Falcons in a Box

It's that time of year.  105 degrees out and not so much as a little bit interested in training falcons.  But the time is here and so is my new bird.....

I decided to start anew this year and picked up a female GyrxPeregrine the other day (the black one in the picture above, the other is a Gyr that I imprinted this year for a buddy).  I've never hunted with a female hybrid, although, I have trained a few to the kite before they were sold.  I really don't pay much attention to size in falcons, they all seem to be able to get the job done with the right set up in life and good training, but this bird is an absolute monster to me.  I've never had a bird this big, aside from eagles.  Even the biggest Red-tail I've ever flown was an ounce lighter than this bird at it's heaviest weight.  This girl weighed in a 1413g (49.8oz) out of the chamber!  I'll be honest though, a lot of that was food in her crop and she has slimmed down a fit and trim 1250g (44oz) today.  If this one doesn't fly high then the ducks are gonna be glued to the surface of the water.

-RVZ

Just like Dad...

Might just get one of my kids into falconry.  We were BBQing at Daniel's new house the other day and while the adults where hanging out inside, the kids where playing outside.  I turned my head check on them and I see my 2 year old son pick up Daniel's glove, put it on (albeit upside down), walk into the weathering yard (not quite finished as it was just moved to this property), and reach out to pick up the hawk.  The little hawk wanted nothing to do with him, but it was pretty dang cute that he tired.  I wasn't too worried about him as this hawk is used to little kids running around.  I wish I had my real camera but the wife's phone had to do.

Trying to be like Dad....

-RVZ