Falconry Displays

Archive for June, 2020

We have had some wonderful weather which no doubt has made the lockdown a lot easier for people to withstand. We seem to be going in the right direction in terms of virus numbers – although beyond a certain a point the decline has been slower but it is there. Now we are faced with more local outbreaks which should be easier to contain – but communities are faced with with no restriction lessening or indeed some tightening of them which is very tough all round.  For business’s planning to reopen then it is another hurdle. The hospitality business is particularly sensitive to any resurgence of the virus however small. It makes event planning problematic – clearly this sector will be the last to recover and of course that includes us.

We have associates that have shut down completely until next year – we seemed a little over the top at the time but clearly this year in terms of bookings is gone. So maybe it was a good idea.

It takes sometime to get a team of birds of prey ready for event work as a long run in is needed. We have continued to fly a team of birds but it is difficult to keep them event ready with no events. Anyhow we have continued and with a weeks notice we could be event ready. Talking of birds I took a picture of ‘Pete’ our Kestrel this morning – having just caught the lure and not appreciating me getting too close! 

Well it is a day away from the longest day of the year – and what a weird first six months of the year. We have seen nothing like it in living memory – hopefully things are starting to pick up – for us ,however, who knows. We continue to stay in readiness to restart – even when this does happen we will be vulnerable to small pockets of virus cropping up here and there.

The birds are flying well – they have never had it so good! and are deep in moult – a natural summer phenomenon enhanced by flying just at home and very warm weather. They need to still fly however to be able to hunt in the wild – and generally the moult is slow gradual process. Peregrines are notoriously slow when it comes to moulting although tropical races of peregrines reportedly moult a lot faster – so environmental factors such as food supply, climate and other pointers such as migration may speed up the tendency and necessity to moult through – a form of selection pressure. The Peregrine has a global presence with 19 or so races so these variations are interesting.

Leaving birds for the moment – the hay has been cut and we able to go out walking with the dog over recently mown fields  – no doubt many dogs have appreciated lockdown with their human pack around them! I will sign off with a picture of her – with her paw up like a pointer! sniffing something of interest.

The weather has been magnificent although at the moment it is raining and cooler – but we do need it. Our new falcon from last year ‘Frank’ has finished his first year and now has been put down to moult. He is lovely tame falcon and I have decided to moult him through on the block and feed him on the fist everyday. I have the time! His feather condition was not great when I got him as a late season bird and his first moult is so important – daily handling and feeding on the fist is the best way to manage it. I will post a picture of him and at some point a video of him flying.

Hopefully things are so slowly returning to normal but as long as social distancing lasts of 2 metres and gatherings are banned we cannot operate. So it may be long run in for us with a lot of unknowns but we are hoping that committees that run events will feel 2021 is a good time to reunite communities face to face ‘as it were’ so there maybe an abundance of village shows. Our revised format with one 30 minute top quality flying display would well – as the centre point and highlight of the arena activity for the afternoon. We can bring our own pa system and so it can be a complete package and cost effective – we hope.

Anyway I leave you with a picture of Frank a male Lanner Falcon know as a Lanneret.