club is good. 2. We have many volunteers and we participate in several educational events that we help out iv. Motion to accept the President’s Report: Sue Ryan 1. The Motion is seconded by Dave Hogan 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. Committee Reports a. Legislative and Regulative Report
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6.
i. Dave Hogan gave a summary of the 3-‐year cycle of Falconry regulations reviews that occurs with Michigan DNR and the Audubon Society. ii. Discussion with DNR and Audubon went well a couple of weeks ago. 1. Jeff Alkire and Dave Hogan in attendance as MHC Representatives. iii. {More discussion on these discussions later in New Business} iv. Motion to accept the Legislative Report: Chris Martello 1. The Motion is seconded by Dave Hogan 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. b. Public Relations i. Kory Koch gave a (very) brief update on Public Relations. He regularly handles phone calls and interest in falconry. ii. Motion in favor or accepting the Public Relations Report: Debbie Gaskins 1. The Motion is seconded by Sue Ryan. 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. c. Ad-‐Hoc Merchandise Committee i. Chris Martello gave an update regarding Club Merchandise: vinyl decals, embroidered patches, t-‐shirts, etc. ii. Motion to accept the Ad-‐Hoc Merchandise Committee report: Michael Yachcik 1. The Motion is seconded by Sue Ryan 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. d. Ad-‐Hoc Research Grant Committee i. Jeff Alkire gave a brief overview of the research report. ii. Motion to accept the Ad-‐Hoc Research Grant Committee Report: Dave Hogan 1. The Motion is seconded by Tim Reilly 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. Old Business a. Club Newsletters i. Jeff gave an overview of newsletters with a big thanks to Karen Young (present). ii. Ed Taylor asked about the circumstances surrounding the article he submitted to last year’s tidbits. iii. Chris asked for membership to provide content, articles and stories. iv. Articles may be submitted, but membership needs to understand that it might be edited. v. There is an associated cost of the newsletter to the club, however the club enjoys a good quality publication and echo the sentiment: it’s well worth the effort and cost. vi. Chris Martello and Deborah Gaskins will continue to author and edit the club newsletter. b. Spring & Fall Tidbits i. Volunteers are still needed to do the Spring and Fall Tid-‐bits. ii. Tidbits are single-‐sheet update of club membership of member information. iii. Club leadership will review Tidbits newsletters before being published. 1. May, no later than June for the Spring 2. October for the Fall newsletter for publishing. iv. Michah Babcok [last name] volunteers for the Spring v. Michael Yachick volunteers for the Fall Tidbits. c. Piping Plover / Merlin Trapping
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d.
i. The Club has been notified that there will not be a trapping program this year. ii. A lively discussion ensued about Merlin Trapping and the Piping Plover. Summer Picnic i. Larry Franzel volunteers to host the picnic for the club again. th ii. Picnic will be hosted on Saturday July 26 , 2014. iii. Larry requested that folks spread out the types of dishes they bring. 1. Chris will add a section to the picnic newsletter about crock-‐pot dishes and cold sides. [too many desserts]
e.
f.
Apprentice Falconry Workshop i. Sue volunteers to host the apprentice workshop this year. ii. Some discussion about the purpose of the workshop occurred. iii. Attendance is limited to 20 attendants due to the venue. th iv. Date for Apprentice Falconry Shop is June 28 , 2014 v. Sue Ryan will host at her house once again. vi. Chris Martello will assist with developing materials and setting the schedule. vii. Larry Franzel will help with printing the workbooks. viii. Karen Young and Debbie Gaskins will assist where needed. Field Meets th i. West-‐Side Field Meet (December 6 , 2014) – Club Members (falconers) with guests only 1. Chris Wysocki will continue to be a gracious host of the event. th ii. Annual Winter Field Meet (February 7 , 2015) 1. Kory Koch will continue to be the Field Meet Coordinator. 2. It would be very helpful to have additional fields to hunt for the meet.
Break for Lunch started at 12:15 PM and resumed at 1:07 pm g. Kestrel Boxes i. Gregg Agoston completed boxes last year and many of them were donated to the Metroparks and other organizations. ii. Audobon society requested that we brought additional boxes to the Cranefest. iii. Tim Reilly volunteered to make 10 kestrel boxes h. Website and Social Media i. Chris Martello updated the meeting about Domain renewals and Facebook and Twitter. ii. Domain names will be renewed this fall October 2014. i. 2013 Take Report i. Dave Hogan discussed the raptor take in Michigan. ii. 71 permits were issued and 27 permits were filled. iii. The 2013 Take report was submitted in the Club Newsletter / Hawk Chalk. j. Club Educational Events i. Woods-‐N-‐Water 1. Michael Yachick is the coordinator for Woods-‐N-‐Water 2. Discussion about requesting to look at relocating our position. 3. MHC attends on Sunday only ( This year, September 7, 2014) ii. MUCC Outdoorama 1. Dave Hogan and Mark Tomich are the coordinators. iii. Cranefest 1. Dave Hogan will coordinate.
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MHC Newsletter 2015 2.
7.
Cranefest is a good venue for the club as it provides an opportunity to educate people who may not know about falconry. Audubon Society likes to have the MHC there to display birds and talk about falconry. iv. Ornithological Conference 1. The Club did not participate in this conference this year. 2. Best time to contact these folks (Kalamazoo Nature Center) is late in the year for the event. 3. One or two representatives of the club have attended in the past. 4. Chris Martello will research attendance and coordinate for this event. v. Michigan State Conservation Officers 1. Jeff Alkire and Jim Manley presented falconry information and overviews to the recruit school of Michigan Conservation Officers about falconry. 2. The MHC may have an additional opportunity to present in the future. vi. Hunting Time Expo 1. Chris Wysocki will continue to coordinate this event. vii. HawkFest 1. Dave Hogan will continue to coordinate Hawkfest. viii. Other miscellaneous opportunities for presenting falconry in a positive light randomly come up throughout the year and are sometimes small enough where one or two local falconers may choose to display their birds on their own time. These are often posted in the Discussion Forum section of the MHC Website. k. Donations i. NAFA ii. $100 donation to maintain our membership and donation is typically what our club donates to NAFA. 1. A motion to donate $100 to NAFA : Larry Franzel a. The Motion is seconded by Ed Taylor b. All in favor, none opposed. c. The Motion is carried. iii. Peregrine Fund 1. Dave Hogan proposes a motion for a $300 donation to the Peregrine fund. a. The Motion is seconded by Kory Koch b. All in favor, none opposed. c. The Motion is carried. iv. Research Grants and other Donations 1. There is a motion to create a committee to assign $500 for research grants and other donations. 2. Motion in favor or accepting the motion to: Kory Koch a. The Motion is seconded by Tim Reilly b. All in favor, none opposed. c. The Motion is carried. 3. Committee Members will compose of Dave Hogan, Jeff Alkire, James Manley, and Craig Perdue. New Business a. Falconry Regulations in Michigan i. Regulations committee discussion continued from old business. ii. The current regulations are up for discussion / adjustment in January 2015. The discussion is starting now with the MHC, Michigan DNR, and Audubon
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MHC Newsletter 2015 Society in order to prepare for the committee presentations. Items discussed at the meeting are just a starting point for writing them into the regulations. iii. Jeff Alkire discussed each point as suggested by club membership. 1. Adjustments to the permitting process to allow greater opportunity for take. 2. Alternate options to using the zip tie style id band 3. Special consideration for Service members whose licensing has expired during deployment 4. Clarity on the issue of car hawking 5. The possibility of additional Great Horned Owl permits 6. Snowy Owl take being allowed outside of the Upper Peninsula 7. Higher possessions limits for falconers feeding birds in the off-‐season 8. Year around trapping 9. Year around hunting 10. Falconers assisting rehabilitators 11. Facility location requirements 12. Master falconers conducting facility inspections 13. Opening current trapping restrictions on State lands
b.
c.
d.
e.
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Possible new event opportunities i. More Possibilities of events like Hunting-‐Time Expo at Birch Run. 1. Event is middle of January typically, would require three days of coverage by falconers. 2. There was discussion about the club attends a number of events already. 3. It’s difficult for the club to add additional venue’s for educational purposes. ii. The club will likely decline this opportunity in favor of being committed to our current list. Field Meet Paraphernalia – [Field meet coordinator for Auction Items] i. Mark Tomich traditionally coordinates an auction as a fundraiser and is requesting help. ii. Larry Franzel and Mike Azzopardi are volunteering to help Mark out with this field meet duty. Communication Protocol i. Jeff brought up a discussion point about communicating and disseminating club information. ii. Newsletter, tid-‐bits, and picnic and business meeting should continue to be mailed. 1. Business meeting is covered by putting the notice INTO the club newsletter, as required of 6-‐weeks advance notice. iii. A Post card notice will be mailed two-‐weeks in advance of the next year’s business meeting. 1. The Club Secretary shall prepare the mailing. Guest Speaker Karen Cleveland to address members about raptor issues in the State of Michigan i. Karen came to the club to inform us about Educators who are handling their birds in a non-‐traditional manner. ii. Karen explained that the DNR is looking for a good solution to this issue about how the birds are handled vs. the educational value of the educational outfit, which benefits many children.
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8.
9.
iii. The MHC will help and support Karen Cleveland in any way that is possible that will be a benefit to a positive outcome to this situation. Election of Officers a. President i. Jeff Alkire continues to volunteer for Club President. ii. Motion to nominate Jeff Alkire as Club President: Michael Yachick 1. The Motion is seconded by Deborah Gaskins 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. iii. Jeff Alkire will maintain the post of President b. Treasurer i. Sue Ryan will not be able to continue on as Club Treasurer. ii. Gregg Agoston has volunteered to take the post of Club Treasurer. iii. Motion to nominate Gregg Agoston as Club Treasurer: Sue Ryan 1. The Motion is seconded by Dave Hogan. 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. iv. Gregg Agoston is elected as Club Treasurer. c. Secretary i. Christopher Martello continues to volunteer for Club Secretary. ii. Motion to nominate Christopher Martello as Club Secretary: Michael Yachick 1. The Motion is seconded by Sue Ryan. 2. All in favor, none opposed. 3. The Motion is carried. iii. Christopher Martello continues to serve as club secretary Motion in favor to End the Meeting – Micheael Yachick a. The Motion is seconded by Ed Taylor b. All in favor, none opposed. c. The Motion is carried.
Meeting is adjourned at 4:11pm
****ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE**** Michigan Hawking Club Members collaborate at the annual business meeting for promotion of club activities, review policies, plan events, develop budgets, elect officers, adopt strategies for legal issues, discuss new ventures, and tend to the business of managing the club for its members. If you have not previously attended a business meeting (The Second Sunday in April, Annually), please consider doing so! Y our contribution to the dynamic team of club members for the management of the club is critical to our success! You must be a member of the Michigan Hawking Club in good standing with current dues paid to attend the annual business meeting. 2015 Business Meeting to be held on Sunday, April 12th at 1 0:00 AM at the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Headquarters, 2101 Wood Street, P.O. Box 30235, Lansing, MI 48909
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Outdoorama 2015
Thursday February 26th through Sunday March 1st 2015 Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi Michigan
The Michigan Hawking Club will host a booth to educate the public about raptors and falconry at the Outdoorama event in Novi at the Suburban Collection Showplace and Expo Center. The Club always welcomes volunteers to take shifts at the booth. Mark Tomich is the event coordinator and you may contact him (or sign up at the field meet) to volunteer. You do not need to have a bird to bring, just a willingness to put some time into help. It’s also a good opportunity for apprentices and aspiring falconers to gain some insights and participate in the tradition of club sponsored public service.
This event is one of the most widely attended outdoor vendor events and it also helps the club meet it’s commitment to provide raptor education as part of the club’s charter. It is also a fun time and a good way to get to know other club members, explore Outdoorama and share your expertise with others. It is not the purpose of the booth to recruit for new club members, but to educate folks about raptors and the sport of falconry. In order to plan space, accommodate birds, equipment, arrange for badges, and assure full coverage, please sign up in advance with Mark Tomich. Contact Mark Tomich @ (734) 671-‐0628 mwtomich@yahoo.com
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2014 Treasurer’s Report
as of December 31, 2014 Treasurer comments: This is a 2014 summary From January thru December 31, 2014. Additional detail can be found on the specific worksheets for the General Fund and the Legislative Fund that are listed on the MHC website under Document/Treasurers Reposts.
Starting and Ending Totals for 2014 General Fund January 1, 2014 balance was General Fund December 31, 2014 balance was
$7,045.47 $6,968.98
Legislative Fund January 1, 2014 balance was Legislative Fund December 31, 2014 balance was
$5,356.27 $5,356.27
Current club assets as of December 31, 2014
$12,325.25
Income and Disbursement Totals for 2014 General Fund Total Deposits Jan 1 - December 31, 2014 General Fund Total Disbursements Jan 1 - December 31, 2014 General Fund Net Difference Jan - December 31, 2014
$6,559.00 ($6,635.49) ($76.49)
Legislative Fund Total Deposits Jan 1 - December 31, 2014 Legislative Fund Total Disbursements Jan 1 - December 31, 2014
$0.00 $0.00
Legislative Fund Net Difference Jan - December 31, 2014
$0.00
Total Deposit and Disbursement difference for General and Legislative funds for 2014
($76.49)
2014 Winter Field Meet Details 2014 Winter Field Meet Financial Details Meet attendance member & non-member Website registration Merchandise Auction Live and Silent Donation Meet income Food, drinks Hall rental Receiver purchase Meet expenses Meet profit
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$585.00 $130.00 $255.00 $1,954.00 $30.00 $2,954.00 ($677.00) ($630.00) ($300.00) ($1,607.00) $1,347.00
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Falconry Workshop 2014
Our annual summer activities include a Falconry Workshop in June to provide a higher level of falconry education for those close to their apprenticeship. At the Club Summer Picnic, our group gets together for summer day of fun in the sun.
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Rabbit Fever to the Second Power
By Sue Ryan and James Warner
To the First Power
Late September 2014, found the Kansas Vanguard group scrambling to get birds ready. We, the group of Michigan Falconers that have been hitting the Kansas jack rabbits in the fall, had originally planned to meet in Dodge City the week before Thanksgiving but we changed plans on short notice to be in Kansas by the 18th of October. As many of the Michigan bunny hawkers don’t even think about serious hunting until we have had a good frost, most of us were in the situation of having intermewed birds that were, shall we say, a bit heavy coming out of the molt. Or, in the case of a couple of us, new birds that were caught or bought in mid September, so we had some work to do. After a lot of phone calls and emails, we had the group identified: John Shuell, Rich Laatz, Wayne Stroope, James (JT) Warner and myself, Sue Ryan. We were planning to meet another St. Louis falconer there as well. The hunting birds we were taking were all Harris Hawks, excepting apprentice JT, who had a newly trapped Red-‐Tail. Early October had us all seriously working the birds on weight and fitness, and cast flying. The rest of the tale will be told by two of the group that had jack rabbit fever. Sue’s Tale This was going to be my fourth trip to Dodge City with the group, some who have been going for many years. I look forward to this trip with a passion, the amount of game, the weather, the superb hunting skills of these birds just amaze me, and the reports from Dodge this year were very promising. As we (James and I traveled together) left for the trip, I found myself with one bird, Maude, my 3 year old, female Harris was still too heavy to fly hard, but was close. My other immature Harris, Harold, a Coulson’s male that I got in late September, was ready, but I had only hunted a few times before loading the car and hitting the road. I had great expectations as Maude had turned on to jacks pretty well the year before and the new little guy was gamey as all get out. JT’s Tale I was absolutely elated to have been invited by the prestigious MHC Harris’ Hawk Vanguard to head out to Kansas for some serious jack hawking! Having heard the tales, and watched the infamous DVD’s that have been included in the newsletters. I was very much looking forward to getting out there. I had my passage female red-‐tailed hawk, Brighid, ready to go by the time the trip rolled around and I was very much looking forward to entering her on jacks, but I knew that cottontails were plentiful as well. Either way, I had my sights on getting something in the bag with her on this trip.
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Sue’s Tale We got to Dodge City and hit the fields on Saturday, and we were not disappointed. Wayne, Rich, and Fred (from St. Louis) had birds that were on fire right out of the box and the Jacks started rolling in. Maude was still not at weight to fly, so I started out with Harold, who had never seen a jack before. He did not disappoint, and chased with gusto, even though his fitness was low. By mid week all the birds were hot. Harold had caught a bunny and was first or second in (it’s frequently hard to tell) on one of the jackrabbits. Each day generally started with the Harris casts, which were very hot to fly, and jacks were starting to fill the freezer that Fred had brought. I must also mention his social gathering area with canopy, coolers, heaters, sound system, and laptop playing nonstop hawking videos. Mid day would be for some solo flying of the Harris’ that did not play well together and the red tail, then late afternoon, the Harris casts would start wreaking havoc again. JT’s Tale Having gotten my first taste of Kansas hawking, I was hooked beyond belief. Having seen some absolutely incredible flights by the Harris hawks on jacks, I was fueled to try my best to get the red-‐tail on them. Sue and I had hunted Brighid on our own and while working a juniper bush near a corner of a cut sorghum field, we flushed a jack accidentally. Brighid, though, seemed to think it was on purpose, and took off after in hot pursuit. She made a near miss on the first jack she saw, which left me beaming. She had little to no fear of them, and I was left vibrating with sheer anticipation at the prospect of getting one of those big jacks in the bag. Sue’s Tale The middle of the week found all the birds getting turned on. I finally got Maude going, and she did not disappoint, getting first or second on several jacks. Harold continued to impress me with his style, he is small at 560 grams, but he was holding his own. The fields we were hunting were anything from cut wheat, fallow, rye planted, and some wild growth. The jacks were plentiful and the freezer was about full when Fred headed back and we had a production line to gut, cut up, and refreeze the week’s bounty on Thursday. Friday was our last day and we hunted hard with all of us planning on heading home Saturday. We got out of Dodge early Saturday and drove the grueling drive home, straight through, as a satisfied, tired, thoroughly happy falconer. JT’s Tale With lots of close calls and great chases under our belts, Brighid finally took her first head of game. In a long flush which the rest of the party thought she would be outrun on, she tucked up a large Kansas cottontail, and we were on the board at last! Brighid performed better than I could have ever expected, and Sue was pleased with how we had done. I spent most of the last few days as “jack taxi,” and was more than
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happy to do the usual apprentice duties when Brighid wasn’t pulling fur on jacks. We were never able to get a jack in the bag, but I felt content with how we did. We headed home, on a very long trip, as I happened to itch my weary eyes.
Rabbit Fever to the Second Power JT’s Tale A few days after having gotten home (3 to be exact), my left eye started to itch profusely, much more than it had on the trip home. I brushed it off, thinking it would go away. When it persisted, I caved and went to the doctors. They diagnosed me with pink eye, gave me an ointment, and sent me on my way. After the ointment actually made my eye worse, my lymph nodes started to swell, and I was sure I was running a fever. I finally caved, and went back to the ER. We won’t even get started on how my eye looked. Let’s just say I would have had an awesome Halloween costume! After 5 hours in the ER, they finally admit me, absolutely unsure of what I had. It took 2 days and a good deal of storytelling and antibiotics before the infection disease doctors finally have a suspect: Tularemia. And then, I called Sue. Sue’s Tale I had just gotten home with my kids who were in town, celebrating having found out that evening that I am going to be a in May, when JT called saying he had rabbit fever. I was floored, concerned and a bit scared all at the same time. JT gave me the symptoms to watch for and I wished him a good night. By the middle of that night, I woke up with a pounding headache and fever of 102.5. Saturday morning found me at the ER and admitted by noon. That began a four-‐day stay, with all of the same stuff that JT went though as far as treatment, except it looked like my mode of infection was a cut on my finger. Upon my discharge, a dual treatment of some strong antibiotics for 10 days left me with all the unpleasant side effects, but feeling better but tired for another week. During this time a lot of communication was occurring between the others who went, but it appeared that JT and I were the only ones to get infected. We had a lot of time with nothing to do while we were in our respective hospitals, and believe we had come upon a couple of situations that exposed us, and not all the others. I also ended up dealing with the Department of Heath as the infectious disease doctor reported it. The Health Department was concerned about others possibly exposed and the meat, which would have the potential for infection if handled without precautions.
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Conclusion Tularemia is a bacteria infection that is serious, possibly fatal, if not treated, and while it would take pages to list out all the means of transmission, treatments and safe handling practices, a good place for detailed information is: http://www.cdc.gov/Tularemia/. This is a summary from the CDC website: Tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible and often die in large numbers during outbreaks. Humans can become infected through several routes, including: • • • • •
Tick and deer fly bites Skin contact with infected animals Ingestion of contaminated water Laboratory exposure Inhalation of contaminated dusts or aerosols In addition, humans could be exposed as a result of bioterrorism. Symptoms vary depending upon the route of infection. Although tularemia can be life threatening, most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Steps to prevent tularemia include:
• • •
Use of insect repellent Wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals Avoiding mowing over dead animals In the United States, naturally occurring infections have been reported from all states except Hawaii.
Tularemia is very uncommon in Michigan, but not unknown for human cases to occur; with only around a 110 cases occurring per year nationwide. But safe handling of any game is a good idea. Trust us when we tell you that rabbit fever to the first power, priceless; To the second power, very costly.
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Falconry Vendors
These vendors have supported the Michigan Hawking Club by contributing goods and/or services for our auctions. They only ask in return that we consider them when ordering new products recommending sources to others. If you don’t see their ad in this issue, it’s because advertising materials were not available. Please do not overlook their generosity, so please, do purchase from these vendors whenever possible. Many thanks to them!
Western Sporting Goods
Boyd’s Bird Company
www.westernsporting.com (800) FLY-‐HAWK
Chris Boyd (509) 332-‐3109
Hawk House Art
Davidsons Falconry
www.davidsonsfalconry.com (724) 877-‐0162
Jeff Alkire (810) 869-‐2320
Northwoods Ltd.
www.deserthawking.com
Harry McElroy
www.northwoodsfalconry.com (800) 446-‐5080
Hancock House Publishing www.hancockhouse.com (800) 938-‐1114
Mike’s Falconry Supplies www.mikesfalconry.com (888) 663-‐5601
Old Fashion Bells
Karl Shank (765) 789-‐4356
Vita-‐Hawk
www.vitahawk.com
Baywings Falconry
Accipitrine Behavioral Problems
Cheri Heimbach (570) 966-‐9539
Eagle Wing Publishing
Mike McDermott (573) 754 6162
William Oaks (608) 378-‐5554 Pineo Falconry http://www.pineofalconry.com/ (509-‐624-‐3427)
Christensens Golden Quail
Lance Christensen (712) 933-‐2677
Northwest Gamebirds
Big Cheese Rodent Factory
(509) 586-‐0150
RodentPro.com
http://www.bigcheeserodents.com/ (817-‐926-‐3300)
www.rodentpro.com (812) 867-‐7598
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MHC Newsletter 2015
Anthony Galvan -‐ Raptor Greeting Cards
Mike Dupuy Hawk Food www.mikedupuyhawkfood.com/ (570-‐837-‐1551) Larry Counce http://councebells.com (662-‐890-‐2103)
252 Old Ranch Dr Goleta Ca 93117-‐ 1024
Merlin Systems
www.merlin-‐systems.com (208-‐362-‐2254)
Michigan Hawking Club On Social Media!
Be sure to follow us on twitter @MichHawkingClub and use the hashtag #Falconry
Be sure to ‘Like’ us on Facebook at Michigan Hawking Club under “Groups”
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MHC Newsletter 2015
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MHC Newsletter 2015
Northwoods Falconry America’s Finest Falconry Outfitter Since 1984
Northw oods Falconry was born from a deep-running passion for falconry, raptors and the humans who relentlessly pursue it. We have been in business for 29 years and serve the falconry community and raptor enthusiast with integrity and honesty. We do this by providing quality equipment and supplies in a timely fashion. W e guarantee your
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Rainier WA 98576 Phone: (360) 446-3212 Toll Free: 1-800-446-5080 Fax: 1-360-446-1270 E-mail: sales@northwoodsfalconry.com www.northwoodsfalconry.com
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MHC Newsletter 2015
What’s in a year? By James Warner As apprentices, we start this road with the highest of hopes and dreams. We aspire to finally become the person that we had always imagined: The man with Peregrine circling high from her fervent pitch waiting to descend from the heights like an arrow cast from the heavens. What we often don’t realize is that with our enthusiasm unchecked by realism, we often set our sights a bit too high and leave ourselves disappointed in our performance when we stumble. Let me admit this now: I had a not so great season last year. In a recent discussion I had with Kory Koch, it was suggested that I chronicle a bit of the differences that I’ve had as far as personal growth in terms of experience and confidence. Also, the differences and comparison between the red tail I had last year and the Red-‐Tailed Hawk I have this year. As an apprentice with my first bird last year, I had several issues to deal with that I felt had left me with a lack of confidence. Primarily, I had a very miniscule head count with the red tail I had, Kali. I can attribute it to three factors: First, Kali had been ill and my sponsor, vet, and I didn’t catch it until I had a bird on deaths door. I was able to see him through with a great deal of help from all parties involved, including advice from Karen Young. Second, is the fact that after his illness, Kali would not chase as hard as he did before. He would follow to a marginal degree, but his interest in game was diminished. Third, something I admit in an effort to keep me humble; I had made him glove bound by feeding him on the fist while he was ill, and I didn’t realize that I had been reinforcing bad behavior. I can attribute most of the issues we had to not having areas with bountiful game. I was not a hunter prior to becoming a falconer, and I struggled to put what I would consider to be a sufficient amount of game under him. In addition to these, I felt that if I had been a bit more selective when trapping my bird, many of these problems could have been bypassed. I ultimately was able to reverse some of the issues we had, but the decision was reached that perhaps my efforts would be better placed in trapping and training a new bird. Now, after having the above issues, I felt unnerved and was left with a lack of confidence. I did, however, resolve myself to do better by the next bird in my charge. My sponsor was more than willing to listen to hours of incessant questions and phone calls, and was very understanding of the fact that I felt I had failed the bird. I immersed myself in books detailing behavior. I lost count of how many times I had re-‐ read “Buteos and Bushytails”, as well as “North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks”. I wanted to know why the problems I had came to the surface, how to solve them, and how to stop them from coming to the forefront to begin with. Now, all of this may seem that I am being a bit self-‐critical. I am, but in doing so, I’m using it as a driving force to do better for the current bird in my charge, and for the futures of any bird that comes into my care. In addition to that, I will admit that I am a bit competitive. Again, I’m being self-‐critical to give myself drive to do better. Now we can fast forward to the 2014 trapping season. I implemented my “Be more selective” clause while trapping. As exciting as it is to have a hawk hit the trap. I need to be calm and rational. I was told once that since trapping is the very beginning of our interactions with the bird, I should be very selective. Sort of a “Select the best to get the best” out of a bird, if you will. Not all first year birds are created equal, hence why only 20% of them survive their first year. Kali was one of the 80% that don’t survive. That’s just the harsh, unfortunate reality of raptors in the wild. What I looked for when trapping was a gaminess that Kali did not have. He had lingered for 20 to 30 minutes over the trap before he committed to jumping on it. The red tail I kept this year did NOT hesitate. She had already hit the trap before we turned the car around, and she even had a quarter of a crop. I was staunch and unwavering in my criteria. I feel that it has done me a great service to have http://michiganhawkingclub.org
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MHC Newsletter 2015 released the other two birds we had trapped that day, and stick with holding out for the bird that fit the bill I was looking for. I would not settle. This bird was everything Kali was not. She was willful, spirited, and a bit resentful of having interrupted her wonderful evening. Whereas Kali regained the fist while hooded after his first bate, Brighid as I called her, refused to submit. I went slower with Brighid than I had with Kali. I did not rush. I wanted to make sure that our groundwork and behaviors were absolutely ready. I even gave her a week off from pushing her training. She had a few parasites that were uncommon, and I raised her weight a good deal to ensure that she had the proper reserves to combat any nasty side effects. I was thinking “Sure, I may be a bit late in getting her out, but I would much rather take this slower and safer.” Brighid progressed quickly, once we had started training on the creance. She was at 100’ her third time on the creance. I felt that my investments in her were paying off, and was feeling a good deal more confident. I made sure that we worked where there was a bit of activity off to the side. Peewee soccer or football practice, I wanted her exposed and used to those types of stimuli. I only moved at her pace. I did not push her harder than she would go. I had some incentive to move quickly, but she worked well within the time frame I needed. The incentive to work quickly was that I had been invited to bring her along on a trip out to Kansas. The MHC Harris’ Hawk Vanguard were very kind in inviting me, and I felt that I wanted her essentially bomb proof before we went out there. The very first day we hunted in Kansas, she demonstrated a great deal of trust in me, as I showed her the t-‐perch, something she had never seen before, and she took to it immediately. While out in Kansas, she progressed much faster than I had expected. She chased hard, and put in very long flights. She even showed a propensity for slope soaring, and if I had kicked up game, I’m sure it would have clicked with her. But this trip was not without mistake. One day while hunting, she caught a rather large vole. I attempted to cover it and trade her off, but she took great offense and showed me as much. I made sure that I did not encroach on her, or threaten her as I had. This was something that I had read about the summer prior, and I had a grasp on how to deal with it effectively, but having my sponsor there for support was absolutely indispensable. The rest of the trip went off flawlessly, and she had secured her first head of game under her belt, a Kansas cottontail rabbit. I left Kansas a great deal more confident than I had been going there. What she learned is that I provide game, and I really wanted to reinforce that. I wanted her to know that I would provide flushes for her. Alas, I came down with Tularemia shortly after I came home, and had to have someone feed her while I was in the hospital. She was being fed in the evening when it was dark, with her meals dropped through a food shoot and illuminates by a flashlight. When I had gotten out of the hospital, I went in to check on her with the flashlight. That was a huge mistake, and I received a painful reminder of such. After talking to my sponsor at length about how and why it occurred, she offered advice on how she fixed a food related issue with a sticky footed Harris’ Hawk, and mentioned that the behavior sounded similar to something exhibited by an accipiter. As such, I looked up how someone would rework that aggression away from themselves while working with Accipiters or Parabuteos. It luckily worked. I redirected the aggression away from me, and we were back on track. At that point, I made sure that my sponsor went out with me more. I was fairly insistent, and she very willingly obliged. I wanted her to see how Brighid behaved, how she worked, and what things she noticed. We had gotten to the point where the issues were very manageable, and on a hunt where we flushed a great deal of game for her, she chased very intently. She remembered what was going on and did justice to having taken my time with her, and in doing so, took her second head of game. I felt that spending the time reading, researching, and discussing had all played a part here. Now, the real test: The West Side Meet.
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MHC Newsletter 2015 I had very much enjoyed the experience of the West Side Meet the year prior, and very much wanted the opportunity to put the numbers of game under her that the meet host, Chris Wysocki, puts under his bird. Training her to take the hood paid off, in that I had to transport her in the very small backseat of the truck I had to borrow. She reacted very well to the crowds of people, and was quite calm. When it was out turn to hunt, we had 9 other people in our hunting party. As they started to work the brush, she watched intently. She knew what we were doing, and I was feeling vindicated. We worked farther and the first rabbit that flushed she put a very nice chase on, but he maneuvered her to a thicket of multiflora rose. The second rabbit that flushed, however, would not be so lucky. She crashed through considerable brush to secure her prize. She was perfectly behaved, and I was so satisfied that with this large number of people, it’s like it had always been. Kory and I talked to people about the how’s and why’s, and Kory was even kind enough to offer a few compliments about how I’ve done with her, and how she performed. In a moment of post-‐hunt reflection, I had realized that it wasn’t just a better bird that had done the work. I had gained experience in that year, and I was able to better instill behaviors I wanted, because I had become so much more aware of everything I was teaching her. I had thought of how much more confident I was with her being around large groups of people, whereas I was a nervous wreck with Kali. It took an hour-‐long conversation with Kory to make me realize that I, too, had done a considerable amount of growth and that I should really let myself have a share of the credit. My sponsor has told me the same thing. Considering where I was at the end of my first season and where I am now, I feel that I have come a very long way. Since this article is geared towards fellow apprentices, I want to instill to you that it’s ok to make mistakes. It’s ok to stumble. But you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get right back in there. We aren’t all intrinsically attuned to the birds the moment we take up the mantle of falconer. Give yourself time to learn and grow, and you will be amazed at how well you do. Also, holding lofty ideals or goals can be helpful, as it was in my situation. My high goals have given me the drive, and the boot to the butt, that I really needed. So, what IS in a year? Growth, confidence, and a better bird to show for it.
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The Public Eye
by Jeff Alkire When we engage in the practice of falconry we also accept many responsibilities. Every time we fly our birds there is an opportunity to represent ourselves and falconry in a positive light, or bring shame and embarrassment to ourselves and the falconry community as a whole. We should always be aware of our surroundings, who might be watching, and use good judgment accordingly. Our thoughts must be mindful of the ever-‐present “public eye”. It can be difficult to avoid being misjudged in the practice of our sport without having to compensate for the misunderstandings caused by the inappropriate or careless actions of others. Below is a quote I found this past fall in the Battle Creek Enquirer. In a section of the paper called “Roses & Raspberries” the public can write in to praise or condemn the actions of people in their community. Under the raspberries section the following was written… “A barrel full of rotten raspberries to the person who let their pet trained falcon loose in Sam's Club parking lot, only to watch it kill a seagull, laugh and enjoy it, get back in their vehicle, dispose of the dead seagull on Sam's Club property, and drive off. Apparently not enough killing and violence in this world to satisfy this person that they needed to see more.” This was the written account of one persons observations, but I would speculate that the reporting individual was not the only one to come away bothered by what they witnessed that day. As a falconer, the following thoughts quickly jumped to my mind…wanton waist, illegal take, protected species, dangerous, careless, disregard for birds and others. It’s given that there are some who would not approve of falconry being practiced no matter how skilled or ethical the falconer is. That being said, as falconers we have the duty to think beyond ourselves and the moment whenever we fly our birds. The next time you and your bird are headed out to fly, please remember for your sake and for others, the “public eye” is watching.
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Falconry Humor
Shakespearian Falcon
Squirrels are ready for survival battle!
The Legal Eagle
Fierce Rabbit
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by Jeff Alkire
Preservation vs. Conservation
Often words are misused, thrown around, and exchanged for each other inappropriately, without their true meanings being fully understood. The words conservation and preservation are familiar to anyone who has interest in the outdoors and wildlife. The word conservation is found in the Michigan Hawking Clubs following mission statement … “To promote conservation of birds of prey and an appreciation for their value in nature and in wildlife conservation programs.” So what would happen if conservation was replaced by preservation in the statement above? It would mean the same thing, right... Wrong! Conservation defined means that humans should use the environment and its resources and manage those resources in a responsible and sustainable manner. Preservation defined means the environment, lands and their natural resources should not be consumed by humans and should instead be maintained in their pristine form. If the mission statement had used preservation in stead, what we do and what we promote as a club would be quite different. The MHC would be promoting an absolute “hands off” model. Birds of prey would never be taken from the wild. Game species would never be hunted or harvested. Falconry would simply not exist. The MHC firmly believes in, and promotes, conservation as defined above. Many groups use similar language to talk about things like wildlife and the environment. This can be confusing as passionate and usually well intended people can sound like they believe the same thing, but are coming at an issue from differing mindsets, desiring opposing outcomes. When deciphering information and conversations always stay attentive, listen carefully, and take note of the words being used to clearly understand what is being said.
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MHC Newsletter 2015
Five Acres of Rabbits
by Kenneth L. Peterson Originally Published by Michigan Out-‐of-‐Doors Magazine, January 1995 Reprinted with Permission from Tom Hansen of Michigan Out-‐of-‐Doors A city resident for more than 40 years, the working wife had finally succumbed to her husband's desire to move into the country, despite the fact it meant commuting to work and the loss of nearby neighbors and convenient stores. But she bravely attacked her new life style. Well, maybe one could more accurately say she became resigned to her fate-‐having knowingly married a man more at ease in the woods than on city streets. The telltale sign of her adaptation to a bucolic life was evidenced when she planted a small garden that included carrots, lettuce, cabbage, and corn. It was inevitable. The lettuce gradually disappeared. Leaves of cabbage turned up missing. No mischievous neighborhood children were involved. No, it apparently was the work of critters-‐country critters. The transplanted city resident found out, as had her neighbors on their 10-‐to 20-‐acre plots of country heaven that her land already was occupied. With cottontail rabbits! There were rabbits in front and rabbits in back. They even invaded the lawn to build hidden nests for their babies. The clash was inevitable because these suburban dwellers had set up housekeeping on bits and pieces of land that on once were farmed. With the plow no longer turning sod, these former farms had become overgrown with grass and weeds on tillable soil. And the low spots became marshes surrounded by brush. Ponds that were already there helped the scenario. This was rabbit country! But one needn't have explained that to the husband. He looked at the fallow fields and saw cottontails and even pheasants. He wanted that patch of land because he wanted to mix an eight-‐year-‐old boy and his eager beagle puppy with the cottontails he suspected were there. He knew that boys and beagles and bunnies were essential ingredients of a recipe for a great way to grow up in a state where hunting is a way of life for a large segment of population. A wildlife student, he figured he would need only to enhance the cover on about five acres of land. So where natural rabbit patches were missing, the father planted thousands of autumn olive shrubs, white pines, and spruce trees. He planted them in patches and in shelterbelts in the old fields. But he was careful to keep plenty of grass and weeds and to add patches of grain sorghum and corn for winter cover. The final ingredient-‐lots of brush piles, some large enough so that even the nosey beagle could not rout his quarry. The man of the house figured he could spare five acres for rabbits out of that 28-‐acre country haven. The plan paid off in a few years, for the original rabbit population grew so large that bunnies could be seen (in numbers) on the lawn during the summer. The http://michiganhawkingclub.org
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record was nine cottontails chewing on the lawn at one time. By then, the tears over losing that first tiny garden had been forgotten. The couple learned just as had a neighboring farmer that one has to plant a garden large enough to take care of the wild neighbors as well as the family. Five acres doesn't seem large, but biologists will tell you that a cottontail is pretty content to live on a three-‐acre area on a daily basis if food and cover are in close proximity. It just so happens that the I 0-‐ and 2O-‐acre plots so common in the suburbs are often very accommodating to rabbits. On an annual basis, cottontails are likely to stay in an area of 20 acres or less. In fact, females seldom range more than eight acres. Wildlife managers say winter ranges usually don't exceed I I acres for males and six acres for females. And it is more likely, they say, that these rabbit families will be content with no more than five acres of land holding good winter cover and food. No wonder city dwellers who seek peace and tranquility in the country can be chagrined to learn that their chosen lands already are occupied-‐by animals that love their lawns, flowers, and gardens as much as do the new residents. More than that, these wild dwellers think nothing of dining on young fruit trees and other shrubs planted by the two-‐legged newcomers. So why would a city transplant want to encourage something with such busy choppers? Could be he is a lover of both rabbits and hounds. Could be he loves to see the sparkle in the eyes of a youngster when the lad hears the bedlam a bunny bestirs in a pair or pack of beagles. Could be that Dad just wants to relive his boyhood. The baying, bugling, and just plain barking may sound like a cacophony to some, but it's music to the ears of a houndsman. If that first sound of a beagle opening up on a hot rabbit track is pure excitement to the hound lover, then the voices of the pack create a melody that fills the heart of the hunter with absolute joy. This writer, oddly enough, learned to love cottontails while living in what is snowshoe hare country in Michigan. While snowshoes were a mainstay of the larder, an occasional cottontail added zest to the meal. Then too the cottontail seemed to be to the young hunter the same as bluegills were to the budding angler. Bunnies always seemed to be handy and to accommodate the skills of the young seeker. So this youngster haunted the river swales at the edge of town and brush piles in nearby farm woodlots to seek out those prized bunnies. In the process he learned that these rabbits are addicted to tall grasses and thickets that they are quick to adopt brush piles made when farmers cut wood, and that they never seem to be far from woodchuck holes. They also seem to hang around farm outbuildings and hide under woodpiles and pieces of farm equipment. For the farm dweller, especially, they always seem to be part of the scenery. No wonder so many suburban dwellers not only put up with cottontails, they encourage them. Some of these country dwellers merely love wildlife, others add to that an interest in hunting, and still others fancy beagle gun dog trials and want places to train their charges. It takes little to encourage a healthy population of cottontails. They seem to respond as quickly to the addition of good cover as ducks do to the flooding of parcels of land. The government has a handy recipe for establishing rabbit cover. It suggests having in each five-‐acre parcel an acre of a grass-‐legume mixture (such as grass and alfalfa) as well as at least one-‐fourth acre of land in http://michiganhawkingclub.org
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permanent cover. The cover plot should contain some thickets, for that is where cottontails like to go when winter snows invade grassy field hiding places. Here's another tip. Those bunnies like cornfields and sorghum patches, both of which make good winter cover. Don't be surprised to find pheasants and deer in those corn patches. Like the rabbits, both like to chew on corn. And pheasants like grain sorghum. Cottontail hunters do not seem to get too excited about going afield until the first snow spreads a blanket over the land. Maybe that is because the lush vegetation-‐particularly in southern Michigan is easier to get through. Perhaps it is because snow allows the hunter to track bunnies and to help his beagles when a rabbit gives them the slip. Cottontails are easy to hunt when numerous as they seem to be now. When the family beagle was laid up last winter with a cut foot, this hunter and three friends walked the fields and thickets. In two hours they shot nine of the many rabbits they rousted from thickets and heavy grass edges. Normally, the hounds-‐man looses his dog or dogs in the brush where bunnies leave their signatures, two large tracks made by the rear feet followed by smaller indentations made by the front feet. Like snowshoes, the cottontail is habitual in its routine and makes trails or paths as it goes about its nightly routine. And it sticks to these trails when chased. So one need only find a well-‐used trail and make a stand waiting for the hound to speed the bunny his way. Like many kinds of game, rabbits travel in circles when chased, especially when the dog is hot on the trail. They will try all kinds of trickery to throw off the pursuer, but eventually will complete the circle if the hound unravels the devious things its quarry does. One should recognize that the hound does not steer the rabbit in that circle. All a hound knows is to follow scent no matter where it leads. On a long straightaway chase, this hunter likes to follow up behind the dog, keeping in mind a good spot to stop if the chase turns and heads back. It's just a way to shorten the hunt for that long legged rabbit. On short chases, one is well advised to learn where the rabbit circles and to stand along the trail. Rabbits are easily turned if the hunter moves when the bunny approaches. It's best to stand still and to refrain from any kind of noise, including shouting at one's fellow hunters. The quiet hunter will get the game. Of course, it is not necessary to shoot a rabbit. That ends both the chase and the thrill of listening to the hound. Oddly enough, hounds do not require their owners to shoot a bunny or even show them one that is bagged. Their thrill is in the chase. And that is true with many houndsmen. Luckily, they can loose their dogs during much of the year, keeping them in tether only during the quiet time required by law. But rabbits are going to be harvested one way or another. In fact, nature takes up to 80 percent of the crop before the hunter even takes up his gun. Cottontails have always been with us and will continue to be. They have graced tables when other meat was absent or scarce and they have enabled many a father to teach hunting ethics and sportsmanship to children. So it is only fitting that the rabbit find its way to the hunter's table, for the hunter does not unthinkingly prey upon the species until it is eliminated, as can happen in the wild world. The fact the hunter has accorded the bunny a special place in his lifestyle means that this furry little creature will always be around.
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Falconry Bands By Aimee Pico
Do you know the 3 types of bands used in falconry? There are 3 different types of raptor bands that are used on falconry raptors and each type of band has its own regulations. Almost all falconers are familiar with the black nylon cable tie (AKA zip-‐ tie) band and most also know the metal seamless bands but the most unknown one is the yellow nylon cable tie band. So what does each band mean and what are the regulations that apply to each? Band Type Black nylon cable tie Seamless metal Yellow nylon cable tie
Use Raptors from the wild and replacement of black nylon cable tie bands Captive bred raptors Replacement of seamless metal bands. Raptors propagated for release. Documented MBTA*/non-‐MBTA hybrids captive bred between 11/7/08 and 12/6/13
Regulations Raptors may NOT be sold, purchased, bartered or traded Raptors may be sold, purchased, bartered or traded Raptors may NOT be sold, purchased, bartered or traded
*MBTA – Migratory Bird Treaty Act
If you are purchasing a raptor and before money exchanges, you can ask for the band number on the raptor as the first 2 letters will indicate if a raptor can be sold. Both the yellow and black are raptors that cannot have exchange of monies, birds or items and each of those bands start with RO and followed by six numbers. A seamless metal band that indicates the raptor can be sold, bartered or traded will have the first 2 letters of the following RM, RN, RP, RR followed by five numbers and RS, RT, RU, RV, RW, RX, RY, RZ followed by six numbers. Why are you just learning about each band? The reason is that the band regulations are something that is not included in the falconry regulations. They can be found only under the raptor propagation regulations. This information is important for falconers to know also and in my opinion, should have been included in the falconry regulations. Source: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Falconry: Legal Ownership and Sale of Captive-Bred Raptors, 4 Pace Envtl. L. Rev. 349 (1987) Available at: http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pelr/vol4/iss2/2
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West Side Field Meet December 6th, 2014 By James Warner
Grand Rapids was the place to be on December 6th, with 35 adults and 7 children coming for the MHC west side meet. It was a welcome increase in attendance from the last meet, so thankfully Chris and Lori didn’t have to take home all those doughnuts. We were smiled down upon with fantastic weather, a bright and sunny 40 degrees! The lack of snow was a far cry from the 20+” that they had just a few weeks prior. Of the 35 adults that attended, we had seven falconers, which meant there were plenty of birds to hunt. Wayne Stroope brought Jasper and Ruby, his Harris’ hawks. Myself, Dannin Barnes-‐Ferarra, Tim Muhich, Jeff Whitburn, and Micah Babcock all brought Red Tails, while Ed Taylor brought his Finnish Goshawk. With so many birds, plenty of people got to go out and experience some great chases, and in some cases, putting some game in the bag. We asked a few of those who attended to give us a brief summary of their experiences, and this is what they had to say:
Wayne Stroope: My hunting buddy, Tim Littmann, and I made the two hour trek over to Grand Rapids for the West Side Meet and were greeted with hot coffee and big donuts. As advertised, there was no pomp and circumstance-‐just hunters waiting to hit the field. I’d brought my male and female Harris’s Hawk pair, Ruby and Jasper, hoping to finally see some cottontails. Cottontails have been hard to come by so far on the East side. After one large group departed, the rest of us headed out in an eight car caravan to a field Chris Wysocki said was “pretty good”. Turns out he wasn’t exaggerating. Ruby and Jasper flew first and it only took about 10 minutes before the first rabbit flushed and then lost his life to a twisting, stooping Ruby. As the well organized group continued down the field, Ruby and Jasper followed like shadows, choosing perfect perches and making me look like a genius. There were no other Harris’s Hawkers in the group to bust the myth. We flushed about 4 more rabbits over the next 20 minutes but didn’t put another in the bag despite one slip in particular on which both birds made vicious, diving sorties only to miss by inches, one after the other. After a short rest, the slightly diminished group once again took out Ruby and Jasper. We headed back into a portion of the field that didn’t have many trees and the HH’s got to use their much beloved T-‐perches. We had to walk right by the big pile that had already yielded 3 flushes so, what the heck…we jumped on. The rabbit that bolted from the pile never knew what hit him as Ruby crushed him from above. She made it look so easy that I considered not counting it…ok, not really. Next we headed out into the field where we had some flushes out by a busy road in some thick sumac. This was making me nervous so we started heading back when another bunny took off. Jasper http://michiganhawkingclub.org
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had been pretty quiet so far but finally he used his speed to get there first and pinned the rabbit against the base of an old barn. I’m a firm believer in quitting while you’re ahead and I was definitely feeling lucky…besides that I wanted to go to Founder’s for a craft brew so we called it a day.
Tim Muhich: As an apprentice, the West-‐Side Field meet was an amazing experience. Through the nonstop day of game hawking, I was privileged to observe people of all experience levels flying six birds of three different species all from different genera. This afforded me the opportunity to learn through observation and incessant questioning, helping me as I strive to become a great falconer. I was also able to get feedback from other people about my first red tail, which I appreciate greatly and find invaluable. I am thankful for all of the time Chris Wysocki put into organizing the event, and the opportunity to falcon in great fields offering numerous slips, as well as sightings of wild raptors, including a snowy owl. On top of the wonderful flights after abundant quarry, the meet was also a great networking experience, and I already have plans to fly with two of the other falconers later in the year. The meet was a great opportunity to make and meet up with friends while sharing and creating stories. I saw new ways of trading off, pushing a field, working the bird, and observed differences between species of birds as well as falconers. We also discussed Buteos, Accipiters, falconry dogs, and the law at length. The opportunity to hear differing views and interpretations held by other falconers, along with discussions with my sponsor, are an important part of becoming knowledgeable and well-‐rounded in this ancient art form.
Jeff Whitburn: My name is Jeff Whitburn and I am a first year apprentice and I am flying my newly trapped red-‐tailed hawk Skye. I made the 2.5 hour trip to Grand Rapids to the MHC West Side Field Meet hosted by Chris Wysocki. I was joined by local falconers, Micah Babcock with his red tail, ‘Crash’ and Troy Peters. Although the drive was a long one it was worth it. Chris did not disappoint! He showed us several fields with plenty of game. I was a little nervous on how Skye would react to all the spectators but she did better than I expected. Once Skye saw the first rabbit it was “game on”! She had several slips in heavy brush, just narrowly missing as the rabbits made cover. We were in a thin tree line between a building and parking lot and I felt Sky was beginning to sulk after her missed opportunities. I contemplated calling her down to the lure but decided to give it one more try. A few of us circled around to the end of the tree line in an attempt to push a rabbit back towards Skye sitting in a tree approximately 50 yards from us. The plan worked perfectly as we kicked up a rabbit shortly after entering the cover, it ran straight towards Skye. She was not to be denied this time! In front of http://michiganhawkingclub.org
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several people she connected and slammed into the rabbit head on, taking her second rabbit of the season. It was a great end to awesome day. I am already looking forward to the winter meet and other MHC events where we can come together to learn and enjoy the sport of falconry. James Warner: This being the second West Side meet I’ve flown a bird in, I can say that this one will be etched in my mind for a while! From my giant hood not fitting in the vehicle I had to take, to grabbing our third rabbit of the season, it was memorable to say the least. Brighid, my PFRT, was flying hot, and I was so glad that she performed as well as she did! It was a great opportunity to show some first timers how falconry can go on a great day. Plus Kory Koch went with us, and it was validating to have someone as well respected as he is, come and see how well she was doing. He even brandished a few compliments, which totally made my day! Along with the stylish way Brighid secured her bunny, it was a day certainly to remember.
Patrick Durham: Being new to falconry, at this point studying for the exam, I have never really seen a hawk up close. I’m fairly comfortable with the information, but have a TON of questions. So I decided to attend the MHC West Side Field Meet. I arrived early and initially was unsure of what was going on or even what to expect. The initial discomfort didn't last long; I ended up in the field rather quickly. Overall I had the pleasure of going on 4 hunts.
• Micah & Crash (Haggard Red Tail): From the moment Crash was brought out things were exciting. I was impressed at how he followed the group and a bit nervous when he’d fly within a few feet of my head while going to the next branch. He had a handful of misses, but things got really interesting when we cornered a rabbit in a fence line. I had a front row view when Crash smashed into the rabbit. I was surprised at the initial struggle as the two rolled a bit before Crash was able to gain control over his quarry. • JT & Bridget (Passage Red Tail): At the start of this hunt Bridget caught sight of a vole and decided she wanted a snack. It was neat watching her bounce around on the ground until it was caught. Once her focus was back we started breaking brush, she followed along nicely. This hunt was extremely educational. JT & Kory did an excellent job discussing different topics as we moved through the woods. When we kicked up a rabbit, Bridget launched off her perch and gave chase. She disappeared down a hill and ended up in thick brush. I had no idea a bird of her size could make it into the middle of a thicket the way she did. She caught the rabbit by the head & rump with a branch between her legs. It took a bit of time, but JT and Kory were able to get her untangled and into an open field with her rabbit. I really appreciated how both JT & Kory took the time to explain everything that was happening. Kory (master) was also willing to give
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JT (apprentice) helpful suggestions even though he is not JT’s sponsor. I found the information useful and look forward to putting it into practice myself someday. • Jeff & Sky (Passage Red Tail): I went out with these two twice. The first time out Sky started off great, but got side tracked and flew away from the group. The second hunt started off a bit rough, but after the first rabbit was kicked up Sky got extremely interested. We were in some thick woods/brush and there were quite a few slips. I did get to see sky give chase for a good distance, moving quickly near the ground right on the rabbits butt. By the end of the day we were able to flush a rabbit and it ran directly at Sky. She came down off her perch and hit the rabbit head-‐on. Overall the event was a great experience. I learned a lot, even between hunts. It’s amazing how much you can learn just by listening to the experienced members share stories. Everyone was exceptionally friendly and willing to answer any question I had. Dannin Barnes-‐Ferrara: I had a great time at the meet this year. It was fun getting out and hunting with other falconers. It was nice to see old friends and make new ones as well. I flew my bird with a group of people early in the day and we had many good chases but were unable to come up with one in the bag. I tried flying my bird again later in the day with a smaller group but didn't get as good of a performance and I decided to call my bird down for the day. In all it was a good day and I look forward to the next meet. Micah Babcock: The 2014 west side field meet was a great time filled with many memories of friends and their hawks as well as some awesome flights and great catches. Chris Wysocki assured us that there would be plenty of game to chase and he was right! My hawk, Crash and I, were the first ones up to hunt that morning. There were around 20 people that were there to help us hit brush and try to push some bunnies. Crash didn't seem bothered by all the people and appeared to be "ready to hunt." For most of the season Crash had been very focused on field mice and had a lot of misses on rabbits so we were hoping to get some good slips that day and finally connect. Right off the start we began seeing rabbits and Crash had some close calls. It seemed as though he was always just a half second behind, but he wasn't discouraged and kept chasing hard. Our group then formed a straight line and began to push a swampy area that was filled with bunnies. Crash had slip after slip but still with no success. We stopped momentarily and let Crash regain a perch after a close chase and I asked everybody to wait a second to give Crash time to catch his breath and regain his composure. When he seemed ready to go again we pushed the last little section of the area and a rabbit popped out and ran right in front of where Crash was perched. We gave the game call and watched him drop down and slam into the rabbit and take head control immediately. Everyone was very excited and I was happy that my bird was able to provide a successful hunt for all the people that came out to help. I can't thank enough Chris Wysocki and everyone that helped put on the west side field meet. It was a day that will not be forgotten and I look forward to many more hunts to come.
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MHC Newsletter 2015
2014 State of Michigan Raptor Take Count
2014 Falconry Trapping Permits
General Raptor Capture
Total
Issued Filled 50 29 1 nonresident issued
Red-Tailed Hawk
Coopers Hawk
1
Sharp shinned Hawk
0
American Kestrel
7
Rough legged Hawk
0
Limited Capture
Total
Northern Goshawk
Great Horned Owl
Peregrine
Issued Filled 1 nonresident issued 6 0 4
0
Issued Filled 2 0 1 nonresidents Issued Filled applied 2
0
Total
1
1
59
30
Total
Snowy Owl
21
TOTAL
North American Falconry Association – N.A.F.A
The Michigan Hawking Club is an affiliate of the North American Falconry Association, which comprises of falconers from across the country and international borders. A membership to NAFA provides you with the latest information on the status of falconry in our country as well as three national publications over the course of the year. The articles and perspectives are invaluable insight into our sport and the Michigan Hawking Club encourages your participation. A current NAFA application can be found on their website at the following address:
http://www.n-‐a-‐f-‐a.com/
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MHC Newsletter 2015
Picture Gallery
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MHC Newsletter 2015
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MHC Newsletter 2015
MHC Application / Renewal
Your MHC membership renewal is due by January 1st of each year. Renewals on or after February 1st will pay an additional $10.00 late fee. If you are not renewed by the day of the Business Meeting, you will be dropped from the membership. It is best to keep your membership current via the club website. Please be sure to renew in a timely fashion to ensure continued benefits of membership. We value your membership and hope that you will renew promptly. Please check one box below:
❑ New Member -‐ $20.00 ❑ 1 year renewal-‐ $20.00 * ❑ 2 year-‐ $40.00 ❑ 3 year-‐ $60.00 Please make checks payable to “Michigan Hawking Club”, mail this form and renewal dues to:
Christopher Martello Secretary, Michigan Hawking Club 880 Indian Lake Road Lake Orion, MI 48362 248-‐845-‐8167 Date:_____/____/________ Renewing for year:_________ thru _________ Name: __________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________ State:________________________ Zip Code:______________________________ Home Phone:______________________ Work Phone:____________________________ Cell Phone:________________________ Fax:___________________________________ Primary E-‐mail:___________________________________________________________
❑ Check this box to be signed up for MHC e-‐mail updates
Michigan Falconry Permit: ❑ None ❑ Apprentice ❑ General ❑ Master NAFA Member: ❑ Yes ❑ No If you would like a NAFA application, check here: ❑ Are you interested in talking to groups in your area about Falconry? Are you interested in helping at MHC educational Events?
❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ No
Are you interested in helping at the annual MHC Field Meet? * Registration is also available on the Michigan Hawking Club Website at http://michiganhawkingclub.org
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MHC Newsletter 2015
Editor’s Final Throes By Christopher Martello
It is another year of falconry under our belts and we are in the midst of the hunting season for the winter months in our great State of Michigan. The weather continues in the tradition of most Michigan winters, but not as harsh as last winter with the additional inches/feet of snow and countless weeks of bone-‐chilling cold. It has been an honor serving the Michigan Hawking Club Secretary for this past year as I continue to do so with great enthusiasm for our club and for the sport of falconry in Michigan. I cannot recall a year where I met so many avid falconers and raptor enthusiasts. Our yearly club events for continue to be manned by our active and enthusiastic club membership, which provide helpful insight into the sport of falconry at our educational events. This past December began another chapter in my own falconry adventures with the capture of a Snowy Owl. ‘Aurora’ has been training well and continues to grow into falconry under my training. It has been a challenging road of training sessions, housing accommodations, and family sacrifice, but I believe we are all up to the challenge. Aurora’s presence would not be possible without the help and assistance from countless members of the falconry community in Michigan and I am indebted to them for their help, advice, and countless hours of phone conversation. To all of you, I offer my sincerest gratitude. My family members, especially my wife, have provided tremendous assistance in hours of research, driving, construction, and support throughout the past year towards obtaining a Snowy Owl for falconry. I am grateful for their continued support and assistance in this quest. I look forward to another great year in Falconry with our committed membership and our feathered friends. Yours In Falconry,
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