Winter Newsletter 2020
Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 2 2019-2020 Club Officers and Committee Heads ....................................................................................... 3 A Letter from the President ..................................................................................................................... 4 Michigan Hawking Club on Social Media ................................................................................................. 6 Annual Meeting Notice ........................................................................................................................... 6 Business Meeting Minutes from 2019 Meeting ........................................................................................ 7 2019 Treasurer’s Report .........................................................................................................................13 Apprentice Workshop 2019 ....................................................................................................................14 Hawkfest 2019 .......................................................................................................................................15 December 15th Grass Lake Mini Meet .....................................................................................................16 Pennsylvania Falconry ............................................................................................................................17 Creance Article .......................................................................................................................................19 Red-Tails Choose a "Room with a View" .................................................................................................21 Vendor Advertisements .........................................................................................................................23 Donation Thank Yous .............................................................................................................................24 Falconry Pictures ....................................................................................................................................29 North American Falconry Association – NAFA.........................................................................................31 2019 Raptor Count .................................................................................................................................31 MHC Application / Renewal ...................................................................................................................32 What do I get out of a Michigan Hawking Club Membership? .................................................................33 Austringer Awards .................................................................................................................................33 Falconry Funnies ....................................................................................................................................34 Co-Editors' Final Thoughts ......................................................................................................................35 ● ●
Cover Photo credit for Kelly Haughn, Vesper and Kida by Lisa Clements. This publication also available online within the Documents section as a downloadable PDF in full color on the Michigan Hawking Club’s Website.
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2019-2020 Club Officers and Committee Heads President:
Christopher Martello 1100 Miller Road Lake Orion, MI 48362 (248) 845-8167
Secretary:
Troy Peters 2818 Flint River Rd Lapeer, MI 48446
Treasurer:
Pat Durham 4177 Ramblewood Dr Troy, MI 48085
Legislative Coordinator:
Dave Hogan 4830 Bluebush Monroe, MI 48163 (734) 241-8458
Public Relations Coordinator:
Michael Azzopardi 10419 Baraga St. Taylor, MI 48180
Newsletter:
Lisa Clements 3007 East Ashman Midland, MI 48642 James Warner 710 4th St. Jackson, MI 49203
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A Letter from the President Greetings MHC members and friends! It’s hard to believe the annual field meet for 2020 is already here! Why it seems like just a little while ago we were enjoying warmer weather at the summer picnic and at HawkFest! Many folks who join the club for the raptors and falconry comradery also enjoy the hunting aspect of the sport just as much, if not more. Our organization strives to meet the needs of the club members and works diligently to provide for those needs. This year we added a mini-meet in December 2019 near Grass Lake, MI and hope to have more loosely organized hunting meets in the future. Stay tuned to emails and announcements for future events as many more are in the works. The Michigan Hawking Club exists because some raptor enthusiasts got together about 40 years ago and created an official non-profit social club to proport the sport of falconry in Michigan. Today, this club continues to thrive in Michigan as the voice of falconers as a direct result of the effort and time that its members put into the organization. This time and effort have paid many dividends in cooperation with the Michigan DNR as well as the MUCC. In addition, this social club would not be where it is currently without the help and support of the membership. Thank you to all our members who contribute extra time and effort to continue to maintain stewardship over the traditions of falconry in Michigan! From time to time, the subject of ethics in falconry comes up in discussions. Indeed, our apprentice workshop spends a full 90 minutes on the subject, relating personal falconry experiences to new people interested in falconry. Much of the conversation would seem to most people to be common sense and courtesy to others, as well as the ability to follow the law. A few years ago, in this very publication, a western article on falconry ethics was reprinted here for Michigan Hawking Club members to provide perspective on hunting lands and ‘ownership’ of hunting areas. While the article had a western spin on it (wide open public lands, and large parcels of private land) much of it still translates to general courtesy regarding respect for hunting spots, game, and following the rules. It’s easy to point out that nobody is perfect, but I’d like to think that we all strive to be better at our sport and passion.
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The business meeting this coming spring will take place on Sunday April 19th, 2020 due to the Easter Sunday falling on our traditional date of 2nd Sunday in April. There continues to be plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved in the club in some way. Please consider attending the business meeting in April and learn more about how our club functions, participate in our decision-making process, and be able to share stories with all your favorite folks in falconry. The Michigan Hawking Club is what our membership makes of it and I’m excited and thankful for all the efforts that YOU put forward to make it better each year! May you all enjoy the remainder of this year’s season and your birds be well! Yours in falconry, CM
Chris with 2X PFRT ‘Vesper’
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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”
Annual Meeting Notice
****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! Your contribution to the dynamic team of club members for the management of the club is critical to our success!
Sunday, April 19th 2020 at 10:00 AM You must be a member of the Michigan Hawking Club in good standing with current dues paid to attend the annual business meeting. The 2020 Business Meeting to be held on Sunday, April 19th 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Headquarters, 2101 Wood Street, P.O. Box 30235, Lansing, MI 48909
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Business Meeting Minutes from 2019 Meeting Business Meeting Agenda for April 14th, 2019 10:00AM Pre-Meeting: Breakfast Donuts – (and special glazed raspberry filled croissants) Sign-in Sheet
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Call to Order a. The meeting started at 10:10 AM with a call to order. b. Introductions of attendees. Reading of minutes of last meeting. After a brief mis-read by the secretary, Christopher Martello read the correct year’s minutes in abbreviated format. a. There was a motion to accept the reading of the minutes by Sue Ryan. b. James Warner seconded the motion. c. The motion to accept the minutes from 2018 was approved. Officers Reports a. Treasurer’s Report i. The treasurer’s report was provided by Christopher Martello in lieu of Gregg Agoston for today’s meeting. ii. There was a motion to accept the treasurer’s report by James Warner. iii. Sue Ryan seconded the motion. iv. The motion to accept the treasurer’s stand-in report was approved. b. Secretary’s Report i. Christopher Martello gave an update on club membership numbers and provided context for previous years, drop-off rate, and average status. ii. There was a motion to accept the secretary’s report by James Warner. iii. Sue Ryan Seconded the motion. iv. The motion to accept the secretary’s report was approved. c. President’s Report i. Jeff Alike gave a report on the state of the club. The general report is that things are mostly quiet for Falconry in Michigan. ii. Club activities are getting more difficult to staff. iii. Coordinating the Merlin activities are challenging with USFWS and Agriculture Services. This may change in the future after they are delisted from the endangered species list. iv. Jeff and Dave are still working out the logistics with the Metro Detroit Airport to accept birds that are due for euthanasia for returning to the airport. The club continues to have a vacancy in coordinating placement of these raptors. This will be discussed in new business. v. There was a motion to accept the president’s report by Christopher Martello. vi. Danielle Durham Seconded the motion. vii. The motion to accept the presidents report was approved. Committee Reports a. Legislative and Regulative Report i. Dave Hogan was not present to provide the report. Jeff Alkire provided stand-in update. (mostly quiet) b. Public Relations i. Mike Azzopardi continues to get calls about nuisance bird abatement fairly regularly, in the frequency of 2 – 3 per week. Jeff Alkire provided clarification for rules and regulations regarding abatement in Michigan.
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ii. Hawk talk requests are funneled to the educator page. iii. Mike received an invitation from the Ontario hawking club. The information for the 2019 field meet will be published to the website and/or social media. iv. Mike continues to field excessive calls from persistent people and has had to block them. v. There was a motion to accept the public relations report by Christopher Martello. vi. James Warner seconded the motion.
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vii. The motion to accept the public relations report was approved. c. Ad-Hoc Merchandise Committee i. Patrick Durham provide an update as to the status of the current merchandise inventory. ii. There was a motion to accept the report by Christopher Martello. iii. Mary-Margaret Ferraro seconded the motion. iv. The motion to accept the report was approved. d. Ad-Hoc Research Grant Committee i. Jeff Alkire distributed the authorized funds last year as stated in the donations section of the previous year’s minutes. There was a $70 remainder which will roll into this year’s donation amount. ii. There was a motion to accept the report by Dannielle Durham. iii. The motion was seconded by James Warner. iv. The motion to accept the Ad-Hoc Research Grant report was approved. Old Business a. Club Newsletter i. Christopher Martello provided an update about our content and the costs. Decreased cost of the winter newsletter this year was due to minimal content and a new print vendor who was able to provide a better publication at a lower cost per unit. The breakdown of newsletter costs for this year is summarized in the table below:
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ii. The editor position will need a new coordinator for the next year. iii. Ev Horton submitted ideas and tips on how to contribute to the newsletter in order to bolster the content and make our publication better. iv. Lisa Clements volunteers to be the new editor with James Warner as co-editor. There was a large round of applause. ! Spring & Fall Tidbits i. Lisa Clements volunteered for Spring tidbits, due to the secretary for publication / email distribution by June 1st, 2019. ii. James Warner volunteered for Fall tidbits, due to the secretary for publication / email distribution by November 1st, 2019 . Apprentice Workshop – ( June 29th ; Troy Nature Center ) i. Danielle Durham has reserved Saturday, June 29 2019 for the apprentice workshop at the Troy Nature Center. ii. There was some discussion on the workshop, staffing, guidebook contents, etc.. iii. Ev Horton inquired about the interest level for the event. A very positive, supportive discussion followed. iv. The apprentice workshop guide will be updated with new content to make it more current to the speakers content and moderate appropriate topics.
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Summer Picnic – (Sunday July 28, 2019; Potter Park Zoo.) i. There was some comments and discussion about attendance from apprentice workshop attendees, and walking into a club event where they do not know people can be daunting. It was suggested that an activity for interaction would help break the ice for these folks. ii. Report on the summer picnic provided by Deborah Gaskins.
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Field Meets i. Annual Winter Field Meet (February 2 , 2019) 1. 2.
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Additional Scouting by Troy and Micah was a big help and led to hunting parties being able to see more game this year. There were some complaints about attendees unable to hunt.
ii. Next Year’s Winter Field Meet ( Saturday February 1, 2020) 1. Gregg Agoston has made a deposit for reserving the date with the DeWitt Community Center. 2. There is concern about the date and the conditions of the community center. 3. There was some disgruntled comments about the conditions of the center, not getting the code in a timely manner, door code not working at first, and unable to setup the previous night after agreed conditions, etc.. 4. It has been suggested that we should move the field meet to a new location. James Warner to ask chamber of commerce for assistance in targeting a new location. 5. Suggestions for catering the event to run smoother; research to be conducted. 6. Need to inquire with DeWitt community center getting our deposit back. Gregg Agoston will conduct the inquiry. 7. There was discussion on the coordination of hunting places for people to hunt. There are challenges in coordinating places to hunt. Suggestion to have sign-up sheets for the hunts. 8. James Warner has interest in making the field meet / different / valued for all attendees. 9. Discussion was ended and moved to a sub-committee discussion. Club leadership will assist with communications and facilitation of this meeting. Website and Social Media i. FaceBook Group Moderation continues to be a shared function by a small group of moderators. ii. There is a suggestion to create a new MHC Group on FB for Club members only, so as to provide more focused communications for Club Members. 1. Christopher Martello will create a new private group for members only. Administration of said new group will require moderation and discussion by select club members willing to volunteer. iii. Twitter update. Yes, we have a twitter account. No, it’s not very active, vocal, or well followed. iv. Facebook Like page. Can we get rid of it? 1. Christopher Martello will look into removing the page and redirecting the traffic to either the new members only page or the website. MUCC Club Affiliation i. Participation Levels for the MHC are low or non-existent at the current district meetings. ii. Future attendance and ownership will need to be maintained for our club to be relevant to MUCC. iii. Christopher Martello to distribute information about meetings and locations. 2018 Take Report i. Christopher Martello provided an update based on the 2018 trapping report which was included in the winter newsletter. ii. There was some discussion on the history of trapping in Michigan.
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BREAK FOR LUNCH 12:02 – 1:05pm Club Educational Events i. HawkFest – (September 21-22, 2019) – Dave Hogan is the coordinator, amending the agenda for the date ii. Cranefest –(October 12-13, 2019) – Tom Grant is coordinator, amending the agenda for the date iii. Hunting Time Expo – (Jan 24-26, 2020) – Chris Wysocki, amending the agenda for the date 1. Discussion for getting additional team members to come, perhaps the club could sponsor gas cards for additional team members to come. Perhaps reach out to other clubs to see how other folks do it for their clubs. How to get people to WANT to come to the events? Grab bag idea for falconry goodies. 2. The concept of the craft grab-bag for attendance. 3. As the discussion continued for quite some time, it was determined that the matter was to be discussed in committee with Tom Grant as the moderator / facilitator. a. Gas cards as an easy incentive (keep it simple), as suggested by Ev Horton. iv. MUCC Outdoorama – (Feb 27-Mar1, 2020) – Mark Tomich is the coordinator, amending the agenda for the date.
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v. Woods-n-Water (???) in lieu of Expo (discussion) 1. Christopher Martello and Michael Yachick provided a small history on arrangements, challenges, and communication issues with this venue. 2. The discussion was short. There is an overwhelming consensus that the MHC will not pursue this event in the future. vi. Mackinaw Raptor Watch in Mackinaw City April early 1. The topic of the Mackinaw City Raptor watch was introduced by Andrew Dennhardt. 2. There was a motion to research this event for next year by Christopher Martello. 3. James Warner Seconded the motion. 4. The motion was approved to research this event for the club attendance next year. 5. Andrew Dennhardt to head up the committee for doing the research. Club Leadership will facilitate the meeting. Donations i. NAFA 1. Maintain the MHC membership with NAFA for $100. a. There was a motion to continue the MHC club membership affiliation with NAFA by Sue Ryan. b. There was minimal discussion on the Membership dues. c. James Warner seconded the motion. d. The motion to continue the MHC club membership affiliation with NAFA was approved. 2. Donation of an additional $100 to NAFA. a. There was a motion to donate an additional $100 to NAFA by Sue Ryan. b. James Warner seconded the motion. c. The motion to donate an additional $100 to NAFA was approved. d. The club officers will discuss which specific fund to disburse this $100 to. ii. Peregrine Fund 1. There was a motion to donate $500 to the Peregrine Fund by Ev Horton. 2. There was discussion to amend the donation amount to $400 by Jeff Alkire with rationale. 3. James Warner Seconded the motion, as amended. 4. The motion to donate $400 to the Peregrine Fund was approved.
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iii. Research Grants and other Donations 1. There was a motion to donate $400 to Dave Hogan Peregrine Flight School by Mike Azzopardi. 2. There was discussion. 3. James Warner seconded the motion. 4. The motion to donate $400 to Dave Hogan Peregrine flight school was approved. iv. The remainder of donation funds of $136 to be distributed by club leadership as deemed necessary. The short table below shows how this year’s 12% of the general fund will be disbursed:
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Field Meet Review – Field Meet Auction Items i. All the donations were purchased. Nothing went home with Mike Azzopardi at the end of the meet. ii. There was discussion about the vendors. Thank you for all the assistance and donations. Corporate donations got a card and a phone call! Hooray! m. Kestrel Boxes / Kestrel Fund i. Kyle Trish brought 25 ready-made kestrel boxes to the meeting. These will be dispersed to the club at the conclusion of the meeting. (None were left after the meeting was adjourned. ) ii. There was some discussion by Ev Horton about contacting NAFA regarding conservation efforts and the Kestrel boxes. The Club shall provide information to NAFA about the kestrel box conservation effort. iii. There was a mention of the old methane burner project has not had any movement lately and should be removed off the website. (This was completed.) iv. There was a motion to support the construction of 25 kestrel boxes for the 2019 year by James Warner. v. Lauren Anderson seconded the motion. vi. The motion to construct 25 kestrel boxes was approved. New Business a. Discussion for Airport Raptor Placement Coordinator i. Michael Azzopardi volunteered to coordinate with Patrick Durham assisting. ii. A protocol shall be established to transfer birds to falconers that have a permit. Dave Hogan will need to approve the protocol created by the volunteers. iii. There was a lengthy, long, drawn-out discussion. b. New merchandise discussion i. There was a suggestion to set an amount for updating the club merchandise inventory. There was some additional discussion. ii. Christopher Martello made a motion to budget $500 for updating the club swag.
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iii. James Warner seconded the motion. iv. The motion to budget $500 for updating club swag and merchandise was approved. 1. Patrick Durham to conduct research and provide a budget on the new merchandise purchase for club swag. Educational events and brochures. i. It is costly to create educational brochures for educational events that the club attends. ii. Business cards worked really well for basic information and website in lieu of the tri-fold, as piloted by Lisa Clements. 1. There was a motion to use Business cards by Sue Ryan at future educational events. 2. James Warner seconded the motion. 3. The motion was approved to use business cards at future educational events, and discontinue the use of the tri-fold brochure. (the informational brochure will still be available on the club website for download and printing.) iii. Lisa Clements to design and procure new business cards, get them printed for the club for future educational events. Discussion on list of known falconers. i. The MHC needs to request that information from Michigan DNR via FOIA via permit specialist. What makes a Hawking Club Official? i. “Falconry Hunt Club of Michigan� ii. There was a discussion. The discussion ended. The MHC will continue to take care of its own and not worry about alternative falconry groups in Michigan. James Warner would like to solicit additional comments and suggestions for improvements to the field meet. This effort to be discussed in committee in the future. Please contact James Warner with any suggestions and/or interest in participating in this discussion.
Election of Officers a. President i. Before the voting began, there was a Thunderous round of applause for the service provided by Jeff Alkire to the club as the President for the past seven years. Thank you Jeff Alkire! ii. There is a motion to nominate Christopher Martello for club president by Sue Ryan. Christopher Martello accepted the nomination for president. 1. The motion was seconded by James Warner. 2. Ev Horton motioned to close the nominations. 3. The motion to nominate Christopher Martello for president was carried with all in favor, none opposed. iii. Christopher Martello is elected new club president. b.
Treasurer i. Before the voting began, there was a Thunderous round of applause for Gregg Agoston for his service as Treasurer for the past seven years. ii. There is a motion to nominate Patrick Durham for club treasurer by Danielle Durham. Patrick Durham accepted the nomination for treasurer. 1. The motion was seconded by Sue Ryan. 2. James Warner motioned to close the nominations. 3. The motion to nominate Patrick Durham for treasurer was carried with all in favor, none opposed. iii. Patrick Durham is elected new club treasurer.
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Secretary
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i. There is a motion to nominate Troy Peters for club secretary by James Warner. Troy Peters accepted the nomination for secretary. 1. The motion was seconded by Danielle Durham. 2. James Warner motioned to close the nominations. 3. The motion to nominate Troy Peters for secretary was carried with all in favor, none opposed. ii. Troy Peters is elected new club secretary. 3.
Meeting closed at 3:11 pm i. Christopher Martello motioned to close the meeting. ii. The motion to close was seconded by James Warner iii. The 2019 business meeting was adjourned.
2019 Treasurer’s Report
Legislative Account: $5,376.27
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Apprentice Workshop 2019 The Apprentice Workshop was held at the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Over 20 interested members came and learned about the sport of falconry from prominent members of the Michigan Hawking Club. Attendees were able to ask questions and learn about falconry with information spanning over hunting techniques, basic raptor housing and care, legal and ethical considerations, basic falconry equipment, and a new topic this year was healthcare, provided by Kelly Haughn, which was a great addition to the Apprentice Workshop.
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Hawkfest 2019 Hawkfest held on September 21-22, 2019 at Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown, Michigan. Hawkfest is a two-day event for the whole family focusing on birds of prey (eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls) and the annual fall hawk migration over Lake Erie Metropark. This year, they were celebrating the 30th year of Hawkfest!
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December 15th Grass Lake Mini Meet The mini-meet on December 15th is a day I will never forget! As a pre-apprentice, I can confirm that no reading can adequately portray the beauty of nature’s natural chess match between the hawk and its quarry. In Michigan, we are fortunate to have dedicated falconers who are willing to share their opinions, knowledge, and enthusiasm. The gathering was of a group well-hearted rambunctious individuals that could more accurately be labeled as a falconry family! Also, I am proud to say I’ve befriended great individuals. The highlight, though, was seeing a Redtail bind a grey squirrel mid-jump over my head while being worked by a dedicated team of falconry experts. In my opinion, the club should be proud, the minimeet was a success in many ways, and many thanks should be given to those involved. Thanks again for everything, Tristan Kast
My husband, Mark Betcke, and I went to the mini falconry meet down in Grass Lake, MI. We had a phenomenal time. Although the weather started out overcast and snowing, it cleared up to be a beautiful day. We got to watch Kelly Haughn’s bird Vesper hunt. Kelly and Vesper are a really great team and getting to see firsthand the two of them working together was really cool to watch. The area James Warner found for us to meet at and hunt was absolutely beautiful and we hope to be able to go back sometime. The food and getting to hang out with other falconers was something we wish we could do more often. I got to hunt my bird Hooligan. Even though he had a lot of awesome flights, he didn’t catch anything. We were able to put multiple squirrels and rabbits up for him. All in all, it was one of the most relaxing days we had in a while and we really hope the club repeats the mini meet next year. -Kimberly Betcke
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Pennsylvania Falconry In our hopes to showcase a new state every year, Pennsylvania is first on the list. A Michigan Falconer, Mark Cusick, was able to help share some insight one of the Great Lakes States' falconry. In Pennsylvania, the age of apprenticeship starts at 12 years old. There is an Apprentice coordinator that will introduce you to about three falconers to contact to gauge your interest. PA will not allow an apprentice to take the falconry exam without first having a sponsor lined up and written permission from a township manager that a bird of prey is allowed to be housed within said district. This act prevents pre apprentices from building a mews before a sponsor has approved, ensures an apprentice is allowed to house a raptor and has a sponsor, all before taking the exam. Apprentices can start with a red-tailed hawk or a kestrel, no imprints. An apprenticeship requires a minimum of one total year with a bird or birds over the course of two years. Sponsors dictate which approach will be made. First year apprentices get one take, second year apprentices get two takes. The sponsor does have to write a letter to the bureau of licensing that the apprentice has fulfilled the requirements to be a general falconer, before the general classification is bestowed upon the apprentice. In Pennsylvania, there are about 200 falconers. Trapping permits are not required, your falconry permit is your trapping permit. A general can trap anything except for a golden eagle (following MBTA). Peregrine permits are granted via lottery. Goshawks and peregrines are the only birds required to be banded. Car hawking is illegal. Ridge trapping is very strong in Pennsylvania. Ridges run from the north east of Pa, to the south west. Just about every bird in North America can be seen on these ridges. With a NW wind, upwards of thousands of birds can be seen almost anywhere on the multiple ridge lines. There is even a PFHT member who owns a glider airport near State College who has multiple trapping blinds on his property. Any Pennsylvania Falconry Hawk Trust club member is allowed to use it, with a little advanced permission. Obtaining an out of state permit is simple, quick and affordable. Mark decided he wanted to trap a goshawk in Michigan, but was rebuked, as the permits are issued in January, are by lottery and are limited yearly. Pennsylvania sent a permit within three weeks of initial contact for an out of state goshawk trapping permit. Hawk Mountain used to be where people shot hawks before it was illegal, and now it is a big bird migration watch area. Trapping is year-round. 17 http://www.michiganhawkingclub.com
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There are three clubs, the Pennsylvania Falconry Hawk and Trust (the first, and largest club in Pennsylvania), the Pennsylvania Falconry Association (only been around for five years) and the Peregrine Falconry Club (five years as well). The PFHT has about 180 members in their club with three directors, an Eastern, Western and Central Director. Their meets are about 100-110 members, they are not private meets, falconers, apprentices, pre-apprentices and others- 150-160 in attendance- the meets are multiple days, starts on Thursday and ends on Saturday night with the banquet. Most people show up on Wednesday night to get settled and get hunting parties together, Thursday-Friday-Saturday they hunt and go home on Sunday since hunting isn't allowed in Pennsylvania on Sunday. There is a banquet at the meet, with multiple guest speakers, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night there are vendors selling wares (swivels, hoods, bags, bells, jesses, leashes, other equipment). Hunting spots are not predetermined, you must find your own. The PFH&T has a picnic that is the first weekend in August and everyone is allowed at the picnic, for a cost of about $10-15. There is a pig roast, a business meeting and Eyas socialization at the picnic. Decisions are made by the officers and board members. The PFHT has individually sponsored game dinners throughout the year by invite only and multiple mini-meets. The major meet in January comes with swag- meet pins, game pins, t-shirts, artist prints, coffee mugs etc. The meet coordinator sets up the hotel that handles about 150 people, a banquet hall and guest speakers. Cost of yearly membership is $15. The majority of fund raising occurs between the Meet, Banquet and a very large raffle. Every couple of years this meet occurs in Mercer, Pa. It is very close to the Ohio border and not a far trip for a majority of Michigan falconers. Mark still belongs to the club and will announce the next time it is in Mercer. The biggest difference Mark has seen between the Michigan Hawking Club and the PFHT is that the Michigan Hawking Club focuses more on educating and interacting with the public during our large meet and PFHT is more focused on making falconry better between members and hunting. Additional differences are PFHT is very aggressive in changing falconry legislation to the falconer’s advantage, as opposed to MHC which leans toward maintaining falconry legislation. Pennsylvania falconers have to have a $22 hunting license (small game, Fall Turkey and Buck tag are included), a falconry license is $50/year, and they allow for 3-year increments. The cost of the falconry exam is $25. Facilities inspections occur yearly.
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Creance Article Originally published in The Creance (The Pennsylvania Falconry Hawk and Trust's newsletter) on May 2019 It’s May and that means turkey hunting, trout fishing, gardening, and searching for morels. But for some of us that means starting with a new eyass. For most of us in PA an eyass means a sharpie, a coopers, or a goshawk. Ask 12 different falconers how to raise an eyass and you’ll get 16 different answers. Ask those same 12 falconers if hacking should be part of the process and you’ll get either a yes or no. I’m definitely in the eyass camp. About 13 years ago I received a hand me down imprint female goshawk during the summer. By the time autumn rolled around and it was time to start some serious hawking I found out that this bird couldn’t land in a tree let alone cork screw around one in pursuit of a squirrel. She couldn’t chase a rabbit without flying into a few branches or getting tangled in grape vines. It was during this season while watching a lot of game escape due to flying errors I decided that my next eyass was to be hacked out and learn how to fly like a real hawk. The following year I purchased a male goshawk chick from a breeder with the intention of tame hacking him. Tame hacking is where the hawk would be brought inside at the end of the day and left back out the following morning. I received the male when he was around 22 days old. At around 35 days I started placing him in the apple tree next to the garden. This was going to be my “hack tree”. All feeding and training occurred at the base of the hack tree. From 35 to 42 days the little male developed into a true brancher. At 40 days he started to wear a transmitter and at 42 days he left the hack tree for his first real flight. It’s amazing that they can go from flying 15 yds to over 100 yds in a single day. For the next 26 days this male was fed in the morning and placed in the hack tree by 6:30 am. He was free to fly about the neighborhood and try to stay out of trouble. Sometimes trouble found him (like summer thunderstorms and Red Tails). But for the most part he would show up at around 4:30 pm where a young chicken or rabbit lure would be waiting under the hack tree for him. 19 http://www.michiganhawkingclub.com
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After 26 days on hack it was time to pull him in after watching him chase the local robins and doves. He wasn’t chasing for fun anymore; it was with intent to catch and eat. He required re-manning because he was becoming wilder and less of an imprint each day at hack. During that first season I would routinely get comments like “that was the best gos flight that I’ve ever seen” or “that bird flies like a giant coopers hawk” by the end of the first season he was routinely taking multiples. Hacking a bird is all about risk vs. rewards. I’ve tame hacked over a dozen goshawks for myself and a few friends with this in mind, for me the rewards have always outweighed the risk. Though I’ve had a taste of the risk, like: ● Severe thunderstorms that keep the bird out for days ● Finding a hawk too wet to fly because it was pulled into a pond by a duck ● The Red Tail chase scene ● The fence knock out round while chasing other birds ● High speed flights into window resulting severe muscle bruising ● Having a hack hawk raiding a cooper hawk’s nest But the rewards have been such as these: ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Developing a level of separation between the falconer and the imprint Increased mental and physical development and stimulation Increased flying skills of the typical imprint eyass Life skills such as evasion of the Red Tail Having a first-year bird take 98 head of mixed game Having a first-year bird take jacks in 25 mph wind Watching a hawk on hack fly off a telephone phone directly into a 20+ mph wind and speck out, come back down wind like a rocket 2 minutes later landing on the same pole, and start cackling like a rooster greeting the morning sun ● It’s a great learning and fun watching the hawk’s rapid development as each day of hack progresses. As I have hacked more birds over the last few years, I have allowed them more and more freedom and less supervision. I am fast approaching a true wild hack where the goshawks would just stay out for the duration and not be brought in at all until the hack is complete. As you begin planning raising your next eyass consider the hacking process and see if the rewards outweigh the risk for your game hawk. 20 http://www.michiganhawkingclub.com
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Red-Tails Choose a "Room with a View" Originally published in The Northwind, the newsletter of Holiday Beach Migration Observatory. Ford Motor Company has already contacted Dave Hogan in anticipation of this year's nesting. By Dorothy F. McLeer, HBMO Board Member On April 18, 2019, my naturalist colleague at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Rick Simek, and I received an intriguing phone call from Christina Twelftree of Ford Motor Company regarding some unique residents that vigorously claimed and defended some space on the 12th-floor of the Michigan Central Train Station. You may be aware of this Detroit icon of “ruin porn” that had previously attracted so many photographers from round the world to document the building’s decline after decades of vandalism and exposure to the elements since 1988. In June, 2018, Ford Motor Company purchased the Train Station for $90 million from the Moroun family and, according to the Detroit Free Press issue of May 24, 2019, “Ford Motor Co. representatives said Thursday that they are on schedule and within budget for their $350 million renovation of Detroit's old Michigan Central Station, which is on pace to open in 2022 as the centerpiece of the automaker's new Detroit tech campus.” Also on schedule this spring was a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that apparently decided to get in on the “ground floor” of this renovation by nesting on the 12th-floor of the Train Station! Ms. Twelftree’s phone call was to ask for help in accomplishing the corporation’s renovation goals while protecting the hawks’ well-being, as well as their nestlings. They had established residency on the window ledge with three eggs in their large stick nest. This is a critical time in nesting success, so in order not to upset the expectant parents, Ford decided to cover the window so the birds could not see movement inside the building. Knowing that this new development could definitely slow down Ford’s renovation progress, I was inspired by the corporation’s desire to proceed with caution and take the birds’ safety into account. While bringing new life to this building and its surrounding community, Ford employees included and accommodated the “new life” on the 12th-floor in their restoration plans! The renovation agenda included asbestos abatement and repairs requiring scaffolding outside the building. As Ms. Twelftree wrote in a later email, “We’d love your help confirming the type of hawk it is and what sort of protection / environment we need to consider for them. This is a fabulous story as you can imagine but we don’t want to talk about it publicly until we understand more and take the right precautions.” The illustrative photograph she attached easily confirmed these were Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), that seemed to be taking a page out the Peregrine Falcon nesting book. To comply with this important request, I contacted raptor bander /rehabilitator/ falconer Dave Hogan of Monroe, Michigan, in hopes that he could accompany Ms. Twelftree and Mr. Gary Marshall, Ford Construction Manager, to the Train Station on an early May site visit to assess the construction scaffolding’s proximity to the nest and the parent birds’ reactions to the construction activity. Dave is the “go-to guy” when it comes to anything raptor and I knew his recommendations would be the best possible advice. 21 http://www.michiganhawkingclub.com
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Before Dave’s involvement, workers on the 12th floor had observed the adults creating their nest site. The male was quite protective of his mate and their home, even “ferocious,” according to Detroit wildlife film maker Stephen McGee, who documented the red-tails’ family life; the bird on the right in the photograph is “Dad.” Despite precautions on both bird and human part, only two of the three eggs successfully hatched; Baby #1 on May 30, Baby #2 on June 6. To prevent too much disturbance at the nest, Mr. McGee had to figure out a variety of alternate ways to document family life on the 12th floor. He rented a $15,000, 800 mm extended lens camera to capture parental food drops and family shots. The covered window at the nest was reconfigured with a camouflaged blind inside the building to allow for better photos, but the window remained cloudy due to daily bird activity. Drones flying above the building revealed much about the fledglings’ learning process of “how to be a red-tail” with special instructions from Mom & Dad. Once the young were out of the nest, their protective parents perched on the building’s corners, keeping watch over their progeny. When I asked Gary Marshall about this unique aspect of his role as construction site manager, he responded, “It’s a neat story, watching the parents teach the young.” To see some of Stephen McGee’s footage of the nest site, food deliveries from adults to the nestlings, and hear Dave Hogan talk about these birds, follow these links: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D83zDl0gOD4, https://www.wxyz.com/news/these-baby-hawks-are-calling-michigan-central-station-home). Photo below provided by Christina Twelftree
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Vendor Advertisements 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!
Communications Specialists
Mike's Falconry Supplies
http://www.com-spec.com/ (800) 854-0547
www.mikesfalconry.com 1-(888) 663-5601
Counce Bells
Northwoods Ltd.
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www.northwoodsfalconry.com (800) 446-5080
Dutch Export Birds
Pineo Falconry
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www.pineofalconry.com (509) 624-3427
Hawkeye Falconry Supply
Rodent Pro
www.hawkeyefalconrysupply.com (641) 451-7953
www.rodentpro.com (812) 867-7598
L. L. Electronics
Top Gun Shooting Sports
http://www.radiotracking.com/ (800) 553-5328
www.tgssinc.com (734) 282-8470
Marshall Radio Telemetry
VitaHawk
https://marshallradio.com/ (801-936-9000)
www.vitahawk.com
Mike Dupuy Hawk Food
Western Sporting Goods
www.mikedupuyhawkfood.com (570) 837-1551
www.westernsporting.com (800) FLY-HAWK
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Donation Thank Yous These people have supported the Michigan Hawking Club by contributing goods and/or services for our auctions. Many thanks to them!
Lauren Anderson, Animal Illustration www.facebook.com/AndersonAnimalIllustration
Rusty Feathers - Sarah Zagacki www.rustyfeathers.com www.facebook.com/RustyFeathersDesign/
Michigan Renaissance Festival www.michrenfest.com
Sky Kings, Wildlife Revealed www.skykingsfalconry.com Nick Clements Mark Cusick Matt Peczynski Keith Sprague Julie Lerini Lauren Meadows James Warner 24 http://www.michiganhawkingclub.com
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Falconry Pictures
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North American Falconry Association – NAFA 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/
2019 Raptor Count
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MHC Application / Renewal
Your MHC membership renewal is due by January 1st of each year. Renewals on or after February 4th 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 - $30.00
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: Troy Peters Secretary, Michigan Hawking Club 2818 FLINT RIVER RD Lapeer, MI 48446
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: NAFA Member:
Yes
No
None
Apprentice
General
Master
If you would like a NAFA application, check here:
Are you interested in talking to groups in your area about Falconry?
Yes
No
Are you interested in helping at MHC educational Events?
Yes
No
Are you interested in helping at the annual MHC Field Meet?
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* Registration is also available on the Michigan Hawking Club Website at http://michiganhawkingclub.org
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What do I get out of a Michigan Hawking Club Membership? > Access to the MUCC > Access to the Michigan Hawking Club Membership Database > Access to all hunting meets, picnics, workshops > Two Tidbit series—Spring and Fall > The newsletter > Access to the Public and Private Michigan Hawking Club Facebook Group > DNR Legislature Updates and Coordination > Comradery
Austringer Awards A new piece to the Newsletter is the Austringer Awards. A special thank you to those that are helping with the Michigan Hawking Club over the years and may have gone unnoticed. Tom Grant, Tom has proven multiple times that he will help with all educational events, no matter where they are located. He has been an unsung hero in the Michigan Hawking Club due to his commitment to the club and educational events and it is greatly appreciated. Debbe Gaskins, Debbe has offered her help during the big meets and picnics for years. Debbe has really proven herself a valuable asset to the Michigan Hawking Club and we are extremely grateful for her. She makes sure all the falconers are fed and happy! Kelly Haughn, Kelly is an untapped source of knowledge for the Michigan Hawking Club. She is a fantastic falconer and last year has started helping with the medical portion of the Apprentice Workshop. Her medical expertise has been extremely valuable to the club. Chris Wysocki, Chris has done the West Side Field Meets for years, and also spearheads the Hunting Time Expo. Chris extended a great amount of trust in the falconers of the Michigan Hawking Club, allowing use of them during the West Side Field Meets. His leadership during the Hunting Time Expo makes sure that the public understands the hunting aspect of our sport well.
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Falconry Funnies
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Co-Editors' Final Thoughts It's my first year helping to edit and write the Mewsletter. I hope you all enjoy the articles, pictures and all-around fun times shared in this one. I've been extremely lucky to be part of the Michigan Hawking Club, over the years I've been able to write Tidbits, enjoy meets, help out at educational events and just learn a ton about falconry. I've made so many good friendships and connections over the years and will cherish them forever. I can't thank this club enough on how much it has affected my life for the better. My season hasn't been going as well as I had hoped this year, but every season I get to spend hunting with a red-tailed hawk makes my life fulfilled. Sincerely, Lisa Clements
New Year's bring new beginnings, and this year is one of many New Beginnings for the Michigan Hawking Club. With brand-new leadership in place, new editors for the mewsletter, and a host of new members, the Michigan Hawking Club is poised to advance into 2020 with a bold new agenda. As part of this year changes, there are going to be changes implemented in our field meets, one of which was incorporating new Mini meets around the state. This past December, the first mini meet in Grass Lake, Michigan was held, and more are in the works. Please, if you have input, questions, comments or concerns in regards to the field meet or mini meets, let me know. As it is with the club as a whole, these events are what we, the membership, make them. Help me tailor these events to what YOU want them to be. May the remainder of your season be successful, may Murphy's law never rear its ugly head, and may your molt be swift so you can get back to the woods in the fall of 2020. Sincerely, James Warner
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