THE CHASE JUNE 2010 by Neil Davies

The Chase the on-line newsletter of the UK Falconry Club - June 2010

www.ukfalconryforum.com

CONTENTS

Editors note Welcome to the 3rd online version of THE CHASE. As we put this edition together, we can reflect on last months Falconry & Raptor Fair at Chetwynd Park. It was a success in one way it was the launch of the UK Falconry Club and I believe we stunned some, how quick we got the club up and running. We are now presently working for our Hawk Board registration and hopefully in the coming months we will fulfil our objectives and become an active member and supporter of the Hawk Board and the Campaign for Falconry. However, The Falconry Fair was not as busy as in previous years and several well known suppliers both home and abroad werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t present - possibly this is down to the current financial climate, but also could it be put down to the Fair being held at one of the busiest times for the breeders? Surely, it is time to reconsider the timing of the fair for the benefit for all. Meanwhile I hope you enjoy this edition. Neil Davies - Editor

Features 4

Gulf Trip 09 by Chris Southern

Microchipping Raptors by Edda Pohlandt

10 A Guide to applying for a Kite Flying Licence by Neil Davies 16 A Lifetime with Eagles by Joe Atkinson 24 Building a Pheasant Pen by Neil Davies 26 Product Reviews 28 The Falconry & Raptor Fair - Is it time for a Change? by Ben Crane 30 The Falconry & Raptor Fair - Pictures 32 Members Birds - Rufus by Allan Gates 34 Club News The Chase is the online newsletter of the UK Falconry Club. No article, photograph, or part of this publication maybe reproduced without written consent. The Editor and the UKFC Committee reserves the right to approve or refuse any advertisement or contribution for any reason.

Cover photo - Golden Eagle x Steppes ÂŠ Allan Gates

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

GULF TRIP 2010 - ARMTHORPE FALCONS

Gulf T

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

GULF TRIP 2010 - ARMTHORPE FALCONS

At the beginning of October 2009, Bryn and I travelled to the Gulf for a 10-day trip to visit some of our friends in the region and see some of our falcons. We spent 4 days in Abu Dhabi then went on to Dubai and Qatar for the remainder of the visit; we also took time to look round the huge Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition that is held in Abu Dhabi every year. We spent some time with a group of falconers training their birds for the hunting season ahead, when you see these guys handle and fly a falcon that has only been out of the hack pen for 4 or 5 days, it is a real eye opener. To see the steadiness of the falcon and watch it flown free after such a short time, emphasises the innate skill that comes with generations of falconry in their heritage. We moved on to Dubai having hardly had enough time to see all we needed to in Abu Dhabi, an ultra-modern city that is still rich in its traditional heritage. In Dubai we were lucky to stay with a great bunch of falconers who live, eat and breathe falconry. Early morning found us out in the desert as the sun was rising,training falcons before the day heated up to its normal high temperature. With only about an hour or so before the sun got too high, there was not much time to fly the 12 or so falcons in hand. Each bird was dealt with quickly and efficiently, no sooner did one falcon land on the lure than the next was on the wing. The falcons ranged from pure gyrs to gyr x peregrines, from a couple of weeks in to training to just a few days. The training ranged from long luring over - a kilometre to slipping at wild caught ducks, all were handled in an expert manner and no sign of stress in either falcons or falconers.

Trip 09

Words & Pictures by Chris Southern, Armthorpe Falcons THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

GULF TRIP 2010 - ARMTHORPE FALCONS

From Dubai we flew in to Doha, Qatar, the temperature was starting to cool a little now reaching 32oC in the afternoon, instead of the 42oC we had experienced in Abu Dhabi.

Once more we were staying with falconers from Sheiks to ordinary guys, all without exception were skilled practitioners. We spent 4 days in Qatar and saw some beautiful falcons, palatial hack pens and stunning scenery, the time went too fast and we were on our way home too soon. All in all we had a fantastic time and the memories will stay with us for the rest of our lives, I hope to return in the not too distant future to see more of what this amazing region has to offer. The most outstanding thing about our visit was the incredible hospitality shown by everyone we met, wherever we went the people were warm, friendly and welcoming. It was not possible to visit anyone without being offered huge amounts of food and drink, it is the custom of people in the UAE to be generous hosts and they go to any length to ensure you enjoy your visit. We returned home with a feeling of regret at leaving, I can recommend anyone visit this region if you can, you will be welcomed as a fellow falconer and the experience will leave you with a great respect forthe people and the culture. www.armthorpe-falcons.co.uk

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

MICROCHIPPING RAPTORS

Microchipping Raptors by Edda Pohlandt, Falcon Veterinary Group, www.falconvet.co.uk Microchipping has become the most reliable way of identifying individual animals and this includes birds of prey. Rings can become illegible or can be taken off. Microchipping has two advantages: it absolutely identifies an animal by a unique number and it allows the animal to be returned to its rightful owner if the animal has been lost. Microchipping, although not entirely foolproof, is simple, reliable and inexpensive. In racehorses it has been mandatory for years. All dog and equine passports require the animal to be identified by microchip.

The ISO certification means that the chip can be read in any country. This is important when travelling over borders with birds or when exporting /importing, so that any customs agency can read the chip.

Appearance and Types Microchips are small transponders the size of a rice grain. They are plastic coated and hold a number consisting of 9,10 or 15 digit. Some chips have a small silicone head with holes in the head. This allows the body's tissue to grow through the little holes, without causing any sort of reaction, and this anchors the microchip in the keel area. The old problem of finding a microchip halfway down the bird's body several years after microchipping is thus resolved. There are many different types of microchips. They work, mostly, equally well, as long as the chip is ISO 11784 (International Standard) compliant.

Procedure The microchipping procedure is as follows: The bird is cast and held on its side. Usually there is no need for sedation or anaesthesia. The bird is scanned looking for previously implanted chips. Then the feathers over the keel are parted and the microchip is implanted with the use of an applicator. The applicator essentially is a large needle with a handle and a small rod that pushes the chip under the skin once the tip of the needle has penetrated. The preference these days is to microchip subcutaneously (under the skin) and not into the muscle. This is less painful and does not cause any scarring or damage to the pectoral muscles. We apply a small drop of tissue glue to seal the hole in the skin made by the microchip needle. This prevents the microchip popping back out when the bird stands back up onto the glove and flaps its wings. The bird is then scanned again to confirm that the microchip is reading OK. The entire procedure usually takes less than thirty seconds.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

MICROCHIPPING RAPTORS

other details such as a telephone number, there is usually a £5 administration charge levied by the company in question. DEFRA At present it is not a requirement for birds to be microchipped for import or export, but it does make the paperwork a great deal easier. There can be no argument over a worn number on a ring, which you read as a '3' and the DEFRA official interprets as an '8'. Following equine and pet passports, there is no doubt in my mind that microchipping will become mandatory for any birds crossing borders in the near future.

Drawbacks Although the restraint period is brief, it is stressful for the bird to be cast. The microchipping needle is large and there is some discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin. Rejection of the chip, or infection is a rare occurrence. Incorrect chipping procedure is more likely to cause problems than the chip itself. The occurrence of tumours has been documented at chipping sites, especially in species like cats which are more prone to fibrosarcoma type tumours. In birds this has not been documented – however far fewer birds than cats have been microchipped, so this is something that will need monitoring into the future. There are stories of thieves removing microchips from birds. It is difficult enough to locate and remove microchips in a dead bird, in a post mortem examination. The scanner scans quite a large field and the chip is difficult to locate precisely. So although it is technically possible to remove chips, it is not easy and is likely to cause marked distress, bleeding and scarring in a live bird. Database The owner's details are then registered on a database. These databases are administered by various companies such as Identichip (Animalcare) or Tracer (Bayer) or Backhome (Pfizer). After the initial microchipping charge at the vets, usually £15-£25, there is no other charge. If you move house or want to change any

Legal Position A bird belongs to the person in whose name the microchip is registered. If you buy a bird, ensure that you know the microchip number and that the seller signs the change of ownership form. Alternatively, ask the seller for a letter, stating the bird's details (Name, species, age, etc) including the microchip number, stating that the bird is now legally yours and that the seller agrees for you to register the bird/microchip in your name. Very often birds are sold, microchipped but the microchip is never registered in the new owner's name. The bird may be sold several times. If you are the last buyer, and wish to change the microchip into your name, it becomes very difficult to prove that you legally acquired the bird, and the bird remains the legal property of the owner from several sales ago! In the case of divorce, or a partnership break-up, the bird is legally the property of the person to whom the microchip is registered. On the other hand, if your bird was stolen or lost, and it is found and scanned, you will be quickly reunited with your bird as there can be no discussion. You are the owner and it does not matter for how long the finder has had the bird in their care – they do not have a claim upon the bird. Finally Remember to keep your details on the database updated. Check the chip at least once a year. There is a very low incidence of chips malfunctioning, but it is best to check. And finally, microchips cannot prevent theft. They can only serve to identify the individual bird and its registered owner.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

APPLYING FOR A KITE LICENCE

A Guide to applying for a Kite Flying Licence by Neil Davies

The summer is around the corner and thoughts of finding alternative training methods for new eyasses. I have put together the releveant forms and legistaltion that prospective kite flyers should be aware of the current CAA aviation legislation. The team headed by David Miller at the CAA is extremely helpful and will answer any questions you might have. Hopefully by following their recommendations you will enjoy flying your falcon to the kite in a save and responsible manner. The UK's civil aviation legislation states that CAA permission is required to fly a kite above the following height thresholds: •

30m (above ground level) - if the site is within an Aerodrome Traffic

•

Zone (which exist around most airfields /airports and extend out to a distance of approx 2 miles);

•

60m (above ground level) - for all other sites.

The application form is one pages 11 & 12 and this can be used for making an application. For a Word version please contact David Miller at the CAA.

On pages 13 & 14 you have the relevant extracts from the aviation legislation that you should be aware of. Please bear in mind that the aviation legislation relating to kite flying is established for the purposes of aviation safety. Therefore, any other factors (e.g. proximity to roads, railways, power lines etc) are not taken into account by the CAA when assessing and approving this type of activity. Consequently, responsibility for those aspects rests with the kite operator. Please contact Mr David Miller of the CAA, if you have any further questions. Useful contact address: Mr David Miller Airspace Specialist 5 (AS5) Airspace Utilisation & Off-Route Airspace (AU&ORA) Directorate of Airspace Policy (DAP) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) K6 G2 CAA House 45-59 Kingsway London WC2B 6TE Tel: 020 7453 6585 (direct line) 020 7453 6599 (AU Operations) Fax: 020 7453 6593 email: David.Miller@caa.co.uk

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

APPLYING FOR A KITE LICENCE

Registration form: CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY

Air Navigation Order 2009

KITES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FALCONRY TRAINING Application for Permission to Fly: Above 60 metres / Above 30 metres within an Aerodrome Traffic Zone 28 days notice MUST be given of the event If you require assistance with the completion of this form, please telephone 020 7453 6585 Completed forms should be sent to: Airspace Utilisation & Off-Route Airspace, Directorate of Airspace Policy, Civil Aviation Authority, K6 G2, CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6TE. Fax: 020 7453 6593. E-mail: ausops@caa.co.uk

Kite Operator ..................................................................................................................................................................... Location of flight: IMPORTANT: Attach a copy extract of 1:50,000 Landranger Ordnance Survey Map showing the site CLEARLY marked Please do NOT use either A-Z or Road Atlas maps Ordnance Survey Grid Ref: Map No ................. Grid Letters ................. Easting (3fig) ................. Northing (3fig) ................. FULL postal address of site ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................... Contact telephone number at site (if available) ..................................................................................................................................................................... Date/s of flight/s ..................................................................................................................................................................... Daily Period (in local time) From .................................................. To ................................................. Height (in feet) above ground level of kite/s ..................................................................................................................................................................... Kite lighting, if flying during hours of darkness (the period from half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise): .....................................................................................................................................................................

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

APPLYING FOR A KITE LICENCE

Has the landownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s permission been obtained?

Yes / No *

Have the Police been consulted?

Yes / No *

FULL postal address of Police station consulted ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................... * Delete as applicable

DECLARATION I declare that I have checked the above information and that, to the best of my knowledge, it is correct; and that I am aware of my obligations under the Air Navigation Order 2009 as the operator of kite/s.

Signature of applicant ..................................................................................................................................................................... Date .....................................................................................................................................................................

Name (BLOCK CAPITALS) and status .....................................................................................................................................................................

Address ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................... Tel ........................................................................ Fax ............................................................................ E Mail..........................................................................................................................................................

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

APPLYING FOR A KITE LICENCE

Directorate of Airspace Policy Airspace Utilisation & Off-Route Airspace - January 2010 Kite Flying Legislation Currently, Civil Aviation legislation applicable to kite flying is contained in the Air Navigation Order 2009 (Statutory Instrument No 2009/3015) and the Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 (Statutory Instrument No 2007/734). The constraints contained in the Air Navigation Order 2009 and the Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 with regard to the flying of kites (kites are classified as "aircraft" in Schedule 2 of the Order are as follows:-

Article 164(1) The provisions of this Article shall apply only to or in relation to aircraft within the United kingdom.

Article 164(2)(b) A kite must not be flown at a height of more than 30 metres above ground level within the aerodrome traffic zone of a notified aerodrome during the notified operating hours of that aerodrome. (See Note below)

Article 164(2)(c) A kite must not be flown at a height of more than 60 metres above ground level. (See Note below) Note: The foregoing provisions (article 164 (2)(b) and 164(2)(c) may not take place without the permission in writing of the Civil Aviation Authority and in accordance with any conditions subject to which that permission may have been granted. The application should be made to this Section with as much notice as possible. During periods of high workload, the Section may require a minimum of 28 days notice of the event. In order for the application to be processed in sufficient time. However, this notice requirement is flexible and can sometimes be relaxed during quieter periods.

Article 137 Of the Order requires that a person must not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any person in an aircraft.

Article 138 Of the Order requires that a person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property.

Article 255 In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires: 'Controlled airspace' means airspace which has been notified as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D or Clasee E airspace; 'Control zone' means controlled airspace which has been further notified as a control zone and which extends upwards from the surface; 'Notified' means set out with the authority of the CAA in a document published by or under an arrangement entered into with the CAA and entitled 'United Kingdom Notam' or 'United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication' and for the time being in force.

Schedule 3 Part 1 Under this Schedule, a kite is defined as a non-powered driven, heavier than air aircraft.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

APPLYING FOR A KITE LICENCE

Rule 52 The Rules of the Air A kite while flying at night at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall display lights as follows: (a) a groupl of two steady lights consisting of a white light placed 4 metres above a red light, both being of at least five candela and showing in all directions, the white light being places not less than 5 metres or more than 19 metres below the lowest part of the kite; (B) on the mooring cable, at intervals of not more than 300 metres measured from the group of ligts referred to in sub-paragraph (a), groups of two lights of the colour and power and in the relative positions specified in that sub-paragrph, and, if the lowest group of lights is obscured by cloud, an additional group below the cloudbase; and (c) on the surface, a group of three flashing lights arranged in horizontal plane at the apexes of a triangle approximately equilateral, each side of which measures at least 25 metres; one side of the triangle shall be approximately at right angles to the horizonatl projection of the cable and shall be delimited by two red lights; the third light shall be a green light so place that the triangle encloses the object on the surface to which the kite is moored.

Rule 53 The Rules of the Air A kite while flying by day at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall have attached to its mooring cable at intervals of not more than 200 metres measured from the lowest part of the kite, tubular streamers not less than 40 centimetres in diameter and 2 metres in length, and marked with alternative bands of red and white 50 centimetres wide , or at intervals of not more than 100 metres measured from the lowest part of the kite, streamers not less than 80 centimetres long and 30 centimetres wide at their widest point and marked with alternate bands of red and white 10 centimetres wide. The complete Air Navigation Order is available on the CAA website (http://www.caa.co.uk) in the Civil Aviation Publication (CAP) 393.

Permission for flight are normally only granted for six month periods, to ensure that any future airspace changes can be incorporated. Normally, a telephone request for renewal will be accepted; please give sufficient notice for renewal, especially during the spring/ summer period. The enclosed application form includes a request to specify a grid reference taken from Ordnance Survey (OS) Landranger Maps anda copy of the map with the site CLEARLY MARKED. The Landranger OS Map referred to in the form may be obtained from any stationary shop or news agents. Alternatively a photo-copy may be taken from a map held by a library (under the permission from the OS, which allows the CAA to take such copies). A printed extract from one of the map sites on the internet is also acceptable, providing that the proposed kite location is clearly marked.

There is no charge for issue of a Permission.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

A Lifetime with Eagles by Joe Atkinson, Vale, Oregon, USA Photos: Cordi Atkinson and Mark Williams

When I was asked to write an article about my experiences with golden eagles it caused me to reflect. I realized that I have been flying eagles for a long time, some 34 years. And thinking back I realized that golden eagles have been a huge part of my life, shaping, in many ways, the man I have become. My falconry experiences are somewhat eclectic as I fly falcons and eagles, something which, here in the US, is akin to sleeping with the devil. Simply put, longwingers in the States have a strong dislike for eagles. Why? It’s simple...... eagles eat falcons. I don’t consider flying eagles a venture over to the dark side. I believe I am just a falconer who enjoys a good flight, regardless.For the last 20 years I have primarily flown passage eagles that need some help getting back into the wild. How many I don’t actually know, but let's just say a bunch! I would say that you would have to go a long way to find someone who has flown and caught game with as many eagle as I have. I don’t feel that by making such a statement I am boasting, it is just a fact. With each eagle that I fly I set a goal to catch 25 head of game, mainly jack rabbits. Over the years I have had three different eagles go over the 300 head count, all taking jack rabbits off the fist, and one non-releasable eagle by the name of Jackhammer who has caught over 800 jacks and counting. I received my first eagle in 1976 under somewhat unusual circumstances. I was a college student flying an imprint red tail and a passage prairie falcon on a cattle ranch in Northern California. Living on a cattle ranch gave me access to miles

and miles of land to hunt and I took full advantage of the opportunity. It was while out hunting that a man saw me and asked if he could film my red tail and would I be interested in training a golden eagle for filming as well. Little did I know that chance encounter would change my life forever and set in motion a lifetime with eagles. And some 35 years later the journey continues. Not having any idea how to raise an eagle, let alone train one, I was presented with a huge white puff ball that was to be my first eagle. I convinced my wife, Cordi, that this magnificent creature should live in the house where we, mostly meaning me, could watch over it. I had totally sold her on the idea right up until the moment the eaglet took a mammoth slice across the kitchen with a direct hit on the toaster. After that I spent many hours watching over my first eagle growing up out in the barn! I did absolutely everything wrong raising this female eagle and what I ended up with was a raging imprint that hated everything but me! This presented some problems because I was supposed to train her to be filmed, and attacking the cameraman was not in the storyline. Despite some minor difficulties I did manage to hunt this eagle and, in the end, she was quite the game hawk. I remember the first jack I ever caught with her. I had been flying her off the side of a large hill in the front of the ranch. The entire field was treeless and was covered with ground squirrels which, when hunting with a red tail, are fun flights. With an eagle, however, it is a different story altogether, because the instant an eagle takes to the air all squirrels go underground.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

Photograph ©Mark Williams

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

Author with passage female Golden Eagle Growing tired of soaring her on the hillside, I began to look elsewhere for flights. I recalled her to the fist and approached a patch of wild artichokes that were growing along the bottom of the hillside. Both of us had no clue what was there, if anything, and, more so, what we would do if something flushed. I had seen jack rabbits hiding in there before and I did know one thing -- if something ran out from the cover (hopefully a jack rabbit) my eagle was going to launch and fly it down! I entered the patch and nothing happened. My excitement began slipping away as I continued to walk through the cover. With only a few steps left before I was all the way through, suddenly, from out of nowhere, a jack exploded in a dust cloud and headed downhill at breakneck speed. My eagle took one look and was gone, closing fast on the jack that had no place to hide. With its ears pinned and back legs reaching out beyond its nose, the jack was hitting on all cylinders. My eagle went in low and fast and slammed into the jack with such

force and power that both jack rabbit and eagle went spinning in a half circle with dust flying everywhere. I stood in total disbelief, what a rush. I could not get that moment out of my head and I was, at that moment in time, hooked for life. I spent the rest of the season hunting jacks with her. I would go on long 4-5 hour hunts, going to every likely spot that might hide a jack rabbit. (Just for the record, we say jack rabbit but, in fact, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a rabbit at all. It belongs to the hare family.) Where was I...... oh yeah, my first eagle. She did lots of things that are memorable....... like chasing a cameraman into a water canal, forcing him to go underwater; attacking Cordi and pinning her on the side of a hill. This eagle was, to say the least, very aggressive and nothing much backed her off. I remember one day I had been hunting for a long time, walking the hills around the ranch, and my plan was to go full circle and end up above the irrigation canal that ran through the valley. I

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

would come from the back side of the canal and peek over the top of the hill just enough to see if any ducks were there. From this position I could launch my eagle, giving her a good advantage and head start on the ducks below. This was an interesting flight and she actually took a few ducks in this manner. But on this day I looked to see if any ducks were in the canal and, seeing none, I sat on a rock outcropping to rest and enjoy the panoramic view from my vantage point. It was at moments like these, sitting there with my eagle resting on a rock right beside me, that she would launch off the hill and go into a soar. Watching her roll off the rock and seeing the air lift her up, I felt I was flying myself. For me these moments were truly spiritual. But today we both sat on the edge of the cliff enjoying the view below. There I sat, drifting off with my thoughts, when suddenly my eagle turned abruptly, spread her wings and started to hiss. I looked slightly over my shoulder at my eagle who was clearly freaked out by some horrible monster and I thought, I don’t want to look behind me because it has to be bad. My eagle regards everything, and I mean everything, as food

and to further add to my now building fear, I had never seen her afraid of anything. So whatever was behind me had to be really bad for both her and me! I couldn't run away because I was sitting on a cliff, so with no other choice, I slowly turned around! And there, crawling up a rock behind us, was a rather large tarantula. I was, to say the least, relieved. Tarantulas are harmless and very cool creatures but apparently my eagle was not so informed and flew off. Training passage eagles for release has been an adventure because the vast majority of the eagles I get have been handled, at least in their minds, badly. They have been netted, examined and given shots, along with a whole assortment of things that are intended to help them but, of course, they don’t know that. All they know is that stuff keeps happening to them that frankly pisses them off. My job is to say please forget all that because I am a nice guy plus I have all this really great food for you...... and they don’t buy it at first. My point is that eagles that I train have a long list of things they don’t like about humans. For the sake of this article I will compare two eagles, one a passage

Jackhammer with Jack Rabbit THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

male that flew at 6 lbs that I called The Unit, and an imprint male that flies at 8 lbs that is more well known, his name being Jackhammer. The reason I named this small eagle The Unit was because he was like a machine when it came to catching jacks. He wasn’t particularly fast nor big; in fact, flying at 6 lbs, he was the smallest eagle I have ever flown. He just developed a special move when closing in on a running jack rabbit and was very good at it. He came to me after having bumble foot and asper, the double whammy, if you will. His training went smoothly, nothing out of the ordinary, but that all changed the second he caught his first jack. For years I hunted in an industrial area that was a mixture of huge warehouses and ever shrinking hay fields, pretty typical of California’s main desire to pave over all things green, slowly turning everything into a sea of black top and cement. Cordi and I shot our first DVD in this area because it was so loaded with jacks. It was the perfect place to bring young eagles that, above all, needed slips and lots of them in order to perfect their hunting skills. The Unit was ready to hunt and I was eager to see what he would do, for that is one of the most exciting moments..... walking into a field with a young eagle and flushing jacks for it. I don’t recall if he took the first one up but he did go after the first jack he saw, that I am sure of. I never give passage eagles any bags or hampered jack rabbits. First off, it is not necessary and I don’t believe in it. I must admit I have had to do that with some imprints though. They were so inexperienced and so helpless that it was necessary to get them to kill something, anything, just to get them started. But that is the extreme case. Other than one or two imprints I can say I have never seen an eagle that did not know what a jack rabbit was and instinctively chased it. The Unit was no exception and it did not take him long before he caught one. I was most ecstatic and wanted a picture to document the moment so I walked over to the spot where he was mantling over his prize. The second I got to within ten yards he abruptly left his kill and flew straight at my face. I did my best to look like Mohammad Ali and ducked, and he then quickly returned to his jack. I can’t say that has happened all too often. 99% of the time eagles want to drag

the jack rabbit off into some bush or something. The trick with him was to stay back, not entering his 10-yard cone of tolerance, wait until he settled down, then make in and all would be well. In time he got over his dislike of me approaching him and would not even mantle anymore. Despite his small size The Unit was a feisty little eagle. In our first DVD, Eagle Journal the Movie, there is a scene where The Unit foots me in the hand and shoulder, but eventually he became a very nice eagle to fly. He would ride in the back of my truck unhooded, both to and from the hunting fields, looking out the rear window at other cars and the scenery going by. When we arrived at the hunting fields he would jump up on the glove and off we would go. I enjoyed flying him so much that he went over the 300 jack rabbit mark before he was released. It's safe to say he is doing fine. Jackhammer is a story all to his own. He is simply the fastest and most aggressive hunter I have ever flown, he will hunt all day long! He was found as a fluff ball, very sick with asper, and taken to an animal hospital for treatment. Fortunately fate smiled on him because the veterinarian he was taken to happens to be one of the best raptor vets in the country, Dr. Vickie Joseph. Jackhammer was to spend the next several weeks in a nebulizer, breathing medication. During the course of his treatment he was imprinted and as time went on his imprinting became more and more apparent. I remember very clearly the day I went to get him. As I walked into the huge flight chamber holding a large fishing net I was told this eagle is different, he is fast and turns on a dime and he is very difficult to net. Okay, I thought, we’ll see. I have netted tons of birds of all kinds, including many eagles, how difficult can it be? The net was big and had a long pole attached. I figured, no problem…… I was wrong! There were five other eagles in the flight but it didn’t take but a second to see Jackhammer (at that time unnamed of course). He was racing around the flight pen like a pigeon. I moved to one side, hoping to intercept him as he flew down the side of the flight pen. As he rounded the end of the flight and headed toward me, I raised the net at the perfect moment, figuring "I got you"….wrong. Jackhammer easily checked himself and avoided the net. Hmmm, how embarrassing.... let's try this

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

Jackhammer with Jack Rabbit again. Same thing, swing and miss, strike two! Now I was serious, ready to anticipate his move and snag him as he flew by. Jackhammer made a lovely adjustment, went under the net and I cleanly missed again. Strike three! Okay, I thought, I'll just out last him, which I did, and finally netted the rascal. Of course I had to endure the "I told you so" looks from everyone. Right from the start JH (short for Jackhammer) was proving to be a challenge. Yes, he was an imprint, which you would think would be a great help. Not so much in his case though because during his treatment he seemed to have developed a rather strong hatred of people and, more importantly, complete distrust of everyone. So there I was, looking at an imprinted eagle that thinks just about anything that moves is food and hates people to the point that he wants to attack them. Not a good picture and... I must train him! My first challenge was to win JHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trust. Somehow

I needed to show him that I meant him no harm. Once I had his trust I could start the training process. JH did everything in his power to inflict pain on me. Remember, he hated people and was NOT afraid of people, which was significant. Frankly, I wished he was afraid, he would have been easier to handle. I knew that if I could only get him out in the field and show him live things to chase, the rest would fall into place, his anger and frustration would have somewhere to go. But winning his trust was more difficult than I first thought. I had progressed to flying JH on a long line with very nice results and he was most responsive to the lure and the glove. So much so that free flight was the next step. I took JH over to the large cattle ranch I managed which was where I had started countless eagles in the past.... smallish rolling hills that go on as far as the eye can see without one single tree anywhere in sight.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

Another pheasant in the bag! The perfect spot to start a young eagle. My plan was to launch JH off the fist, let him fly along the side of a small hill, and call him down. Well, the launch part went great. JH flew to the side of the hill, turned around but, at that exact moment, a coyote came trotting by, minding its own business. Without the slightest hesitation JH left the hillside and slammed into the coyote. If you have ever seen a tiercel Harris' Hawk grab hold of a large hare or jack rabbit by the head, you can visualize the scene. The coyote was doing somersaults trying to shake JH off. Surprisingly, JH had the perfect hold on it - one foot on the neck just behind the head and the other foot on the poor creatureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nose. I say poor creature because I like coyotes. As a fourth generation rancher they have never caused me or

our livestock any harm, but then we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have sheep! I started to run over to give help, mainly to try and save JH from losing a toe or foot or leg, and as I closed in on the two of them, the coyote, seeing more trouble coming, managed to break free and took off. JH settled himself and then took off in hot pursuit. Once again he flew the coyote down and bound to its head and, once again, I came up on the scene only to have the coyote break free and run off with JH once again in hot pursuit. The day ended with me tracking JH for six miles across many different ranches until I found him too tired to fly and he just stepped up on my glove. Not sure what happened to Mr. Coyote but he had a great story to tell for sure. It took me several more training flights before

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES

Jackhammer would even consider trusting me and even then he would come to the glove but was not happy about it. The first time I took him into the hunting fields he chased several jacks and then flew off self-hunting! Not exactly what I had in mind so, once again, I tracked him down. This time, however, he flew over houses, across freeways and landed in people's back yards! The thing I found with JH was that I needed to prove myself to him, win him over. What I mean is that he needed to understand that I was his hunting partner and not just someone who fed him. Once that was clear he and I started to hunt in a serious way. Jackhammer has taken my eagle falconry to new levels. For instance, taking a 700 yard slip, missing the jack and flying all the way back to the glove over and around all sorts of trees, buildings and, in some cases, parking lots, back to the glove for no reward. And..... do this all day long. Why? Simply because he knows another slip is coming and that is his reward. He also knows that I will take care of him at the end of the day. He will get his just dues -- a full crop of good red meat. Once I realized that food was not JH's primary motivation to hunt, as I said, things went to a new level. This eagle simply loves to hunt. The few times when he has landed in a tree I stop hunting to show him that nothing happens. On the occasion when he has gotten stubborn, taking his time to return, I have found that if I start hunting going away from him he can’t stand it and comes back. With rehab eagles I will take very few people in the field with me, for the obvious reason of keeping them wary of people but once it was clear that JH was not going to be released, more and more folks wanted to see him fly. JH was very shy at first and would only fly at jacks that were flushed on his left side, away from the guests. When someone flushed a jack rabbit to his right he would not even look at it. So what I did was to put people on both sides and walked slightly in front of the group, and dropped his weight just a touch...that did the trick. It was not easy though. It took weeks and I was dragging anyone I could out to go flying. Jackhammer has since gone on to be in two different TV programs for National Geographic and Nature. The first one was Raptor Force in which JH carried a camera on his back which Cordi and I were both surprised he

tolerated. Well, he did up to a point. On the last day of shooting JH landed on a hillside and promptly removed the very expensive camera. Enough was enough! And just recently JH was in Moment of Impact, another PBS production for Nature, which just aired in April. Receiving rehab eagles is a challenge, mainly because I never really know what I’m getting. Some are young passage birds that were not making it on their own that I train just like any freshly trapped bird. Others are a little different, having been handled in what, I would say, is a non falconry kind of way, all for their own good and, depending on what they were suffering from, ranging from being grabbed, netted or chased down, and varied greatly. Those eagles are a challenge because they are ready to fight me every step of the way. One interesting thing that happens, without exception, is that when eagles are being treated or recovering from some sort of injury they do not moult, sometimes for two years or more. The main reason is stress; they are not happy and, therefore, do not moult,. Now, eventually they will to some degree but when they come to me they have generally not moult,ed. As they are put into the training process which is one that is designed to cause as little stress as possible, they settle down remarkably fast and are content. I know this because they start to moult, the mews will look like a pillow fight took place inside it. It’s funny how a mere chance encounter with someone or something can set your life on a course that shapes who you are and how you live your life. I can’t say that if I had not been approached by the wildlife film maker while flying my red tail and offered an eagle that I would have ever flown an eagle or be, in fact, writing this article. But I am very glad it happened, a journey that continues today, and I would like to think that I have given more than a few eagles a second chance to be wild. If you would like to read more about my eagle experiences I invite you to go to my website: www.joeatkinsonseaglejournal.com

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

BUILDING A RELEASE PEN

Building a Release Pen by Neil Davies Materials for construction a 25m x 20m pen suitable for holding approx a 100 poults. • 25 Tanalised posts 2.6m long and 7.5cm in diameter. • 10 Tanalised straining posts 2.6m long and 10cm in diameter. • Two different size rolls of wire netting are required: 100m x 1m x 25mm galvanised netting roll for the bottom, to keep out small ground predators, and 100m x 1.5m x 50mm Gamenet plastic release pen netting for the top. • Timber and hinges/latches for entry gates. • Nails, staples, hammers etc • Re-entry funnels or ‘pop holes’, complete with anti-fox grids and ‘wings’ ( see diagram 1). • Two-strand electric fencing system is recommended for all open topped pens to deter foxes. • 12-volt car battery. • Water butts and piping ( If required). • Hog rings. • Shovel. • Post hole digger & Post Knocker. Useful addresses: www.solwayfeeders.com www.gamekeepersupplies.co.uk www.gamekeepafeeds.co.uk www.basc.org.uk www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk www.gamekeeping.org.uk www.gwct.org.uk

Step 1: Having decided where your going to site the pen. A metre wide path should be cleared prior to construction of the pen. The path should be wide enough to include pop-holes with ‘wings’ and allow you to walk both inside and outside the perimeter fence for daily inspection once the poults arrive. All branches overhanging the track should also be removed to discourage poults from flying out of the pen before they have become acclimatised and to prevent easy access for mammalian predators. Step 2 Create a twisting feed ride through the centre of the pen running north to south to allow plenty of sunlight for the poults.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

BUILDING A RELEASE PEN

Water If there is not a clean water source adjacent to the pen you will have to either pipe it in or have water barrels placed within the pen. You can use a nipple system to save water.

Step 3 Place feed hopper and drinkers throughout the pen as well as the central feed ride.

Electric fencing predator control A simple two-strand 12v electric fencing system should be set 15cm and 30cm high and approximately 30cm out from the pen wire.

Step 4 The minimum recommended height for a release pen is 1.8m (6ft). Tanalised posts 2.1m – 2.4m long and 7.5cm in diameter spaced about 3.6m – 4.5m apart, knocked firmly into the ground and capped to the required height make an ideal support for the straining wire. 10 foot long treated posts 3 feet into the ground, about 12 feet apart

It may be necessary to spray the ground where the electric fencer is used with a strong herbicide to prevent vegetation from short circuiting the system. Prior to poults being released in the pen run switch on the fence to deter predators. Pop Holes Once poults begin to fly out of the pen, they very rarely learn to fly back in. It is therefore essential to provide some form of re-entry funnels or ‘pop holes’, complete with anti-fox grids and ‘wings’.

Step 5 Two strands of 3mm diameter straining wire, one near the top of the poles and another half way between the top strand and ground level, run around the pen and stapled in position will make a strong frame upon which to hang the wire netting. Two different size rolls of wire netting are required: a 1.2m x 25mm roll for the bottom, to keep out small ground predators, and one 1.2m x 50mm for the top. Both should be fixed securely to the straining wire (bottom one first) before being overlapped and fastened to each other. Many pens are now made with galvanised wire for the bottom two feet and Gamenet plastic netting above. Dig a trench around the base of the pen between each of the set posts, about 6 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Lay the first layer of galvanized wire into the trench, flaring out 2 or 3 inches at the bottom. Back fill in the trench with soil.

The wings will direct poults, which are travelling around the outside of the pen through the anti-fox grid and wire funnel back in to the pen. Use lengths of old hose pipe to run the electric fence wire through these ‘wings’ to avoid the earthing of the current.

Step 6 Access gates should be carefully sited. Ideally you should have two gates one being wide enough for a vehicle to enter the pen. Next month: Building a Partridge Pen

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

PRODUCT REVIEWS

As recomme The Imprint Accipter Breeder by Lee Featherstone Reviewed by Ben Crane I was always weak at English when at school. I blame the teachers. I left with a grade D and have never forgiven Mrs White. The reason lies in the fact that aside from the usual analysis of ‘An Inspector Calls’ and ‘Of Mice and Men’ I spent a lot of my time ‘creatively’ writing about fishing, Barn Owls, Pipistrelle bats and setting traps for beetles. One of Mrs Whites major complaints (I am reading the report now!) was that I spent too much time focused on ‘first hand perspective’ and ‘descriptions which others may not share’. I think ‘The Imprint Goshawk Breeder’ would therefore throw the miserly Mrs White in paroxysms of epic proportions. Thankfully she knew nothing of the country and she certainly knows nothing about Goshawks. The same cannot be said of the Author. Now in it’s second edition and built upon nearly a decade of successful Goshawk breeding, this book should be of interest to any falconer. Like Mrs White, the falconry world can be a snippy, snide and is often full of mal-adjusted opinions. If ideas and various approaches do not match the tried and tested means then they are cast on hollow ground. From the outset this book (like my attempts at descriptive writing) is clearly only one mans successful approach to a complicated process. The book itself it built upon the authors polemic observations and is all the more informative for it.

There are roughly ten chapters covering all the aspects how an Austringer may want to approach artificially inseminating (AI) a Goshawk. Starting with the general outlay of what AI means, then focusing on the specifics of choosing stock, basic imprinting, male and female behaviour, through to the technical aspects of semen collection, storage, insemination and incubation. This is an honest, no nonsense book and is a superb first step for any would be breeder. Having spoken and watched Lee talk about both the book and the type of AI he carries out, I can guarantee that this is as close to the authors voice as your likely to find. Often ‘secret’ processes are kept from us regular falconers by judicious editing and spin. This is not one of those books. I can see that this is an initial framework onto which Lee will build books about Goshawks, AI and the success (or failure) of his introduction of new bloodlines into the UK fold. I make no bones about it. I have no real experience of Goshawks, preferring their much smaller counterparts. But what is refreshing about this book is that it throws up as many questions as it tries to answer. In terms of practical application, this is not in any sense a ‘recipe’. So unless you’re already a successful breeder, this guide will allow you to bolt on your own ideas and discoveries as you move through successive seasons. After all no hawk or falcon is a robot. As the author says “One thing is for sure, the encounters you will have whilst trying to breed Goshawks will give you a real insight and should been seen as a privilege. It is about as close as you can get to nature at her best”. Amen to that! Price: £25.00 plus P&P www.leeshawksandcockers.9f.com

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

PRODUCT REVIEWS

ended...

Coming up next month: Deaddogs Hawking Vest by Kevin Massey Britbraid Falconry Furniture

Gamehawker Cadge Reviewed by Neil Davies

Having previous used a heavy home made wooden cadge which was showing signs of wear. I decided I’d invest in one of Carl’s Gamehawker cadges after reading several positive reviews on the forums. So armed with my money I headed to the Midland Game Fair and found Carl’s stand at the fair. Unfortunately, Carl didn’t have any of the cadges on the stand, but he said he’d had several in stock in his workshop and would get one delivered to me for the Tuesday ‘Free of charge!’. ‘Excellent, free delivery too, not bad - I thought!’ So handing over my £40, I headed off around the Fair. About an hour later I had a phone call from Carl, saying he had got one of his work colleagues to bring one into the show for me - I thought to myself that was ‘great service’ and later that afternoon I collected my cadge from the Gamehawker stand.

During the season, I couldn’t fault the cadge. It is simply, a well made piece of kit. It is easy to clean, just a quick hose down and that is it. The question is would I recommend a cadge from Gamehawker to anyone else? - YES! “It is simply the best £40 I have spent!” Pros: Lightweight, Washable, Hard Wearing, Great Service and extremly well made. Against: Nothing. Price: £40.00 plus P&P www.gamehawker.net

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

TIME FOR A CHANGE

THE FALCONRY & RAPTOR FAIR IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE? BY BEN CRANE Generally, I would say that most falconers are positive creatures. The idea that you can let a feathered, flying animal free and be more or less confident it will return, is by definition, positive. This is why it is with great sadness that the 2010 Falconry Fair in Shropshire turned out to be a maligned, soured, shadow of its former self. From the United Kingdom Falconers Club perspective this year’s fair was easily the worst of the last 5 years. The local newspaper reported attendance to be around 15’000 people, by my estimation it was more like 1000 per day. There are a multitude of reasons why this is the case. Most significantly the Festival of Falconry held in Reading raised the bar for what falconers at grassroots level should expect from events of this type. The festival clearly showed that at the right time of year, at the right location and with all the facets of falconry catered for, the spirit of why we continue to practise this sport. There were some positives to be seen, the displays and the birds themselves where in good condition. It was also the first time the UKFC club committee

and its members could sit and talk about future events and the direction your club should be going in. We also made good contacts with manufacturers, breeders, falconers, writers and other clubs. From these discussions were seeded plans that we hope to put in place this summer. We are holding our first annual summer bash on the 10th and 11th of September at a little campsite on the coast of Wales. There will be hunting, various falconry events and more importantly an open invite to all of those who wish to help plan, give advice or be part of a new festival/fair to be held in late August 2011. This will not be easy; we don’t have the funding for a start. But it will be a positive step in the right direction. What we need is a new falconry event that represents us all. One that is not a money spinning venture with not atmosphere, but rather one that is representative of the strong falconry traditions he UK has to offer. If you wish to help or be a part of the organisation then feel free to contact the UK Falconry Club with your suggestions.

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

TIME FOR A CHANGE

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

THE UK FALCONRY CLUB AT THE FALCONRY & RAPTOR FAIR

THE UK FALCO THE FALCON 30

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

THE UK FALCONRY CLUB AT THE FALCONRY & RAPTOR FAIR

ONRY CLUB AT RY & RAPTOR THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

MEMBERS BIRDS

Rufus

Golden x Steppes Eagle by Allan Gates

I was lucky enough to meet Iain Crowder through another forum and understood that he had lost some of his flying ground. My flying ground looked as though it may be suitable for Iain to fly, and I invited him to come over with Rufus and Rolex his 09 Male Golden Eagle. To watch Rufus fly over our valley and return to Iain with a blast from the whistle was amazing. During our flying session Iain asked me to get out my GSP, he assured me that Rufus was fine with dogs, I was a little apprehensive, but need not to have worried, Rufus worked with the dog as though they had always worked together. About 2 months later, I had a message from Iain asking if I wanted to take on Rufus, as he wanted to put all his time into his young Goldie, well I nearly fell of my chair. He had visited my falconry centre and said he thought that Rufus would be happy with me, and that is how I came to have Rufus. This is where the story starts, having trained Falcons, Owls, Hawks, but an Eagle is a very different story. I am lucky that Iain has done a wonderful job with Rufus, but we still needed the bond, and despite experience with other Birds, I found myself wondering from time to time have I done the right thing. I can now say I have, Rufus and I have a bond that I thought he would only ever have with Iain. At the moment he is down to moult, but prior to this I have had some wonderful flights with him, and to watch him fold his wings from say 500 feet, is amazing. We have rabbits coming back to the valley now and cannot wait for next season. All I can say is a big thank you to Iain for giving me the chance to fly such a magnificent well mannered bird. Allan Gates

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

Quality, hand braided falconry furniture made in Britain

Falcon fitted with Brithawk braided furniture

Brithawk Braided Falconry equipment order from Zoe Jones THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010

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CLUB NEWS

Club News Club BBQ The UK Falconry Club will be holding a Summer BBQ in September 10th - 11th at Rhosllefain, Tywyn, Gwynedd LL36 9ND. If any members wish to attend, please contact Ben Crane for further details - ben_crane@ukfalconryforum.com We hope you can come along and meet the committee.

UK Falconry Club Committee President - Ben Crane, Vice-President - Neil Hunter, Chairman - Lee Featherstone, Vice-Chairman - Martin Whitley, Secretary - Steven Lambert, Treasurer - Tommy Miles, Membership Secretary - George Duncalf, Legal Officer - Mike Roberts, Field Meet Officer - Kevin Massey, Assistant Field Meet Officer 1 - Joe Hatton, Newsletter Editor - Neil Davies

Membership is now available online If you wish to join the UK Falconry Club you can now apply and pay online at the clubs forum www.ukfalconryforum.com Membership fees are per year and include Public Liability Insurance for Full & Associate Members: Full Members £32, Associate Members £32 and Supporter member £17

Field Meets We are presently organising a number of UKFC field meets through out the whole of the of UK. We will post a list of date on www.ukfalconryforum.com in due course.

the uk falconry club supports the campaign for falconry

THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010