I've been involved in Falconry since a teenager and have raised and had Birds of Prey now for 35 years. I have tried to educate people starting with School Children to value our Birds of Prey and appreciate them for what they are. I try to show them that Falconry is a way of life....you cant just take your birds to a boarding kennel or have just anyone watch over them if you need to leave for any period of time, if you own birds you need to think of them as your family because a properly trained bird thinks of you that way they dont need us but as they build the bond with the Falconer they come to expect certain things, things your "Dabbler" won't have a clue about and they wind up doing more harm than good. Thanks for showing and telling things the way they really are. R.C. Hill

5 good points Dave. Zara's sister is my Hawk (or I'm her human! not worked that one out yet). I waited 3 years between having the mad idea and picking her up. Don't regret that wait one bit. I was sure by then I wanted to do it, and Ive had 7 cracking years with her. She's one of the few things that can put a tear in the eye.🙂

It’s my dream to be a falconer love birds of prey but I know at this time workin a full time job won’t cut it maybe someday

Jaffa: a seedless orange or male. Always love learning something new. I love people like you who are more concerned with making sure dabblers (edit: lol, you later addressed this specifically) don’t get involved and giving proper lessons to the dedicated. BTW, gorgeous public spot, unless you for some reason have oddly large signboards.

That whole video was a breath of fresh air

Great video. Reminded me I have got into a bad habit showing food. Going to reverse this (if I can). These are great points. I'd add "Don't get one if you are not prepared to learn that bird as an individual" and "Don't get one if you just want to show off, go on social media and brag". Really lovely videos. Subscribed.

Amazing video. I've subbed. I currently have a barn owl 🦉, very well looked after and exercised as well as he will, he can be quite lazy, I was contemplating getting a hawk. Much more time and dedication I know, your video has opened my eyes to one or two things. Thank you.

Lovely video; it would seem that you rather like and respect old Nigel ;-) Sadly, now that I have been able to learn so much, I don't have the time left to commit to a proper falcon/hawk...we have a Kestrel pair nest in a church about 300 meters from our house, and occasionally see them zooming through t neighbourhood. We also have a few pairs of Kites in our are, often seen perched in trees nearby, or cruising the updrafts along the front of the ridge that we live on. Thanks again for just a nice chat, with some very solid advice embedded herein!

Trying to design a logo and was looking for different angles on bird heads. Came for the visuals got hooked on the message!

Loved it. Probably the best ive seen on the right way forward. Cheers.

Great vid,as someone who has been interested for many years in falconry, done experience days been hunting with Harris hawks etc,I'd love my own bird but sadly living in Scotland, with work and my 4 dogs i would struggle to be able to fly a bird regularly especially during the dark winter months( maybe one day though)i appreciate what you're saying about a long time commitment as i know how much time and exercise my dogs take up.

I like your Falconry approach and techniques, good very appropriate video.

well put Sir, applicable to so many animals, particularly BOP

Flying beautifully 😍 👌 ❤️ in beautiful country!. A huge responsibility & commitment to give any raptor proper care. Only for the very few. Thank you! 😊

Very nice video !! SUPER

I’m planning on getting a bird in the future, good tip hiding the food in the glove 👍🏼

Great video, thanks

This was really helpful. What do falconers do with their falcons when they go on Holiday?

Totally agree, mines coming up to 19yrs old…

also cow cameo was gold XD

Great video

"No falconer likes a creance line". Not a truer phrase has ever been said. They can cause no end of trouble even when you're paying attention. I've been lucky enough to work with two Harris' that have been able to come out of a moult and go free on the first flight after only a day or two of manning. Although they weren't in seclusion aviaries or paired up so they got some interaction during the moult which is a bit of an advantage. All very good points here. Too many people jump in blind. Was five years of volunteering at a local place learning hands on before I bought my bird. ended up being a kestrel, because I know I'm much better suited to house and fly one in the long term than a Harris'. Naturally then just as she was getting scorching hot to the lure Covid happened and threw a real wrench in things. Started again from scratch and just as she's starting to fly well again there's a confirmed bird flu outbreak just down the road and Covid comes back so it's been a pretty bad year all round (not least because one of the aforementioned Harris' had a late moult and I was only just getting him fit to go hunting when bird flu struck so there's no season at all this year).

I had to dig deep and finally decided that falconry wasn't for me. I'll just be happy to spot them and know what bird they are and y'all as well.

For a child (and a beginner) at type of bird of prey should I get?

I would love too but I only live near a park and i work full time so

This is awesome

It''s such a pity that these magnificent birds of prey are so cheap to buy these days, this encourages people to 'dabble ' at falconry then dispose of the bird when they get bored. When they first introduced as falconry birds in this country thirty odd years ago they cost over a grand to buy one, only people who were committed would get one. Good advice. Thanks for video.

So which bird of prey would you recommend more for the flying satisfaction and looking after the bird rather than purely the hunting? Cheers

Absolutely love this guy

Would love to do this got over 200 acres to hunt on

It only makes sense in a country that actually has wilderness left to enjoy having to ask permission to fly on peoples land means most won't have enough space or food for the sport

Tru the years i had the chance to work with differand spiecies i still like the harris the most still have my first 2 going on 12 years

I am oyintanda and one day I wish I can be a falconer and train my own bird I live in south africa and have a lot of birds in here see you soon

I have all weeks and weekends to train a Harris hawk

he's so beautiful 😍 so is your bond!

I like your style of working with your Harris Hawk. I know nothing about the Hobby, but I can tell that you are more considerate of the Haws Natural Needs coupled with your own! 👏

You needed 15 minutes to explain the deep lines of falconry. How to fly your bird how to train it. In these 15 minutes you definitely let us see what the heart of a good bond is. Im not from the UK and i can say we are told an other way to train your hawk if we not does it the way we are told we are bad people. If we try your way and yes definitely better we got arguments with other falconers. I can really see the good in the facts except fact number five. My opinion but still its an opinion just like yours, you dont need a huge part of land to fly with your harris hawk. The need for hunting that thrill like you called it can be aranged by lure systems. That can be achieved in a much smaller area. Don't get me wrong the street or the park is not a good place you need a bigger field. Wrong example but a footballfield will do the thing. So fact numer five i just can't stand totaly behind your opinion but i like the way you thinking about that ofcourse. Still nice video surely nice to watch very good education to the point just lovely.

What is the purpose of putting that bonnet on the birds head?

Can you lose a hawk?. Reason I ask is I have taken the same walk 3 days running and there is a Harris' Hawk that lands on a branch 5-6 feet above my head and calls. I look up and talk to it and it isn't bothered one bit. This is in Somerset.

Seems to me someone's more popular neighbor got a falcon and stole his thunder 😂. I agree with everything he's saying but he saying "DON'T GET" rather than "understand that." Then uses fear using children, people know hawks are aggressive. Did you coin the term dabblers when you seen your neighbors bird 😂.

Can you do a video of your mews?

i love Hari Hawk

why do you put a hood on a harris hawk?

I would love to have a harris hawk! My bird can scream and do what she wants.

this is less on getting a harris hawk and instead of not starting falconry

That cow XD

If I were him I'd just keep flying away

Tip number 5, Be rich. Dont be a peasant, have lots of land rich in game. Be absolutely wedged

gregarious

Why is nobody training for hunt and hunts with the hawk most common and equally beautiful Buteo Buteo (Common Buzzard )? They say it's not aggressive enough, it's claws are smaller than those of its American cousin the red tail hawk, it's better for flying demos at falconry shows etc. Still I can't see why a passionate falconer wouldn't try to do that? Do you happen to know somebody or have some vids?

Just my opinion mate, but why the hood ? Bird seems very uncomfortable in it. Most Harris's don't need a hood except for the odd occasion.

Bello

Why you picking on the Harris' lol? All of those apply to any falconry bird ;)

hi Dave I was told many years ago by a gentleman that was a very successful falconer, one bird one man you just cannot dedicate enough time more than one bird efficiently so please don't talk about 5 good reasons why not to own a harries hawk or any bird of prey for that matter you are obviously blest with flying grounds and if you are to train and fly your birds regally I guess you have staff there will always be the few that buy these raptors because they are cheap same as dogs cats horses we can't get away from that i know what goes on in the bird of prey world its either a hobby or a business but remember if there wasn't people purchasing these birds with very little knowledge you could not do a channel telling reasons why not to instead if you should offer free courses to these owners whom i m sure have bought in great faith I don't want this to end on a bad note I think your videos are great and very informative but when it comes to raptors or any animal lets be proactive

Really? a creance with a spike? shit dude my creance is on piece of pipe with about 2lbs of weight in it. Things go a stray not only does it gently bring him down but also lets out a bit of line to reduce the pressure a bit more. This is part of my research

Rule Number 1: Don't get a Harris Hawk, if you haven't have an itchy cow.

It's magestic but people got to know are predators. Not easy to handle them

Thank you for discouraging pretender's!

Do you need a license to keep a bird of prey?

il y a quelqu'un pour traduire...super

Thank the USA for your Harris Hawks. FACT #6

Five reasons why the gang unit isn't resource for you.