Dog Transmitter From an Old Marshall RT

I have several old Marshall  RT transmitters lying around not being used.  Transmitters seem to be like computers in that they are outdated as soon as you use it the first time.  There is nothing wrong with the older Marshall RT's, however they do not have the power of the newer RT+ or Powermax, no magnetic on/off switch, and they have a very long antenna compared to newer models.  Rather than have these collecting dust I decided to make a pouch that goes on my dog's collar so I can at least use these to track my dog when I hit the grouse fields next month.

Lulu above sporting her new tracking device on the side of her SportDog e-collar. (click pictures to enlarge)

No set pattern was used, just made some rough measurements and cut out the parts I thought I would need.  I didn't post the measurements because they will change depending on the transmitter used and the collar that you would put it on.  

A couple of pieces of self stick velcro to keep the transmitter in the pouch.

The picture above is the basic shape with the transmitter inside.

Using a leather stitcher I sewed the velco, sides, and collar loop together.

Not the most pretty stitch job but I'm looking for function more than form in this case.  If I wanted more even stitches I could have used a stitch marker.

Only need to stitch down the top flap's velcro.

Open finished product.

Closed, everything fits snugly inside.

On the collar and ready to go.  

-RVZ

Still busy, but Back

It's been a busy year leading up to this falconry season, but I've managed to squeeze in a few things....

Spent some time in the blind with my youngest daughter.

I think she saw one, "wait one more minute dad."

Turns out it was a dead cow....

If ya click on this picture you maybe able to see the Columbarius Merlin perched on a snag near the middle.  She had a large crop on her and unfortunately had little interest in bait we were offering.

My girls and I imprinted a Gyrkin this summer, as previously blogged about.

He liked watching his dinosaur ancestor.

Sorry cell phone picture, but here we are saying goodbye before he went back to the breeder.

And I've finally gotten my birds outta the chamber this past week.  Mongo, the Gyrfalcon, looks and acts about the same as he always has.

Tulsa, the Hybrid, is still a jerk and has lightened up in color some more.  I expect him to continue to get the job done this year.  Time to dust off the ol' kite, put new batteries in the transmitters, and whip these two into shape.

-RVZ  

Oklahoma Passage Peregrine Take

I'm happy to report that Oklahoma has filled both of its passage Peregrine permits this year!  It has been a lot of work.  First to get passage take allowed and then even more work to retain our permits in Oklahoma due to a lot of pressure to give ours up to Texas by those who didn't think that it could be done away from a beach.

The falcons have to move across the country before they can hit those Texas beaches and lucky for us there are several locations in Oklahoma where fair numbers of Peregrines stop over on their trips south.  I'll be the first to admit though, that it is nowhere near as easy or glamorous trapping up here as would be on a coastal beach, but definitely can be done and we feel it can be done year after year as long as someone has the desire!

Photos courtesy of Mitch Wishson.  This bird couldn't have been trapped by a nicer guy or better falconer.

-RVZ