New pics of falcons

[UH_OH_5_OH]

Here is a back shot of Tuffy, the Gyr/Saker Hybrid eating a quail.

And this is TC or Tough Cookie....She is a Gyr/Barbary Hybrid !

 

[Misled]

Real Nice J!!!! I like the feathers in the first pic. Such a beautiful bird.

 

[morrisgigantus]

THOSE ARE AWESOME!!!!!

A buddy of mine used to work for USDA. he had an Osprey that was injuried.. since then i was hooked on big birds. Unfortunately it died. But that was the most magnificent bird iI had ever seen. When i saw these two... Got me a little misty eyed

 

[Misled]

Here you go morris

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

No no no that is a blue heron, THIS is an osprey:

Note these are very heavy crops, the first is beyond 100%

 

[Misled]

That was my bad, they're accaually called egrets here. The wife had me confussed!!!!!

 

[iceemn360]

what kind of bird is this

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Egrets and herons are often confused for one another. You likely have 4-5 species in your area. The great blue heron can be identified by its gray body with black head plumes, yellow bills, long fluffy neck, reddish legs, and dark or black feet (not shown). Egrets have their own identifying marks but (at least in my area) they are almost always white.

 

[rob1991]

wow i love those pics! ! ! we have tons of those kinda birds up in rocklin suprisingly lol

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Where there are squirrels or rabbits or snakes or fish or any other edible small animal, I bet you can find this class of birds if you care to look.

That reminds me of a funny picture...author unknown but not me:

I watched a neighbor's cat hide from a red shouldered hawk for a long time in my back yard. He was soooo nervous. Overconfidence vs. an eagle, which is much larger than a hawk, is a good description!

 

[Wolverine]

Are these reef safe? I'd love to get one.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13620596#post13620596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
Egrets and herons are often confused for one another. You likely have 4-5 species in your area. The great blue heron can be identified by its gray body with black head plumes, yellow bills, long fluffy neck, reddish legs, and dark or black feet (not shown). Egrets have their own identifying marks but (at least in my area) they are almost always white.

And often times found following cows around, or standing on their backs...

 

[Misled]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13625867#post13625867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
And often times found following cows around, or standing on their backs...

That I'd like to see!!!!!


Hey Bean.

 

[UH_OH_5_OH]

Thanks for the comments guys.....My dad is actually a falcon breeder and currently has 46 birds. My mom refers to it as Tyson Chicken Farm with all of the avian company around the place but he's been a falconer for over 40 yrs...since before many states even had laws regarding the sport. He and a couple others wrote the first state exams for Kentucky and New York.

He loves Falconry as do I...I am headed out to trap my falcon this week. I'll post pics when I get back !

 

[BeanAnimal]

Hey what...

Hotlinked... so they may disapear...

Just search google images for "cow egret" or "cattle egret" and you will find plenty. If you live in the south you can see them in any field.

 

[Grouperhead]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13626840#post13626840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UH_OH_5_OH
Thanks for the comments guys.....My dad is actually a falcon breeder and currently has 46 birds. My mom refers to it as Tyson Chicken Farm with all of the avian company around the place but he's been a falconer for over 40 yrs...since before many states even had laws regarding the sport. He and a couple others wrote the first state exams for Kentucky and New York.

He loves Falconry as do I...I am headed out to trap my falcon this week. I'll post pics when I get back !

I assume you are going to start with a redtail? I think redtails, redshoulders, and kestrels are the only 3 raptors an apprentice falconer can have. I've read tons about falconry over the years, and would really love to try my hand at it some day. Takes a long time to get through the apprenticeship, and the dept of fish and game make sure that you are capable of caring for one of these magnificent creatures. Good luck

 

[UH_OH_5_OH]

You're correct in the three species of birds although there are some slight variations for some states, (i.e. Apprentices can fly a Goshawk in Alaska!)

Due to my available space however I will be starting with a Kestrel...this way I don't have to shell out $1000 to put up a mews, and a fence around the mews and a fence around the fence ! With the kestrel...a simple indoor block or bow perch on a turf covered platform works great !

The apprenticeship lasts for two years but I have been handling these sorts of raptors since I was about 10 years old (NEVERMIND HOW LONG AGO THAT WAS !!!!) so my experience with Kestrels is pretty extensive already. You are right however, Fish and Game do keep tabs on new falconers,,,,hopefully a very watchful eye,,,,,so that the birds are not put in harms way due to an inattentive student falconer.

After this apprenticeship is over I plan to trap a Prairie Falcon in Kansas for another two year hitch then move to a Gyr/Barbary Hybrid that my dad has "made" from his breeders. They are amazing birds to watch work !

 

[Misled]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13626840#post13626840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UH_OH_5_OH
I am headed out to trap my falcon this week. I'll post pics when I get back !

Luck to you!!!!

 

[UH_OH_5_OH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13620009#post13620009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iceemn360
what kind of bird is this

That is a Peregrine Falcon....of the Anatum species ! They are WONDERFUL hunters with exceptional personalities !!!

 

[Cubman777]

Uh Oh, those are cool.