Archive for February, 2011

Duke

I, Michael Davie started my falconry/bird of prey display enterprise in late 1986.
Having what at the time was the best falconry education available coupled with a degree and a teaching qualification in rural and enviromental science I felt I could offer something positive to bird of prey education and falconry to the public eye.
Twenty five years on the above is still my intention – maybe more crafted in my presentation but hopefully still with that sense of enthusiam and fun that I still feel for the subject.
However back in 1986 the captive breeding program was not as productive as it is now and buying birds of prey was more difficult and more expensive.
So as I travelled to the Midlands with a friend to look at a Lanner Falcon – a male know as a Lanneret. I was not sure what to expect.
Lanner Falcons are excellent display birds although other types of falcons will challenge their performave no one will ever deny that they are charming and eminently trainable falcons.
Although Duke’s feather condition was not brilliant he looked well and in terms of his feathers he would be moulting soon anyway as this was spring 1989 – So we took a chance and brought him home.
After a couple of weeks of readjustment I started his training and he was soon flying loose. He should have been trained in 1988 the year he was bred so he was rather backward and I was concerned that although he was a lovely bird to handle his flying potential was a concern.
Anyway I continued flying him and just let him do his own thing – we call this tame hacking – trying to substitute that period that a young wild falcon has to learn to fly while still being fed by his parents in preparation for independence.
Tame hack can do this and so Duke used to go off on his own and potter about on the wing – never too far and when he was ready he would dash back. This can get risky as the bird will begin to show independence and so can become wayward. So there comes a point when tame hack needs to end and proper training needs to begin.
Duke really began to blossom and actually never looked back from this point. For twenty seasons he graced events all over the country flying beautifully in a number of different styles to suit the wind and location always delighting audiences. He was always keen to fly – he appeared to love it! and was tame and easy to handle – the prefect falcon.
All things come to end – we all know that! but after twenty seasons Duke’s powers began to fail him and I was becoming concerned that if I lost him away from home he would be in trouble and so I took the decision to retire him from events but continued to fly him at home.
A year or so later it was clear that he should retire – although I should that he nearly retired himself at the age of 17 by chasing a wood pigeon out of the flying field that I use and was gone for a week! pigeons as many a falconer will testify are the achilles heel for falcons.
I cannot do Duke justice in terms of his contribution but if I say I have a real sense of love for him you will know what I mean.

DSC_0624 copyI, Michael Davie started my falconry/bird of prey display enterprise in late 1986.

Having what at the time was the best falconry education available coupled with a degree and a teaching qualification in rural and enviromental science I felt I could offer something positive to bird of prey education and falconry to the public eye.

Twenty five years on the above is still my intention – maybe more crafted in my presentation but hopefully still with that sense of enthusiasm and fun that I still feel for the subject.

However back in 1986 the captive breeding program was not as productive as it is now and buying birds of prey was more difficult and more expensive.

So as I travelled to the Midlands with a friend to look at a Lanner Falcon – a male know as a Lanneret. I was not sure what to expect.

Lanner Falcons are excellent display birds although other types of falcons will challenge their performave no one will ever deny that they are charming and eminently trainable falcons.

Although Duke’s feather condition was not brilliant he looked well and in terms of his feathers he would be moulting soon anyway as this was spring 1989 – So we took a chance and brought him home.

After a couple of weeks of readjustment I started his training and he was soon flying loose. He should have been trained in 1988 the year he was bred so he was rather backward and I was concerned that although he was a lovely bird to handle his flying potential was a concern.

Anyway I continued flying him and just let him do his own thing – we call this tame hacking – trying to substitute that period that a young wild falcon has to learn to fly while still being fed by his parents in preparation for independence.

Tame hack can do this and so Duke used to go off on his own and potter about on the wing – never too far and when he was ready he would dash back. This can get risky as the bird will begin to show independence and so can become wayward. So there comes a point when tame hack needs to end and proper training needs to begin.

Duke really began to blossom and actually never looked back from this point. For twenty seasons he graced events all over the country flying beautifully in a number of different styles to suit the wind and location always delighting audiences. He was always keen to fly – he appeared to love it! and was tame and easy to handle – the perfect falcon.

All things come to an end – we all know that! but after twenty years Duke’s powers began to fail him and I was becoming concerned that if I lost him away from home he would be in trouble and so I took the decision to retire him from events but continued to fly him at home.

A year or so later it was clear that he should retire – although I should say that he nearly retired himself at the age of 17 by chasing a wood pigeon out of the flying field that I use and was gone for a week! pigeons as many a falconer will testify are the achilles heel for falcons.

I cannot do Duke justice in terms of his contribution but if I say I have a real sense of love for him you will know what I mean.