Chase June (LR)

The Chas e
the on-line newsletter of the UK Falconry Club - June 2010

www.ukfalconryforum.com
Editors note
Welcome to the 3rd online version of THE CHASE.
As we put this edition together, we can reect on last
months Falconry & Raptor Fair at Chetwynd Park.
It was a success in one way it was the launch of the
UK Falconry Club and I believe we stunned some,
how quick we got the club up and running. We are
now presently working for our Hawk Board
registration and hopefully in the coming months we
will full our objectives and become an active
member and supporter of the Hawk Board and the
Campaign for Falconry.
However, The Falconry Fair was not as busy as in
previous years and several well known suppliers both
home and abroad werent present - possibly this is
down to the current nancial climate, but also could
it be put down to the Fair being held at one of the
busiest times for the breeders?
Surely, it is time to reconsider the timing of the fair
for the benet for all.
Meanwhile I hope you enjoy this edition.
Neil Davies - Editor
Features
4 Gulf Trip 09 by Chris Southern
8 Microchipping Raptors by Edda Pohlandt
10 A Guide to applying for a Kite Flying Licence
by Neil Davies
16 A Lifetime with Eagles by Joe Atkinson
24 Building a Pheasant Pen by Neil Davies
26 Product Reviews
28 The Falconry & Raptor Fair - Is it time for a
Change? by Ben Crane
30 The Falconry & Raptor Fair - Pictures
32 Members Birds - Rufus by Allan Gates
34 Club News
The Chase is the online newsletter of the UK Falconry Club. No article,
photograph, or part of this publication maybe reproduced without
written consent.
The Editor and the UKFC Committee reserves the right to approve or
refuse any advertisement or contribution for any reason.
Cover photo - Golden Eagle x Steppes Allan Gates
CONTENTS
THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010 3
4 THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010
GULF TRIP 2010 - ARMTHORPE FALCONS
Gulf T
W
5
At the beginning of October 2009, Bryn and I travelled to the Gulf for a 10-day
trip to visit some of our friends in the region and see some of our falcons.
We spent 4 days in Abu Dhabi then went on to Dubai and Qatar for the
remainder of the visit; we also took time to look round the huge Hunting
& Equestrian Exhibition that is held in Abu Dhabi every year.
We spent some time with a group of falconers training their birds for the
hunting season ahead, when you see these guys handle and y a falcon that has
only been out of the hack pen for 4 or 5 days, it is a real eye opener.
To see the steadiness of the falcon and watch it own free after such a short
time, emphasises the innate skill that comes with generations of falconry in
their heritage.
We moved on to Dubai having hardly had enough time to see all we needed to
in Abu Dhabi, an ultra-modern city that is still rich in its traditional heritage.
In Dubai we were lucky to stay with a great bunch of falconers who live, eat
and breathe falconry. Early morning found us out in the desert as the sun was
rising,training falcons before the day heated up to its normal high temperature.
With only about an hour or so before the sun got too high, there was not much
time to y the 12 or so falcons in hand.
Each bird was dealt with quickly and efciently, no sooner did one falcon land on
the lure than the next was on the wing. The falcons ranged from pure gyrs to
gyr x peregrines, from a couple of weeks in to training to just
a few days.
The training ranged from long luring over - a kilometre to slipping at wild
caught ducks, all were handled in an expert manner and no sign of stress in
either falcons or falconers.
THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010
Trip 09
Words & Pictures by Chris Southern, Armthorpe Falcons
From Dubai we ew in to Doha, Qatar, the
temperature was starting to cool a little now
reaching 32
o
C in the afternoon, instead of the
42
o
C we had experienced in Abu Dhabi.
Once more we were staying with falconers fromSheiks
to ordinary guys, all without exception were skilled
practitioners. We spent 4 days in Qatar and saw some
beautiful falcons, palatial hack pens and stunning
scenery, the time went too fast and we were on our
way home too soon.
All in all we had a fantastic time and the memories
will stay with us for the rest of our lives, I hope to
return in the not too distant future to see more of
what this amazing region has to offer.
The most outstanding thing about our visit was the
incredible hospitality shown by everyone we met,
wherever we went the people were warm, friendly
and welcoming. It was not possible to visit anyone
without being offered huge amounts of food and
drink, it is the custom of people in the UAE to be
generous hosts and they go to any length to ensure
you enjoy your visit.
We returned home with a feeling of regret at leaving,
I can recommend anyone visit this region if you
can, you will be welcomed as a fellow falconer and
the experience will leave you with a great respect
forthe people and the culture.
www.armthorpe-falcons.co.uk
6
MICROCHIPPING RAPTORS
Microchipping Raptors
by Edda Pohlandt, Falcon Veterinary Group, www.falconvet.co.uk
Microchipping has become the most reliable way of
identifying individual animals and this includes birds
of prey. Rings can become illegible or can be taken
off. Microchipping has two advantages: it absolutely
identies an animal by a unique number and it allows
the animal to be returned to its rightful owner if the
animal has been lost.
Microchipping, although not entirely foolproof, is
simple, reliable and inexpensive. In racehorses it
has been mandatory for years. All dog and equine
passports require the animal to be identied
by microchip.
Appearance and Types
Microchips are small transponders the size of a rice
grain. They are plastic coated and hold a number
consisting of 9,10 or 15 digit. Some chips have a
small silicone head with holes in the head. This allows
the body's tissue to grow through the little holes,
without causing any sort of reaction, and this
anchors the microchip in the keel area. The old
problem of nding a microchip halfway down the
bird's body several years after microchipping is
thus resolved.
There are many different types of microchips.
They work, mostly, equally well, as long as the chip
is ISO 11784 (International Standard) compliant.
The ISO certication means that the chip can be
read in any country. This is important when
travelling over borders with birds or when
exporting /importing, so that any customs agency
can read the chip.
Procedure
The microchipping procedure is as follows: The bird
is cast and held on its side. Usually there is no need
for sedation or anaesthesia. The bird is scanned
looking for previously implanted chips. Then the
feathers over the keel are parted and the microchip
is implanted with the use of an applicator. The
applicator essentially is a large needle with a handle
and a small rod that pushes the chip under the skin
once the tip of the needle has penetrated.
The preference these days is to microchip
subcutaneously (under the skin) and not into the
muscle. This is less painful and does not cause any
scarring or damage to the pectoral muscles. We
apply a small drop of tissue glue to seal the hole in
the skin made by the microchip needle. This
prevents the microchip popping back out when the
bird stands back up onto the glove and aps its
wings. The bird is then scanned again to conrm
that the microchip is reading OK. The entire
procedure usually takes less than thirty seconds.
MICROCHIPPING RAPTORS
9
Drawbacks
Although the restraint period is brief, it is stressful
for the bird to be cast.
The microchipping needle is large and there is some
discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin.
Rejection of the chip, or infection is a rare occurrence.
Incorrect chipping procedure is more likely to cause
problems than the chip itself.
The occurrence of tumours has been documented at
chipping sites, especially in species like cats which
are more prone to brosarcoma type tumours. In
birds this has not been documented however far
fewer birds than cats have been microchipped, so
this is something that will need monitoring into
the future.
There are stories of thieves removing microchips
from birds. It is difcult enough to locate and
remove microchips in a dead bird, in a post
mortem examination. The scanner scans quite a
large eld and the chip is difcult to locate
precisely. So although it is technically possible to
remove chips, it is not easy and is likely to cause
marked distress, bleeding and scarring in a live
bird.
Database
The owner's details are then registered on a database.
These databases are administered by various companies
such as Identichip (Animalcare) or Tracer (Bayer) or
Backhome (Pzer). After the initial microchipping
charge at the vets, usually 15-25, there is no other
charge. If you move house or want to change any
other details such as a telephone number, there is
usually a 5 administration charge levied by the
company in question.
DEFRA
At present it is not a requirement for birds to be
microchipped for import or export, but it does
make the paperwork a great deal easier. There can
be no argument over a worn number on a ring,
which you read as a '3' and the DEFRA ofcial
interprets as an '8'. Following equine and pet
passports, there is no doubt in my mind that
microchipping will become mandatory for any
birds crossing borders in the near future.
Legal Position
A bird belongs to the person in whose name the
microchip is registered. If you buy a bird, ensure
that you know the microchip number and that the
seller signs the change of ownership form.
Alternatively, ask the seller for a letter, stating the
bird's details (Name, species, age, etc) including
the microchip number, stating that the bird is now
legally yours and that the seller agrees for you to
register the bird/microchip in your name. Very often
birds are sold, microchipped but the microchip is
never registered in the new owner's name. The bird
may be sold several times. If you are the last buyer,
and wish to change the microchip into your name,
it becomes very difcult to prove that you legally
acquired the bird, and the bird remains the legal
property of the owner from several sales ago!
In the case of divorce, or a partnership break-up, the
bird is legally the property of the person to whom
the microchip is registered.
On the other hand, if your bird was stolen or lost,
and it is found and scanned, you will be quickly
reunited with your bird as there can be no discussion.
You are the owner and it does not matter for how
long the nder has had the bird in their care they
do not have a claim upon the bird.
Finally
Remember to keep your details on the database
updated. Check the chip at least once a year. There
is a very low incidence of chips malfunctioning, but it
is best to check. And nally, microchips cannot
prevent theft. They can only serve to identify the
individual bird and its registered owner.
APPLYING FOR A KITE LICENCE
The summer is around the corner and
thoughts of nding alternative training
methods for new eyasses. I have put together
the releveant forms and legistaltion that
prospective kite yers should be aware of the
current CAA aviation legislation.
The team headed by David Miller at the CAA
is extremely helpful and will answer any
questions you might have. Hopefully by
following their recommendations you will
enjoy ying your falcon to the kite in a save
and responsible manner.
The UK's civil aviation legislation states that
CAA permission is required to y a kite
above the following height thresholds:
30m (above ground level) - if the site is
within an Aerodrome Trafc
Zone (which exist around most airelds
/airports and extend out to a distance of
approx 2 miles);
60m (above ground level) - for all
other sites.
The application form is one pages 11 & 12
and this can be used for making an application.
For a Word version please contact David Miller
at the CAA.
On pages 13 & 14 you have the relevant extracts
from the aviation legislation that you should
be aware of. Please bear in mind that the
aviation legislation relating to kite ying is
established for the purposes of aviation safety.
Therefore, any other factors (e.g. proximity to
roads, railways, power lines etc) are not taken
into account by the CAA when assessing and
approving this type of activity. Consequently,
responsibility for those aspects rests with the
kite operator.
Please contact Mr David Miller of the CAA,
if you have any further questions.
Useful contact address:
Mr David Miller
Airspace Specialist 5 (AS5)
Airspace Utilisation & Off-Route Airspace
(AU&ORA)
Directorate of Airspace Policy (DAP)
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
K6 G2
CAA House
45-59 Kingsway
London WC2B 6TE
Tel: 020 7453 6585 (direct line)
020 7453 6599 (AU Operations)
Fax: 020 7453 6593
email: David.Miller@caa.co.uk
A Guide to applying for
a Kite Flying Licence
by Neil Davies
11
Registration form:
CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY Air Navigation Order 2009
KITES FALCONRY TRAINING
Application for Permission to Fly:
Above 60 metres / Above 30 metres within an Aerodrome Trafc Zone
28 days notice MUST be given of the event
If you require assistance with the completion of this form, please telephone 020 7453 6585
Completed forms should be sent to:
Airspace Utilisation & Off-Route Airspace, Directorate of Airspace Policy,
Civil Aviation Authority, K6 G2, CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6TE.
Fax: 020 7453 6593. E-mail: ausops@caa.co.uk
Kite Operator
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Location of ight:
IMPORTANT: Attach a copy extract of 1:50,000 Landranger Ordnance Survey Map showing the site
CLEARLY marked
Please do NOT use either A-Z or Road Atlas maps
Ordnance Survey Grid Ref:
Map No ................. Grid Letters ................. Easting (3g) ................. Northing (3g) .................
FULL postal address of site
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................
Contact telephone number at site (if available)
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Date/s of ight/s
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Daily Period (in local time) From .................................................. To .................................................
Height (in feet) above ground level of kite/s
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Kite lighting, if ying during hours of darkness (the period from half an hour after sunset until half an hour
before sunrise):
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Has the landowners permission been obtained? Yes / No *
Have the Police been consulted? Yes / No *
FULL postal address of Police station consulted
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
* Delete as applicable
DECLARATION
I declare that I have checked the above information and that, to the best of my knowledge, it is correct;
and that I am aware of my obligations under the Air Navigation Order 2009 as the operator of kite/s.
Signature of applicant
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Date
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Name (BLOCK CAPITALS) and status
.....................................................................................................................................................................
Address
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................
Tel ........................................................................ Fax ............................................................................
E Mail..........................................................................................................................................................
13
Directorate of Airspace Policy Airspace Utilisation
& Off-Route Airspace - January 2010
Kite Flying Legislation
Currently, Civil Aviation legislation applicable to kite ying is contained in the Air Navigation Order 2009
(Statutory Instrument No 2009/3015) and the Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 (Statutory Instrument No
2007/734).
The constraints contained in the Air Navigation Order 2009 and the Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 with
regard to the ying of kites (kites are classied as "aircraft" in Schedule 2 of the Order are as follows:-
Article 164(1)
The provisions of this Article shall apply only to or in relation to aircraft within the United kingdom.
Article 164(2)(b)
A kite must not be own at a height of more than 30 metres above ground level within the aerodrome trafc
zone of a notied aerodrome during the notied operating hours of that aerodrome. (See Note below)
Article 164(2)(c)
A kite must not be own at a height of more than 60 metres above ground level.
(See Note below)
Note: The foregoing provisions (article 164 (2)(b) and 164(2)(c) may not take place without the permission in
writing of the Civil Aviation Authority and in accordance with any conditions subject to which that permission
may have been granted. The application should be made to this Section with as much notice as possible.
During periods of high workload, the Section may require a minimum of 28 days notice of the event.
In order for the application to be processed in sufcient time. However, this notice requirement is exible
and can sometimes be relaxed during quieter periods.
Article 137
Of the Order requires that a person must not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an
aircraft, or any person in an aircraft.
Article 138
Of the Order requires that a person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger
any person or property.
Article 255
In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires: 'Controlled airspace' means airspace which has been
notied as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D or Clasee E airspace;
'Control zone' means controlled airspace which has been further notied as a control zone and which
extends upwards from the surface;
'Notied' means set out with the authority of the CAA in a document published by or under an arrangement
entered into with the CAA and entitled 'United Kingdom Notam' or 'United Kingdom Aeronautical Information
Publication' and for the time being in force.
Schedule 3 Part 1
Under this Schedule, a kite is dened as a non-powered driven, heavier than air aircraft.
Rule 52 The Rules of the Air
A kite while ying at night at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall display lights as follows:
(a) a groupl of two steady lights consisting of a white light placed 4 metres above a red light, both being of
at least ve candela and showing in all directions, the white light being places not less than 5 metres or
more than 19 metres below the lowest part of the kite;
(B) on the mooring cable, at intervals of not more than 300 metres measured from the group of ligts
referred to in sub-paragraph (a), groups of two lights of the colour and power and in the relative
positions specied in that sub-paragrph, and, if the lowest group of lights is obscured by cloud,
an additional group below the cloudbase; and
(c) on the surface, a group of three ashing lights arranged in horizontal plane at the apexes of a triangle
approximately equilateral, each side of which measures at least 25 metres; one side of the triangle shall
be approximately at right angles to the horizonatl projection of the cable and shall be delimited by two
red lights; the third light shall be a green light so place that the triangle encloses the object on the surface
to which the kite is moored.
Rule 53 The Rules of the Air
A kite while ying by day at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall have attached to its mooring
cable at intervals of not more than 200 metres measured from the lowest part of the kite, tubular streamers
not less than 40 centimetres in diameter and 2 metres in length, and marked with alternative bands of red
and white 50 centimetres wide , or at intervals of not more than 100 metres measured from the lowest part
of the kite, streamers not less than 80 centimetres long and 30 centimetres wide at their widest point and
marked with alternate bands of red and white 10 centimetres wide.
The complete Air Navigation Order is available on the CAA website (http://www.caa.co.uk) in the Civil
Aviation Publication (CAP) 393.
Permission for ight are normally only granted for six month periods, to ensure that any future airspace
changes can be incorporated. Normally, a telephone request for renewal will be accepted; please give sufcient
notice for renewal, especially during the spring/ summer period.
The enclosed application form includes a request to specify a grid reference taken from Ordnance Survey
(OS) Landranger Maps anda copy of the map with the site CLEARLY MARKED. The Landranger OS Map
referred to in the form may be obtained from any stationary shop or news agents. Alternatively a photo-copy
may be taken from a map held by a library (under the permission from the OS, which allows the CAA to take
such copies).
A printed extract from one of the map sites on the internet is also acceptable, providing that the proposed
kite location is clearly marked.
There is no charge for issue of a Permission.
14
A LIFETIME WITH EAGLES
When I was asked to write an article about my
experiences with golden eagles it caused me to
reflect. I realized that I have been flying eagles for a
long time, some 34 years. And thinking back I
realized that golden eagles have been a huge part of
my life, shaping, in many ways, the man I have
become. My falconry experiences are somewhat
eclectic as I fly falcons and eagles, something
which, here in the US, is akin to sleeping with the
devil. Simply put, longwingers in the States have a
strong dislike for eagles. Why? Its simple...... eagles
eat falcons. I dont consider flying eagles a venture
over to the dark side. I believe I am just a falconer
who enjoys a good flight, regardless.For the last 20
years I have primarily flown passage eagles that
need some help getting back into the wild. How
many I dont actually know, but let's just say a
bunch! I would say that you would have to go a
long way to find someone who has flown and
caught game with as many eagle as I have. I dont
feel that by making such a statement I am boasting,
it is just a fact. With each eagle that I fly I set a goal
to catch 25 head of game, mainly jack rabbits.
Over the years I have had three different eagles go
over the 300 head count, all taking jack rabbits off
the fist, and one non-releasable eagle by the name
of Jackhammer who has caught over 800 jacks and
counting.
I received my first eagle in 1976 under somewhat
unusual circumstances. I was a college student
flying an imprint red tail and a passage prairie
falcon on a cattle ranch in Northern California.
Living on a cattle ranch gave me access to miles
and miles of land to hunt and I took full advantage
of the opportunity. It was while out hunting that a
man saw me and asked if he could film my red tail
and would I be interested in training a golden eagle
for filming as well. Little did I know that chance
encounter would change my life forever and set in
motion a lifetime with eagles. And some 35 years later
the journey continues. Not having any idea how to
raise an eagle, let alone train one, I was presented with
a huge white puff ball that was to be my first eagle.
I convinced my wife, Cordi, that this magnificent
creature should live in the house where we, mostly
meaning me, could watch over it. I had totally sold
her on the idea right up until the moment the eaglet
took a mammoth slice across the kitchen with a
direct hit on the toaster. After that I spent many
hours watching over my first eagle growing up out
in the barn! I did absolutely everything wrong
raising this female eagle and what I ended up with
was a raging imprint that hated everything but me!
This presented some problems because I was
supposed to train her to be filmed, and attacking
the cameraman was not in the storyline.
Despite some minor difficulties I did manage to
hunt this eagle and, in the end, she was quite the
game hawk. I remember the first jack I ever caught
with her. I had been flying her off the side of a
large hill in the front of the ranch. The entire field
was treeless and was covered with ground squirrels
which, when hunting with a red tail, are fun flights.
With an eagle, however, it is a different story altogether,
because the instant an eagle takes to the air all
squirrels go underground.
A Lifetime
with Eagles
by Joe Atkinson, Vale, Oregon, USA
Photos: Cordi Atkinson and Mark Williams
P
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o
t
o
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a
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M
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W
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Growing tired of soaring her on the hillside, I
began to look elsewhere for flights. I recalled her to
the fist and approached a patch of wild artichokes
that were growing along the bottom of the hillside.
Both of us had no clue what was there, if anything,
and, more so, what we would do if something
flushed. I had seen jack rabbits hiding in there
before and I did know one thing -- if something
ran out from the cover (hopefully a jack rabbit) my
eagle was going to launch and fly it down! I
entered the patch and nothing happened. My
excitement began slipping away as I continued to
walk through the cover. With only a few steps left
before I was all the way through, suddenly, from
out of nowhere, a jack exploded in a dust cloud
and headed downhill at breakneck speed. My eagle
took one look and was gone, closing fast on the
jack that had no place to hide. With its ears pinned
and back legs reaching out beyond its nose, the
jack was hitting on all cylinders. My eagle went in
low and fast and slammed into the jack with such
force and power that both jack rabbit and eagle
went spinning in a half circle with dust flying
everywhere. I stood in total disbelief, what a rush. I
could not get that moment out of my head and I
was, at that moment in time, hooked for life. I
spent the rest of the season hunting jacks with her.
I would go on long 4-5 hour hunts, going to every
likely spot that might hide a jack rabbit. (Just for
the record, we say jack rabbit but, in fact, its not a
rabbit at all. It belongs to the hare family.)
Where was I...... oh yeah, my first eagle. She did
lots of things that are memorable....... like chasing
a cameraman into a water canal, forcing him to go
underwater; attacking Cordi and pinning her on
the side of a hill. This eagle was, to say the least,
very aggressive and nothing much backed her off. I
remember one day I had been hunting for a long
time, walking the hills around the ranch, and my
plan was to go full circle and end up above the
irrigation canal that ran through the valley. I
Author with passage female Golden Eagle
would come from the back side of the canal and
peek over the top of the hill just enough to see if
any ducks were there. From this position I could
launch my eagle, giving her a good advantage and
head start on the ducks below. This was an
interesting flight and she actually took a few ducks
in this manner. But on this day I looked to see if
any ducks were in the canal and, seeing none, I sat
on a rock outcropping to rest and enjoy the
panoramic view from my vantage point. It was at
moments like these, sitting there with my eagle
resting on a rock right beside me, that she would
launch off the hill and go into a soar. Watching her
roll off the rock and seeing the air lift her up, I felt
I was flying myself. For me these moments were
truly spiritual. But today we both sat on the edge
of the cliff enjoying the view below. There I sat,
drifting off with my thoughts, when suddenly my
eagle turned abruptly, spread her wings and started
to hiss. I looked slightly over my shoulder at my
eagle who was clearly freaked out by some horrible
monster and I thought, I dont want to look
behind me because it has to be bad. My eagle
regards everything, and I mean everything, as food
and to further add to my now building fear, I had
never seen her afraid of anything. So whatever was
behind me had to be really bad for both her and
me! I couldn't run away because I was sitting on a
cliff, so with no other choice, I slowly turned
around! And there, crawling up a rock behind us,
was a rather large tarantula. I was, to say the least,
relieved. Tarantulas are harmless and very cool
creatures but apparently my eagle was not so
informed and flew off.
Training passage eagles for release has been an
adventure because the vast majority of the eagles I
get have been handled, at least in their minds,
badly. They have been netted, examined and given
shots, along with a whole assortment of things that
are intended to help them but, of course, they
dont know that. All they know is that stuff keeps
happening to them that frankly pisses them off.
My job is to say please forget all that because I am
a nice guy plus I have all this really great food for
you...... and they dont buy it at first. My point is
that eagles that I train have a long list of things
they dont like about humans. For the sake of this
article I will compare two eagles, one a passage
Jackhammer with Jack Rabbit
male that flew at 6 lbs that I called The Unit, and
an imprint male that flies at 8 lbs that is more well
known, his name being Jackhammer.
The reason I named this small eagle The Unit was
because he was like a machine when it came to
catching jacks. He wasnt particularly fast nor big;
in fact, flying at 6 lbs, he was the smallest eagle I
have ever flown. He just developed a special move
when closing in on a running jack rabbit and was
very good at it. He came to me after having
bumble foot and asper, the double whammy, if you
will. His training went smoothly, nothing out of
the ordinary, but that all changed the second he
caught his first jack. For years I hunted in an
industrial area that was a mixture of huge
warehouses and ever shrinking hay fields, pretty
typical of Californias main desire to pave over all
things green, slowly turning everything into a sea
of black top and cement. Cordi and I shot our first
DVD in this area because it was so loaded with
jacks. It was the perfect place to bring young eagles
that, above all, needed slips and lots of them in
order to perfect their hunting skills. The Unit was
ready to hunt and I was eager to see what he would
do, for that is one of the most exciting moments.....
walking into a field with a young eagle and
flushing jacks for it. I dont recall if he took the
first one up but he did go after the first jack he
saw, that I am sure of. I never give passage eagles
any bags or hampered jack rabbits. First off, it is
not necessary and I dont believe in it. I must
admit I have had to do that with some imprints
though. They were so inexperienced and so
helpless that it was necessary to get them to kill
something, anything, just to get them started. But
that is the extreme case. Other than one or two
imprints I can say I have never seen an eagle that
did not know what a jack rabbit was and
instinctively chased it. The Unit was no exception
and it did not take him long before he caught one.
I was most ecstatic and wanted a picture to
document the moment so I walked over to the spot
where he was mantling over his prize. The second I
got to within ten yards he abruptly left his kill and
flew straight at my face. I did my best to look like
Mohammad Ali and ducked, and he then quickly
returned to his jack. I cant say that has happened
all too often. 99% of the time eagles want to drag
the jack rabbit off into some bush or something.
The trick with him was to stay back, not entering
his 10-yard cone of tolerance, wait until he settled
down, then make in and all would be well. In time
he got over his dislike of me approaching him and
would not even mantle anymore. Despite his small
size The Unit was a feisty little eagle. In our first
DVD, Eagle Journal the Movie, there is a scene
where The Unit foots me in the hand and
shoulder, but eventually he became a very nice
eagle to fly. He would ride in the back of my truck
unhooded, both to and from the hunting fields,
looking out the rear window at other cars and the
scenery going by. When we arrived at the hunting
fields he would jump up on the glove and off we
would go. I enjoyed flying him so much that he
went over the 300 jack rabbit mark before he was
released. It's safe to say he is doing fine.
Jackhammer is a story all to his own. He is simply
the fastest and most aggressive hunter I have ever
flown, he will hunt all day long! He was found as a
fluff ball, very sick with asper, and taken to an
animal hospital for treatment. Fortunately fate
smiled on him because the veterinarian he was
taken to happens to be one of the best raptor vets
in the country, Dr. Vickie Joseph. Jackhammer was
to spend the next several weeks in a nebulizer,
breathing medication. During the course of his
treatment he was imprinted and as time went on
his imprinting became more and more apparent. I
remember very clearly the day I went to get him.
As I walked into the huge flight chamber holding a
large fishing net I was told this eagle is different, he
is fast and turns on a dime and he is very difficult
to net. Okay, I thought, well see. I have netted tons
of birds of all kinds, including many eagles, how
difficult can it be? The net was big and had a long
pole attached. I figured, no problem I was
wrong! There were five other eagles in the flight
but it didnt take but a second to see Jackhammer
(at that time unnamed of course). He was racing
around the flight pen like a pigeon. I moved to one
side, hoping to intercept him as he flew down the
side of the flight pen. As he rounded the end of the
flight and headed toward me, I raised the net at the
perfect moment, figuring "I got you".wrong.
Jackhammer easily checked himself and avoided
the net. Hmmm, how embarrassing.... let's try this
Jackhammer with Jack Rabbit
again. Same thing, swing and miss, strike two!
Now I was serious, ready to anticipate his move
and snag him as he flew by. Jackhammer made a
lovely adjustment, went under the net and I cleanly
missed again. Strike three! Okay, I thought, I'll just
out last him, which I did, and finally netted the
rascal. Of course I had to endure the "I told you so"
looks from everyone. Right from the start JH (short
for Jackhammer) was proving to be a challenge.
Yes, he was an imprint, which you would think
would be a great help. Not so much in his case
though because during his treatment he seemed to
have developed a rather strong hatred of people and,
more importantly, complete distrust of everyone.
So there I was, looking at an imprinted eagle that
thinks just about anything that moves is food and
hates people to the point that he wants to attack
them. Not a good picture and... I must train him!
My first challenge was to win JHs trust. Somehow
I needed to show him that I meant him no harm.
Once I had his trust I could start the training
process. JH did everything in his power to inflict
pain on me. Remember, he hated people and was
NOT afraid of people, which was significant.
Frankly, I wished he was afraid, he would have
been easier to handle. I knew that if I could only
get him out in the field and show him live things
to chase, the rest would fall into place, his anger
and frustration would have somewhere to go. But
winning his trust was more difficult than I first
thought. I had progressed to flying JH on a long
line with very nice results and he was most
responsive to the lure and the glove. So much so
that free flight was the next step. I took JH over to
the large cattle ranch I managed which was where I
had started countless eagles in the past.... smallish
rolling hills that go on as far as the eye can see
without one single tree anywhere in sight.
The perfect spot to start a young eagle. My plan
was to launch JH off the fist, let him fly along the
side of a small hill, and call him down. Well, the
launch part went great. JH flew to the side of the
hill, turned around but, at that exact moment, a
coyote came trotting by, minding its own business.
Without the slightest hesitation JH left the hillside
and slammed into the coyote. If you have ever seen
a tiercel Harris' Hawk grab hold of a large hare or
jack rabbit by the head, you can visualize the scene.
The coyote was doing somersaults trying to shake
JH off. Surprisingly, JH had the perfect hold on it -
- one foot on the neck just behind the head and
the other foot on the poor creatures nose. I say
poor creature because I like coyotes. As a fourth
generation rancher they have never caused me or
our livestock any harm, but then we dont have
sheep! I started to run over to give help, mainly to
try and save JH from losing a toe or foot or leg,
and as I closed in on the two of them, the coyote,
seeing more trouble coming, managed to break
free and took off. JH settled himself and then took
off in hot pursuit. Once again he flew the coyote
down and bound to its head and, once again, I
came up on the scene only to have the coyote break
free and run off with JH once again in hot pursuit.
The day ended with me tracking JH for six miles
across many different ranches until I found him
too tired to fly and he just stepped up on my glove.
Not sure what happened to Mr. Coyote but he had
a great story to tell for sure.
It took me several more training flights before
Another pheasant in the bag!
23
Jackhammer would even consider trusting me and
even then he would come to the glove but was not
happy about it. The first time I took him into the
hunting fields he chased several jacks and then flew
off self-hunting! Not exactly what I had in mind
so, once again, I tracked him down. This time,
however, he flew over houses, across freeways and
landed in people's back yards! The thing I found
with JH was that I needed to prove myself to him,
win him over. What I mean is that he needed to
understand that I was his hunting partner and not
just someone who fed him. Once that was clear he
and I started to hunt in a serious way. Jackhammer
has taken my eagle falconry to new levels. For
instance, taking a 700 yard slip, missing the jack
and flying all the way back to the glove over and
around all sorts of trees, buildings and, in some
cases, parking lots, back to the glove for no reward.
And..... do this all day long. Why? Simply because
he knows another slip is coming and that is his
reward. He also knows that I will take care of him
at the end of the day. He will get his just dues -- a
full crop of good red meat. Once I realized that
food was not JH's primary motivation to hunt, as I
said, things went to a new level. This eagle simply
loves to hunt. The few times when he has landed in
a tree I stop hunting to show him that nothing
happens. On the occasion when he has gotten
stubborn, taking his time to return, I have found
that if I start hunting going away from him he
cant stand it and comes back. With rehab eagles I
will take very few people in the field with me, for
the obvious reason of keeping them wary of people
but once it was clear that JH was not going to be
released, more and more folks wanted to see him
fly. JH was very shy at first and would only fly at
jacks that were flushed on his left side, away from
the guests. When someone flushed a jack rabbit to
his right he would not even look at it. So what I
did was to put people on both sides and walked
slightly in front of the group, and dropped his
weight just a touch...that did the trick. It was not
easy though. It took weeks and I was dragging
anyone I could out to go flying. Jackhammer has
since gone on to be in two different TV programs
for National Geographic and Nature. The first one
was Raptor Force in which JH carried a camera on
his back which Cordi and I were both surprised he
tolerated. Well, he did up to a point. On the last
day of shooting JH landed on a hillside and
promptly removed the very expensive camera.
Enough was enough! And just recently JH was in
Moment of Impact, another PBS production for
Nature, which just aired in April.
Receiving rehab eagles is a challenge, mainly
because I never really know what Im getting. Some
are young passage birds that were not making it on
their own that I train just like any freshly trapped
bird. Others are a little different, having been
handled in what, I would say, is a non falconry
kind of way, all for their own good and, depending
on what they were suffering from, ranging from
being grabbed, netted or chased down, and varied
greatly. Those eagles are a challenge because they
are ready to fight me every step of the way. One
interesting thing that happens, without exception,
is that when eagles are being treated or recovering
from some sort of injury they do not moult,
sometimes for two years or more. The main reason
is stress; they are not happy and, therefore, do not
moult,. Now, eventually they will to some degree
but when they come to me they have generally not
moult,ed. As they are put into the training process
which is one that is designed to cause as little stress
as possible, they settle down remarkably fast and
are content. I know this because they start to
moult, the mews will look like a pillow fight took
place inside it.
Its funny how a mere chance encounter with
someone or something can set your life on a
course that shapes who you are and how you live
your life. I cant say that if I had not been
approached by the wildlife film maker while flying
my red tail and offered an eagle that I would have
ever flown an eagle or be, in fact, writing this
article. But I am very glad it happened, a journey
that continues today, and I would like to think that
I have given more than a few eagles a second
chance to be wild.
If you would like to read more about my eagle
experiences I invite you to go to my website:
www.joeatkinsonseaglejournal.com
BUILDING A RELEASE PEN
Building a
Release Pen
by Neil Davies
Materials for construction a 25m x 20m pen
suitable for holding approx a 100 poults.
25 Tanalised posts 2.6m long and 7.5cm in
diameter.
10 Tanalised straining posts 2.6m long and
10cm in diameter.
Two different size rolls of wire netting are
required: 100m x 1m x 25mm galvanised
netting roll for the bottom, to keep out small
ground predators, and 100m x 1.5m x 50mm
Gamenet plastic release pen netting for the top.
Timber and hinges/latches for entry gates.
Nails, staples, hammers etc
Re-entry funnels or pop holes, complete with
anti-fox grids and wings ( see diagram 1).
Two-strand electric fencing system is recommended
for all open topped pens to deter foxes.
12-volt car battery.
Water butts and piping ( If required).
Hog rings.
Shovel.
Post hole digger & Post Knocker.
Useful addresses:
www.solwayfeeders.com
www.gamekeepersupplies.co.uk
www.gamekeepafeeds.co.uk
www.basc.org.uk
www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk
www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk
www.gamekeeping.org.uk
www.gwct.org.uk
Step 1:
Having decided where your going to site the pen. A
metre wide path should be cleared prior to
construction of the pen. The path should be wide
enough to include pop-holes with wings and
allow you to walk both inside and outside the
perimeter fence for daily inspection once the
poults arrive. All branches overhanging the track
should also be removed to discourage poults from
ying out of the pen before they have become
acclimatised and to prevent easy access for
mammalian predators.
Step 2
Create a twisting feed ride through the centre of
the pen running north to south to allow plenty of
sunlight for the poults.
25
Water
If there is not a clean water
source adjacent to the pen you
will have to either pipe it in or
have water barrels placed
within the pen. You can use a
nipple system to save water.
Electric fencing predator control
A simple two-strand 12v electric fencing system
should be set 15cm and 30cm high and approximately
30cm out from the pen wire.
It may be necessary
to spray the ground
where the electric
fencer is used with a
strong herbicide to
prevent vegetation
from short circuiting
the system. Prior to
poults being released
in the pen run switch
on the fence to deter
predators.
Pop Holes
Once poults begin to y out of the pen, they very
rarely learn to y back in. It is therefore essential to
provide some form of re-entry funnels or pop holes,
complete with anti-fox grids and wings.
The wings will direct poults, which are travelling
around the outside of the pen through the anti-fox
grid and wire funnel back in to the pen. Use lengths
of old hose pipe to run the electric fence wire through
these wings to avoid the earthing of the current.
Step 3
Place feed
hopper and
drinkers
throughout
the pen as well
as the central
feed ride.
Step 4
The minimum
recommended
height for a release pen is 1.8m (6ft). Tanalised
posts 2.1m 2.4m long and 7.5cm in diameter
spaced about 3.6m 4.5m apart, knocked rmly
into the ground and capped to the required height
make an ideal support for the straining wire.
10 foot long treated posts 3 feet into the ground,
about 12 feet apart
Step 5
Two strands of 3mm diameter straining wire, one
near the top of the poles and another half way
between the top strand and ground level, run
around the pen and stapled in position will make a
strong frame upon which to hang the wire netting.
Two different size rolls of wire netting are required:
a 1.2m x 25mm roll for the bottom, to keep out
small ground predators, and one 1.2m x 50mm for
the top. Both should be xed securely to the
straining wire (bottom one rst) before being
overlapped and fastened to each other. Many pens
are now made with galvanised wire for the bottom
two feet and Gamenet plastic netting above.
Dig a trench around the base of the pen between
each of the set posts, about 6 inches deep and 6
inches wide.
Lay the rst layer of galvanized wire into the trench,
aring out 2 or 3 inches at the bottom. Back ll in
the trench with soil.
Step 6
Access gates should be carefully sited. Ideally you
should have two gates one being wide enough for
a vehicle to enter the pen.
Next month: Building a Partridge Pen
BUILDING A RELEASE PEN
PRODUCT REVIEWS
I was always weak
at English when at
school. I blame the
teachers. I left with
a grade D and have
never forgiven Mrs
White. The reason
lies in the fact that
aside from the
usual analysis of
An Inspector Calls
and Of Mice and
Men I spent a lot
of my time
creatively writing about shing, Barn Owls,
Pipistrelle bats and setting traps for beetles. One of
Mrs Whites major complaints (I am reading the
report now!) was that I spent too much time
focused on rst hand perspective and
descriptions which others may not share.
I think The Imprint Goshawk Breeder would
therefore throw the miserly Mrs White in
paroxysms of epic proportions. Thankfully she
knew nothing of the country and she certainly
knows nothing about Goshawks. The same cannot
be said of the Author. Now in its second edition
and built upon nearly a decade of successful
Goshawk breeding, this book should be of interest
to any falconer.
Like Mrs White, the falconry world can be a
snippy, snide and is often full of mal-adjusted
opinions. If ideas and various approaches do not
match the tried and tested means then they are
cast on hollow ground. From the outset this book
(like my attempts at descriptive writing) is clearly
only one mans successful approach to a
complicated process.
The book itself it built upon the authors polemic
observations and is all the more informative for it.
There are roughly ten chapters covering all the
aspects how an Austringer may want to approach
articially inseminating (AI) a Goshawk. Starting
with the general outlay of what AI means, then
focusing on the specics of choosing stock, basic
imprinting, male and female behaviour, through to
the technical aspects of semen collection, storage,
insemination and incubation. This is an honest, no
nonsense book and is a superb rst step for any
would be breeder.
Having spoken and watched Lee talk about both
the book and the type of AI he carries out, I can
guarantee that this is as close to the authors voice
as your likely to nd. Often secret processes are
kept from us regular falconers by judicious editing
and spin. This is not one of those books. I can see
that this is an initial framework onto which Lee
will build books about Goshawks, AI and the
success (or failure) of his introduction of new
bloodlines into the UK fold.
I make no bones about it. I have no real experience
of Goshawks, preferring their much smaller
counterparts. But what is refreshing about this
book is that it throws up as many questions as it
tries to answer. In terms of practical application,
this is not in any sense a recipe. So unless youre
already a successful breeder, this guide will allow
you to bolt on your own ideas and discoveries as
you move through successive seasons.
After all no hawk or falcon is a robot. As the
author says One thing is for sure, the encounters
you will have whilst trying to breed Goshawks will
give you a real insight and should been seen as a
privilege. It is about as close as you can get to nature
at her best.
Amen to that!
Price: 25.00 plus P&P
www.leeshawksandcockers.9f.com
The Imprint Accipter Breeder by Lee Featherstone Reviewed by Ben Crane
As recomme
PRODUCT REVIEWS
Coming up next month:
Deaddogs Hawking Vest
by Kevin Massey
Britbraid Falconry Furniture
ended...
Gamehawker Cadge
Reviewed by Neil Davies
Having previous used a heavy home made wooden
cadge which was showing signs of wear. I decided
Id invest in one of Carls Gamehawker cadges after
reading several positive reviews on the forums.
So armed with my money I headed to the Midland
Game Fair and found Carls stand at the fair.
Unfortunately, Carl didnt have any of the cadges
on the stand, but he said hed had several in stock
in his workshop and would get one delivered to me
for the Tuesday Free of charge!. Excellent, free
delivery too, not bad - I thought!
So handing over my 40, I headed off around the
Fair. About an hour later I had a phone call from
Carl, saying he had got one of his work colleagues
to bring one into the show for me - I thought to
myself that was great service and later that
afternoon I collected my cadge from the
Gamehawker stand.
During the season, I couldnt fault the cadge. It is
simply, a well made piece of kit. It is easy to clean,
just a quick hose down and that is it.
The question is would I recommend a cadge from
Gamehawker to anyone else? - YES!
It is simply the best 40 I have spent!
Pros: Lightweight, Washable, Hard Wearing,
Great Service and extremly well made.
Against: Nothing.
Price: 40.00 plus P&P
www.gamehawker.net
TIME FOR A CHANGE
THE
FALCONRY
& RAPTOR
FAIR
IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE?
BY BEN CRANE
Generally, I would say that most falconers are
positive creatures. The idea that you can let a
feathered, ying animal free and be more or less
condent it will return, is by denition, positive.
This is why it is with great sadness that the 2010
Falconry Fair in Shropshire turned out to be a
maligned, soured, shadow of its former self.
From the United Kingdom Falconers Club
perspective this years fair was easily the worst of
the last 5 years. The local newspaper reported
attendance to be around 15000 people, by my
estimation it was more like 1000 per day.
There are a multitude of reasons why this is the
case. Most signicantly the Festival of Falconry
held in Reading raised the bar for what falconers at
grassroots level should expect from events of this
type. The festival clearly showed that at the right
time of year, at the right location and with all the
facets of falconry catered for, the spirit of why we
continue to practise this sport.
There were some positives to be seen, the displays
and the birds themselves where in good condition.
It was also the rst time the UKFC club committee
and its members could sit and talk about future
events and the direction your club should be going in.
We also made good contacts with manufacturers,
breeders, falconers, writers and other clubs.
From these discussions were seeded plans that we
hope to put in place this summer.
We are holding our rst annual summer bash on
the 10th and 11th of September at a little campsite
on the coast of Wales. There will be hunting,
various falconry events and more importantly an
open invite to all of those who wish to help plan,
give advice or be part of a new festival/fair to be
held in late August 2011.
This will not be easy; we dont have the funding for
a start. But it will be a positive step in the right
direction. What we need is a new falconry event
that represents us all. One that is not a money
spinning venture with not atmosphere, but rather
one that is representative of the strong falconry
traditions he UK has to offer.
If you wish to help or be a part of the organisation
then feel free to contact the UK Falconry Club
with your suggestions.
TIME FOR A CHANGE
THE UK FALCONRY CLUB AT THE FALCONRY & RAPTOR FAIR
THE UK FALCO
THE FALCON
THE UK FALCONRY CLUB AT THE FALCONRY & RAPTOR FAIR
ONRY CLUB AT
RY & RAPTOR
I was lucky enough to meet Iain Crowder through another forum and understood that he had lost
some of his ying ground. My ying ground looked as though it may be suitable for Iain to y, and
I invited him to come over with Rufus and Rolex his 09 Male Golden Eagle.
To watch Rufus y over our valley and return to Iain with a blast from the whistle was amazing.
During our ying session Iain asked me to get out my GSP, he assured me that Rufus was ne with
dogs, I was a little apprehensive, but need not to have worried, Rufus worked with the dog as
though they had always worked together.
About 2 months later, I had a message from Iain asking if I wanted to take on Rufus, as he wanted
to put all his time into his young Goldie, well I nearly fell of my chair. He had visited my falconry
centre and said he thought that Rufus would be happy with me, and that is how I came to have Rufus.
This is where the story starts, having trained Falcons, Owls, Hawks, but an Eagle is a very different
story. I am lucky that Iain has done a wonderful job with Rufus, but we still needed the bond, and
despite experience with other Birds, I found myself wondering from time to time have I done the
right thing. I can now say I have, Rufus and I have a bond that I thought he would only ever have
with Iain. At the moment he is down to moult, but prior to this I have had some wonderful ights
with him, and to watch him fold his wings from say 500 feet, is amazing. We have rabbits coming
back to the valley now and cannot wait for next season.
All I can say is a big thank you to Iain for giving me the chance to y such a magnicent well
mannered bird.
Allan Gates
Rufus
Golden x
Steppes Eagle
by Allan Gates
MEMBERS BIRDS
THE CHASE - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UK
FALCONRY CLUB - JUNE 2010
Brithawk Braided
Falconry equipment
order from Zoe Jones
07743 573 755
Quality, hand braided falconry
furniture made in Britain
Falcon fitted with Brithawk braided furniture
CLUB NEWS
Club News
Club BBQ
The UK Falconry Club will be holding a Summer BBQ in September 10th - 11th at
Rhosllefain, Tywyn, Gwynedd LL36 9ND. If any members wish to attend, please
contact Ben Crane for further details - ben_crane@ukfalconryforum.com
We hope you can come along and meet the committee.
UK Falconry Club Committee
President - Ben Crane, Vice-President - Neil Hunter,
Chairman - Lee Featherstone, Vice-Chairman - Martin Whitley,
Secretary - Steven Lambert, Treasurer - Tommy Miles,
Membership Secretary - George Duncalf, Legal Officer - Mike Roberts,
Field Meet Officer - Kevin Massey, Assistant Field Meet Officer 1 - Joe Hatton,
Newsletter Editor - Neil Davies
Membership is now available online
If you wish to join the UK Falconry Club you can now apply and pay online at the
clubs forum www.ukfalconryforum.com
Membership fees are per year and include Public Liability Insurance for Full &
Associate Members:
Full Members 32, Associate Members 32 and Supporter member 17
Field Meets
We are presently organising a number of UKFC field meets through out the whole of
the of UK. We will post a list of date on www.ukfalconryforum.com in due course.
the uk falconry club supports
the campaign for falconry

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The Chas e

the on-line newsletter of the UK Falconry Club - June 2010

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