Falconry Displays

Well we are nearing the end of our second lockdown and dreading what tier we are about to enter. Probably 2 but we hope for 1. The endless restrictions are having a significant effect on so many people but of course for the young it is particularly difficult. We are just hoping the economy fuelled by pent up energy will just fire away when the pandemic is over and things will more like the 1960s rather than the 1980s. We live in hope.

Our new falcon ‘Troy’ has been great – a real find. His flying is superb. As I have said in an earlier news blog he is a hybrid between a Peregrine Falcon and a Lanner Falcon. I do not normally go for hybrid falcons but he was available at the right time so I just went for it.

I normally winter a first year falcon is an aviary but with Troy and Covid I have kept him going a lot longer than usual. We have heaters for falcons at night who are on block perches but ideally for a young falcon during a period of frosty nights coupled with low day time temperatures they are best lofted in an aviary. They can have some time off and eat as much as they want and roost in lofted positions of their choice in the aviary. So I am contemplating giving him a couple of months off till Spring. I will report back on this in my next news update.

The other birds are doing well. I am keeping ‘Bo’ our Eagle Owl in touch with the scene – with some light work – but I will seek to replace her with a young owl early in the new year and then she can fully retire.

I will sign off with a picture of Troy from last summer sitting under the apple tree in the garden content with full

crop.