Falconry: Rethinking micro-owls

Рет қаралды 6,655

Күн бұрын

Owls are often dismissed as falconry birds. But micro owls in particular are unfairly dismissed due to their size, and their cuteness. This video addresses this bias and describes how a few specific micro owl species may actually be incredible falconry birds. We often fly large birds like goshawks, peregrine Falcons, Harris hawks, and red tailed hawks. This makes it easy to dismiss small owls. But micro hawking with diurnal Raptors is a thriving sport. Kestrels, merlins, aplomado Falcons and sharp shinned hawks are fantastic diurnal choices for falconers. But have we overlooked the possibility with similar sized owls?
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Пікірлер: 51

@stevenbutcher3519 2 жыл бұрын

The fact that there were separate meetings for falconers & banders is highly concerning. Suppressing, whether directly or indirectly, the opportunity for open dialogue can be detrimental to the comradery between different groups of conservationists, when we need to be more united than ever. Because a lie, or misconception can get half way around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on.

@wehahngeldenhuys3902 2 жыл бұрын

Good food for thought. My first bird in 1971 was a fiscal shrike. I had great fun catching sparrows and mice, but frowned upon when mentioning it to seasoned falconers. But that was my first falconry bird at the age of 11 and still believe, despite opinions that its a good bird for a youngster to start with. As with owls, there are many opportunities.

@skyking6989 2 жыл бұрын

Same thing with kestrel. You metion you would like to or you fly a kestrel and you should see the dirty looks you get.

@danhughes3626 2 жыл бұрын

@@skyking6989 I see them all the time...my harris hawks slay everything and no tree sitting..all the snob goshawker thar never catch...hate me....I love it

@skyking6989 2 жыл бұрын

@@danhughes3626 I'm not a falconry snob at all. I love red tails to goshawks to kestrel and everything in between. My heart is with the longwings ie falcons but I enjoy every aspect and species

@danhughes3626 2 жыл бұрын

@@skyking6989 I'm not either....I love all raptors They all are unique in how they fly and train Anyone's favorite and opinions are ok But talking about my hh hawks are to easy The good news is I have flown redtails Russian Finnish goshawk a cast of Harris hawks.. everyone knows the type of falconers I'm talking about..righr???

@markmoore4088 Жыл бұрын

Seeing northern pygmy owls in the wild is quite the treat. My first experience was one that had just caught an American robin. Many years later, one would show up like clockwork whenever I started my dozer for brush clearing purposes on my rural property. It preyed upon the voles that the huge, noisy piece of heavy equipment displaced and would defiantly sit on the ground with its catch right beside the machine.

@vadimpm1290 2 жыл бұрын

I've immediately remembered the famous video "Eastern Screech Owl kills hawk" on Susan Zenker's channel here on YT.

@_Solaris 2 жыл бұрын

I had no idea that I may have a preconception about a micro-owl.

@antlerking69 2 жыл бұрын

My Burrowing owl identifies as a Coopers hawk 😆

@victorb145 2 жыл бұрын

I've never thought about owls in falconry but it makes perfect sense. Also a bigger variety of small birds may help get people into the sport. Like with parrots, most people start with a small parrot and a lot continue to keep small parrots as they are less intimidating.

@quinnhaubner9151 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great content Ben! Really neat concepts!

@3boysbees 2 жыл бұрын

As always thanks for great content.

@tomP631 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your brilliant analysis. Hunting and training with owls is different from training falcons and hawks. And a lot of falconers try their training strategy for hawks on owls with only some degree of success. And owls of any size should not be underestimated as hunters. e.g. hunting on rabbits with an european eagle owl is a fascinating experience.

@sauronthegreat489 2 жыл бұрын

If I may impose a bit. Could someone attempt owls as a general? Are there any books , blogs etc to learn about owls? I'm just studying currently. I'm assuming my first two years will be redtails but I find owls rather intriguing.

@tomP631 2 жыл бұрын

@@sauronthegreat489 I have only few literature in German language. Most old school falconers consider hunting with owls as not traditional and won't help new falconers with that matter. Maybe it is time to broaden the the traditions...

@billyb7561 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video, very informative. Keep them coming ben!

@kevinomara5030 2 жыл бұрын

Would love to hear from a Canadian falconer about the Northern Hawk Owl. If someone has flown one of those, it would be useful information on its smaller cousin.

@kurtniznik8116 Жыл бұрын

Ditto. I would think based on size and natural habits this would be the best owl choice for falconers.

@StormBringerVids 2 жыл бұрын

We have pygmies in my state, but the only owls we can get here for falconry are great horned and screech owls. I know people have had some success with great horned owls. But I have heard of no one trying the screech. I do wish we could do the Pygmies here, they are such aggressive little hunters. Watch one take down a bird before when i was little, it made me want one as a hunting partner.

@TheRaginghalfasian 11 ай бұрын

I listen to or watch your videos about 2 hours a day. I hope I don’t run out of material.

@geoffhirschi803 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reminder of why I DO NOT want to live in Utah again.... that decision by Utah DNR to include other stakeholders to weigh in on what falconers should have access to is in that manner, in a word, assinine. Also - there should be a CLEAR distinction between TAKE and POSSESSION. If a state is worried about take for some reason, it still should be ok to get them somewhere else. Pygmy owls are a great candidate for micro falconry. They are easier to train than a lot of other owls if taken as a passage bird.

@veryperisteronic 2 жыл бұрын

I agree, and by the same logic, it shouldn't be up to falconers to decide which birds you can or can't keep as pets.

@TheUltraBeast1 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, I love the niche topics and outside the box thinking you do, I think its essential for the evolution of the sport. I have a couple topics in the future you might cover as well. The collared forest falcon and its convergent evolution with accipiters, could this be a viable falconry species in environments here where I'm from in Texas that are too hot and humid for goshawks to live in if you wanted a goshawk? The other topic I'm curious about I heard Steve chindgren address in a podcast which is proper waiting on training for falcons. Steve said something along the lines of he sees people too reliant on drones. Cheers and thanks for the consistent content you pump out👍

@jackkrell4238 2 жыл бұрын

It seems to me like you are gravely mistaken in what Steve Chindgren commented on in regard to drones in the Falconry Told podcast. He didn't say that us longwingers were too reliant on drones, but rather drone training was much better than using bagged game as a training method. Collared forest falcons did convergly evolve to fulfill the same ecological niche as the north American accipiters, and have adapted to living in interior forest habitats. They are probably the only viable species in the Herpetotherinae family, but laughing falcons are still-hunters like red-tails, so they could potentially be successful gamehawks with the proper training and positive reinforcement.

@tylerbess7510 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting that in Utah apprentices can fly great horned owls but not pygmy owls.

@featherspreaderinc3146 2 жыл бұрын

I often wonder what falconry would be like without the federales. Considering half the dam time they're asking me for advice and help.

@Ran-vm7fu 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Ben... thanks for that. Have you flown one? I don't recall you saying you had. Here in California, it isn't legal to take one from the wild as far as I know. I also can't say I have seen any breeders advertising them. Are they legal take in any states that you know of? Given the pros you list, it does sound like a potentially useful falconry bird for those of us that like to work with owls. I've rehabbed a number of them over the years and they are certainly capable little hunters. Don't let the size fool ya, right! I'll be thinking about this.. thanks again!

@raelinmae1 2 жыл бұрын

Great video!

@jonahmcbride934 2 жыл бұрын

spot on!

@briscocounty2810 2 жыл бұрын

So, Ben--what did the Utah DWR conclude? I heard they approved all small owls. Someone else thought Flammulated owls wouldn't be available. Are these guys right? Can falconers take Saw-whets and Pygmys now?

@benwoodrufffalconry 2 жыл бұрын

As I understand it, in Utah we can currently legally fly them.

@Avestruzjr Жыл бұрын

Nice!

@robertfaucher3750 2 жыл бұрын

So if I'm specifically looking for a bird to hunt birds, what bird would it be? Like ducks, invasive small birds (sparrows and starlings), and wild pigeons?

@djsliderbite 2 жыл бұрын

I heard that

@danhughes3626 2 жыл бұрын

Hey buddy...im very interested in pigmy Is there a breeder...or can we transfer to another state...im wanting to use it like a kestrel.....how can I get a hold you.. To talk..I have brain injury texting Not that fun

@ayeartogrow 2 жыл бұрын

I've been thinking about flying the Northern Pygmy Owl for over 10 years. I was actually going to ask you what you thought of it. Now I know :P

@benwoodrufffalconry 2 жыл бұрын

In my experience, the owls with the most diurnal “hawk like” mentality that lend themselves best are northern Pygmy, burrowing owls, screech owls, and northern hawk owls. More than any other owls, these are the closest mentally to traditional falconry. But burrowing is more like flying a kestrel, and really the northern Pygmy is the only one we see regularly and intentionally chasing down birds in the day.

@Gee571 Жыл бұрын

Can snowy owls be used in falconry?

@briansmith9734 Жыл бұрын

Do they deliver mail?

@skyking6989 2 жыл бұрын

I know a guy who is a falconer and he trained an owl and said he would NEVER deal with an owl again. Said it was the biggest pain in the ass in the world to get the bird trained and cooperate with him.

@benwoodrufffalconry 2 жыл бұрын

I only train imprint owls. I will glove train and do Manning on an older owl if it is an education bird. But I don’t try to fly any owl anymore unless they are a young bird.

@JustMakinProgress 2 жыл бұрын

@danhughes3626 2 жыл бұрын

Why do you like Lanier falcon the most

@benwoodrufffalconry 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite hunting falcon is a peregrine. But my favorite falcon is the Lanner. Their history, prehistory, genetics….. but most especially their role in ancient Egypt, Egyptian religion, mythology, iconography, etc….. and how that pioneered some of our earliest known falcon husbandry. Plus, I just think they are insanely gorgeous.

@danhughes3626 2 жыл бұрын

@@benwoodrufffalconry that's some good reasons It's interesting because of your knowledge And years...makes a difference..can owls be transferred to other states like mi Are there any breeders....you got me wondering...thar probably why you made the video...great work...

@keerthivasannambiraju955 Жыл бұрын

@@benwoodrufffalconry horus is not the only falcon God, there is also Ra and khonsu who is based on either a peregrine, a lanner or a hybrid of the two. Speaking of hybrids, the perilanner is one of the most popular peregrine hybrids, used not just by falconers but also animal control officials at airports to scare birds away. Also, If I was a falconer who wanted an owl I would choose either a Northern hawk owl or a pygmy owl since they are daytime hunters

@danhughes3626 11 ай бұрын

@benwoodrufffalconry hey Ben I'm thinking of trying pygmy owl...im a master falconer...but have received unfortunately brain injuries....have I'm looking for a different direction want to try train something like this but don't know how and where to get one...are all pygmys Day time hunters that hunt birds and small rodents... thanks for getting back to me

@SlackActionBumble Жыл бұрын

Here's an unpopular opinion - why do those birders care if falconers have pet owls? Falconry already has very strict rules about taking care of your bird. You have to demonstrate knowledge, have proper accommodations, and have an experienced sponsor. The only way to legally get the birds in question is via falconry. At this point, presumably the bird is getting proper care whether it is being flown on prey or not.

@seannedegraff3175 Жыл бұрын

And that's bird cannot live out in the wild it should be wild most animals should be wild out in their environment so they can mate and families and have a happy life