African Hawk eagle

[AndyYounger]

Hi All
i am wondering how many of you out there have flown an african hawk eagle.
if so do you have and experiences you could share. i.e the good points as well as the problems you encountered. also do they have any particular things to watch for? for example"Gyrs being prone to asper"
i have read thay in the wild they take larger prey then the bonnellis.and are more ferocious although smaller
i entend to fly a eyass female later this year and would like any info i can get before i start.
cheers

[NGuruve]

Well i havent flown one but intent to sumday and ive heard from some falconers in Zimbabwe that they are amazing and they have hunted them at scrub hares and guinea fown mainly but they will take a huge variety and are aparently once manned are as soft as a harris so gd luck to you

[Palmer]

Never had the chance to fly one but the really nice birds!

[AndyYounger]

NG i fly a chilean just now and she is as soft as any bird i have seen.
i believe these birds are similar in temprement but more highly strung.

[EagleMan]

most opinions tell that african hawk eagle is the best bird for hunting birds and hares, it seem to be superior to goshawk in all hunting aspects,

[SPZ]

Don't know anyone who has flown any. Lived in South Africa for years and had the opportunity of watching some in the wild. A totally fearless bird...something like a jack-russel believing it's a rottweiler.

[Tim Laycock]

most opinions tell that african hawk eagle is the best bird for hunting birds and hares, it seem to be superior to goshawk in all hunting aspects,
Except speed and agility!
They will not maintain fitness like a Gos and are harder to get fit in the first place.

[Makubwa]

hi,

my mentor in falconry flew an african hawk eagle. he had this bird for 4 years and I had the opportunity to hunt with him many times, even let me fly his hawk occasionally.

They are awesome hunters, have a large crop so will entertain with many flights in one hunt, not as sociable as a harris but close on, you can sit it on your arm without a glove but dont make squeeling noise if yoiu do your *^%$ed. We used to lamp for rabbits and would sometimes take up to 15 head a night, also took small antelope. In the day we used to hunt by letting the bird follow us from tree to tree while we beat the bush to flush. Took guinea fowl, a gabar goshawk, young vervet monkey, rabbits and hares.

PS it also had a good go at the neighbours poodle - had to go to the vet - the poodle that is - nearly died -

[NGuruve]

Except speed and agility!
They will not maintain fitness like a Gos and are harder to get fit in the first place.

yes but they are larger and wil takes hares more easily that the gos and can take everything esle despite being a little slower id prefer one to a gos anyday although gosses are absolutly awsume dont get me wrong

[Tim Laycock]

Understood, I prefer the david and goliath style struggle the gos provides, the eagle is without doubt more robust and on top of the job.

It simply lacks the versatility I require, Stunning bird though.

[OutFlying]

Eagles and hares / rabbits = sledgehammer and nut :supz:

Springs to mind.

[Stanley]

you can not compair with a european bonellis eagle

[Tim Laycock]

Eagles and hares / rabbits = sledgehammer and nut :supz:

Springs to mind.

Correct Jim :D

[Barbary Boy]

how much do you recon an african hawk eagle would be in the uk? £3000? more?

[Hacker]

An expensive way to crack a nut Keith!:grin:

[Jack Merlin]

It would be interesting to have a few weights for various species of hawk-eagles.

If very large goshawks are in such demand, I do not understand why hawk-eagles are not worth having. I've heard they are pretty awesome birds.

I always fancied a Bonelli's when I was younger. Now I think I'd prefer a spar!<g>

[Tim Laycock]

Derry, For me the issue is not so much weight as power.
There would be absolutley no comparison between the feet of a 3 lb Gos and a 3lb Hawk Eagle
(Poor comparison but its like a Common Buzzards feet in comparison with a Red Tails)

I would take the Spar over a Bonelli's any day of the week!

Especially if I was paying :lol:

[HawkEagle]

You are right BB, when come to eagles not necessary the largest being the best. I prefer a smaller one since they will have enough power to kill anyway and still have great agility. And deffinitly bigger doesn't mean more power.

[NGuruve]

how much do you recon an african hawk eagle would be in the uk? £3000? more?

i asked a place in south african called raptoria and they said they sell there african hawk eagles for for £6000 this includes the shipping and everything else to the uk.still flippin expensive id say

[Tarqers]

Understood, I prefer the david and goliath style struggle the gos provides, the eagle is without doubt more robust and on top of the job.

It simply lacks the versatility I require, Stunning bird though.

this is the true escense of what we do ,and further more puts the sport into falconry,that is why we fly male gos ,everything they catch is sporting,,,,tarqs

[Jack Merlin]

this is the true escense of what we do ,and further more puts the sport into falconry,that is why we fly male gos ,everything they catch is sporting,,,,tarqs

True.

But each to his own. My sport comes from combining man, dog, and hawk as a team. I think it would bore me to leave any one member out of the team!

William Humphrey, a famous breeder of Llewellin setters of a few decades ago, flew a Golden Eagle at foxes. His setters would point foxes lieing out in bracken on a Welsh hillside. Or the eagle caught them when bolted from the earth with terriers. He always claimed he killed over 100 foxes with one eagle. I have seen a video of an eagle stooping and it was pretty incredible.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that this man also flew peregrines at grouse over his setters on the Longmynd in Shropshire and got some very impressive scores. He was the falconer who taught Ronald Stevens.

Are you saying this was not falconry? (But we agree about male gosses!!<g>).

[SakerYZF]

I guess hares are on alot of peoples list,
"do what you can with what you've got"
I think the gos does more:)

[NGuruve]

the african hawk eagle has alot of power for its size so is like a large goshawk is is versatile and if it can take on small antelope and vervets its very brave so i don't see any reason why anyone wouldn't love to fly one yes maybe for the uk i suppose the gos will always bethe favourite hawk and this is probably because its native and well can do all the jobs we need well.

[MickeyDredd]

yes maybe for the uk i suppose the gos will always bethe favourite hawk and this is probably because its native and well can do all the jobs we need well.

I'm not sure too many people in the UK will fly their "native UK" European Gos at hare as a game species of choice though, would it not be mainly Finnish-sized Gosses.

i.e. if your intended quarry is hare would you buy a european gos to fly at them?

[Roel_Birds]

If your intended quarry is hare in open country, I would not concider a goshawk at all, although a female German gos is capable of catching them. A gos only showes his full potential in more enclosed country with all sorts of game: rabbit, pheasant, ...
For hunting hare exclusively, I would rather think in the lines of Ferruginous hawk, hawk eagles or golden eagle.

[Tim Laycock]

If your intended quarry is hare in open country, I would not concider a goshawk at all, although a female German gos is capable of catching them. A gos only showes his full potential in more enclosed country with all sorts of game: rabbit, pheasant, ...
For hunting hare exclusively, I would rather think in the lines of Ferruginous hawk, hawk eagles or golden eagle.
Please expand on why you think this is?
It makes little sense to me.


if your intended quarry is hare would you buy a european gos to fly at them?

Without hesitation(Females)

[Roel_Birds]

By this I mean that in enclosed countryside a goshawk is more forced to do what he is built for: manoevering through all sorts of cover. I find it much more exciting when a gos has a zigzagging flight after a rabbit in a wood and than nails it on the edge of a bramblebush than see it persue a hare in open country.

[Tim Laycock]

Flights in open country showcase the agility, stamina and tenacity of the Northern Goshawk equaly well

[Jastreb]

I saw lots of good goshawk flights in open country, with lots of manouvers.
I was hawking on the beginig of this season with imprint german male-the bravest hawk I ever had. When we were hawking in Opocno in October, he made such manouverable flights on full grown hares in totaly open ground. Dr. Lombard from SAFA was with me on the first day of meeting when my male couldn't hold full grown hare so he made vertical ups on 30 meters and then crashed on the hare 4-5 times-I will never forget that, and dr. Lombard said also the same!
It was not my purpose to fly german tiercel on hares, but he couldn't resist, and me too-BTW I had two hares (1,3 and 1,5 kilos hare) with him. And no doubt that he was ultimate bird slayer!!!!!!!
Cheers Viktor

[Minty]

Is the African Hawk Eagle the same as the 'Marshall' Eagle?

I no they have a Marshall at Eagle Heights in Kent.
Got to be about the most impressive Eagle i have ever seen, so much so i got to handle one on a eagle day and the Piccy sits on my Front room Wall.

[NGuruve]

Is the African Hawk Eagle the same as the 'Marshall' Eagle?

I no they have a Marshall at Eagle Heights in Kent.
Got to be about the most impressive Eagle i have ever seen, so much so i got to handle one on a eagle day and the Piccy sits on my Front room Wall.


sorry minty but there biffrent species the martial eagle is about twice the size of a african hawk eagle but they are similar looking the martial is on the left and african hawk on the right

[EagleMan]

Except speed and agility!
They will not maintain fitness like a Gos and are harder to get fit in the first place.
speed and agility comes together with size. african hawk eagle's hunting drive and courage surpass the goshawk, i'm sure that is not a wery well known bird, if it was a european native bird i'm sure that everybody would choose him instead of goshawk, i heard that these birds hunt even at night in front of an electrical light sources, and it's about the size of a female finnish, but but with an bonelli's feet:supz: correct me if i'm wrong.

[NGuruve]

speed and agility comes together with size. african hawk eagle's hunting drive and courage surpass the goshawk, i'm sure that is not a wery well known bird, if it was a european native bird i'm sure that everybody would choose him instead of goshawk, i heard that these birds hunt even at night in front of an electrical light sources, and it's about the size of a female finnish, but but with an bonelli's feet:supz: correct me if i'm wrong.

nope you are correct 100% eagle man and i agree with you totally
yes ive been told by people that have flown them that they have hunted them at night using spotlights

[MickeyDredd]

Without hesitation(Females)

Tim

In the UK, are female european Gosses the goshawk of choice if your intended quarry is brown hare or would a larger finnish not be chosen?

I am aware and have witnessed european gosses on the continent being flown exclusively at hare (slips at feather are refused by the austringer) but did not think the same was the case over here.

[Tarqers]

I saw lots of good goshawk flights in open country, with lots of manouvers.
I was hawking on the beginig of this season with imprint german male-the bravest hawk I ever had. When we were hawking in Opocno in October, he made such manouverable flights on full grown hares in totaly open ground. Dr. Lombard from SAFA was with me on the first day of meeting when my male couldn't hold full grown hare so he made vertical ups on 30 meters and then crashed on the hare 4-5 times-I will never forget that, and dr. Lombard said also the same!
It was not my purpose to fly german tiercel on hares, but he couldn't resist, and me too-BTW I had two hares (1,3 and 1,5 kilos hare) with him. And no doubt that he was ultimate bird slayer!!!!!!!
Cheers Viktor
i believe i have read somwhere that the pols or chezs fly male goshawks head on at hares as they have no other quarry,,,,tarqs

[Tim Laycock]

If you think anything has more hunting drive than a Goshawk in a full blown yarak you are mistaken!!!
It can be matched no doubt but not surpassed regarding drive to kill!

Mike, A Finn would be more consistent but I would not hesitate to use a german female exclusively on brown hare.

[Tarqers]

True.

But each to his own. My sport comes from combining man, dog, and hawk as a team. I think it would bore me to leave any one member out of the team!

William Humphrey, a famous breeder of Llewellin setters of a few decades ago, flew a Golden Eagle at foxes. His setters would point foxes lieing out in bracken on a Welsh hillside. Or the eagle caught them when bolted from the earth with terriers. He always claimed he killed over 100 foxes with one eagle. I have seen a video of an eagle stooping and it was pretty incredible.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that this man also flew peregrines at grouse over his setters on the Longmynd in Shropshire and got some very impressive scores. He was the falconer who taught Ronald Stevens.

Are you saying this was not falconry? (But we agree about male gosses!!<g>).
i think poeple take different things from falconry, i believe you can only use the phrase the sport of falconry,if indeed you have the ability to lose,ie fox gets away/out thinks the bird, mashing things up that dont have a chance,is
procariously airing on the side of brutality,somthing as a man of honour i have little time for,however i would defend the right of any man to do as he wishes as long as he impacts not,on other people,
i am also of the opinion any man who climbs the welsh vallies is definatly a falconer/where as mugging things out of car windows ,is i am afraid just flying a bird of prey,,,,tarqs

[Tim Laycock]

i am also of the opinion any man who climbs the welsh vallies is definatly a falconer/where as mugging things out of car windows ,is i am afraid just flying a bird of prey,,,,tarqs

What of the man who chooses to do both, as and when the mood takes him?
I fall into this category :lol:
(Tarqs, There is a lot more to window hawking than muggings!)

[Tarqers]

What of the man who chooses to do both, as and when the mood takes him?
I fall into this category :lol:
(Tarqs, There is a lot more to window hawking than muggings!)
well as minty says,jekyl and hyde,,,,come on,,,tarqs

[Tim Laycock]

If a slip begins from a car window and goes for 400 yards its not a mugging is it :wink:

[Tarqers]

no definatly not ,but i said(mugging things out of a car window),,,tarqs

[Tim Laycock]

Understood :D
Muggings do have a purpose though, Very usefull for keeping an freshly penned imprint happy and staving off the effects of failure but agreed, not much else!

[Tarqers]

Understood :D
Muggings do have a purpose though, Very usefull for keeping an freshly penned imprint happy and staving off the effects of failure but agreed, not much else!
arr the true falconers ever present companion(failure)lol,,,tarqs

[Tim Laycock]

Indeed<g>

[Minty]

sorry minty but there biffrent species the martial eagle is about twice the size of a african hawk eagle but they are similar looking the martial is on the left and african hawk on the right

I see the difference. Thanks for clearing that up.
i once had a Guy who thought the Marshall piccy i had on my wall was a African Eagle . I was not sure so i just agreed but it seems it isn't.

Cheers.

[Tim Laycock]

It is an African eagle but not an African hawk eagle :rolleyes:

[Minty]

It is an African eagle but not an African hawk eagle :rolleyes:

Blimey now you have me in a right twissell!

So a Marshall Eagle is a African eagle then?

If so why is it called 'Marshall'?

[Tim Laycock]

Dont know Minty but it is a native to Africa, that is for certain.

[Barbary Boy]

i asked a place in south african called raptoria and they said they sell there african hawk eagles for for £6000 this includes the shipping and everything else to the uk.still flippin expensive id say
ill take a dozen!

[NGuruve]

Dont know Minty but it is a native to Africa, that is for certain.

it is called a martial eagle and yes is from africa? were you jokin

[NGuruve]

ill take a dozen!

haha yes i would if i had the money and the ban wasnt stoping me hehe

[MickeyDredd]

it is called a martial eagle and yes is from africa? were you jokin

Dont count on it :lol:

[CooperMan]

If a slip begins from a car window and goes for 400 yards its not a mugging is it :wink:
only if the quarry looses its mobile phone in the process. :lol:

[NGuruve]

haha o well my final conclusion is y the hell are we comparing a eagle to a goshawk yes they will hunt the same prey pretty much but come on wats the ,this bird is clearly the best ,stuff the thread was there to help someone to get info on the african hawk eagle

[Tim Laycock]

it is called a martial eagle and yes is from africa? were you jokin
What are you driving at here??????????

this bird is clearly the best
Why is it the best? where do you get this from.

Does a big bird make you feel big?
(Dont take this the wrong way)

I simply dont understand why it is the best just because it is an oddity and not quite the falconry norm

[AndyYounger]

Hi Guys
Ive been off work and not had access to the computer.
You have all been busy!
a lot of points have been missed.
A male african hawk eagle will hunt and fly just over 3lb and the females just under 4lb.not much bigger than a finnish gos but with huge feet! and a lot smaller than a female marshall at 11lb or 8lb is for a male.
i really want a bird that will wait on above me and the dog. forgive me if i am wrong but i dont think that a gos is the bird for that. if i wanted an off the fist bird then i would buy a gos. even the best quality gos is a shed load cheaper than a 6k plus african hawk eagle.
The hawk eagles olso have the manoverability to chase down prey in woodland. i have seen a male bonellis at 4lb and the turning ability was almost unbilievible for the size.
Flying at hares in the cairngorms can be hard work but produces some very rewarding flights. and to fly any bird off the fist in this kind of place is almost like hunting rabbits with ferrets and a hawk.
i dont think you could beat using a hawk or eagle that will wait on at 1000+ ft and then verically stoop on a hare flushed by me or my dog.
God i can talk!
thanks
AY

[NGuruve]

What are you driving at here??????????


Why is it the best? where do you get this from.

Does a big bird make you feel big?
(Dont take this the wrong way)

I simply dont understand why it is the best just because it is an oddity and not quite the falconry norm

haha sorry for not being clear man i was just saying that we should keep the thread on the subject of helping this guy and not which bird is better the gos or af hawk eagle that is all

[Ben C]

Hello Andy...................over 1000 ft?? Surely it will just head off self hunting at that height??? Can't a large female RT do an equally impressive job at a fraction of the cost??

[ChakChek]

haha sorry for not being clear man i was just saying that we should keep the thread on the subject of helping this guy and not which bird is better the gos or af hawk eagle that is all


agreed

[FalconMews]

High Andy,

The female African hawk eagle that i am manning at present would fly i expect around 3lb to 3lb 2oz and a friends female flew at 3 lb exact, so the males are quite alot under 3lb.
I am also feeding two female finnish Goshawks on the fist at present whom are slightly heavier than her, but her feet are at least half as strong again as the Goshawks and she has a better temperment, they are all imprints.

[Tim Laycock]

NGuruve, understood :D

BenC, Well observed :supz:

[AndyYounger]

i dont know why but RT,s just dont do it for me. i had a bad experience with one and have seen a few bad ones(probably the owners)
i have only seen a red owned by Mike that flew well.

[Ben C]

Seeing Mikes is enough to convince anyone... :supz: ...she is a beauty and does fly well. Stll not sure about the heights you mention.....although I am sure a few of the golden eagle fliers have reached those pitches.

I would be VERY interested to see how you got on.

Cheers

ben

[AndyYounger]

Hi Ben
i take it you are a local.
i have seen golies and my chilean fly at unbilievable heights. and not always responding quite as you would want.
the african hawk eagle is also a stunning bird that i have much respect for. that is also playing a part in me getting one.

[EagleMan]

Blimey now you have me in a right twissell!

So a Marshall Eagle is a African eagle then?

If so why is it called 'Marshall'?
the martial eagle aka Plemaetus bellicosus earned it's name because of the first naturalist who describe the eagle to science world. the bird was considered very agressive and wirh an warrior temperament. at least is was the native african opinion about this eagle , and they told that to the naturalist.

[EagleMan]

If you think anything has more hunting drive than a Goshawk in a full blown yarak you are mistaken!!!
It can be matched no doubt but not surpassed regarding drive to kill!

Mike, A Finn would be more consistent but I would not hesitate to use a german female exclusively on brown hare.
you might be wright, i never flown an african hawk eagle. but you? otherwise we just having a talk...and if you flown one tell me please the differences. regards

[EagleMan]

sorry, i mean "you might be right" ! tired from the work , sorry again.

[Barry]

Andy, guys,
My thoughts on this are these. The African Hawk (Eagle Hieraatus Spilogaster) is doubtless a fantastic hawk. It has also, as already seen in this thread, been subjected to chinese whispers relative to size. Females are around 3lb and males maybe 2lb 6 or so flying. They are doubtless very powerful with impressive feet relative to body size.
I know Andy, and he certainly gives his birds the best he can, but it is my belief as we have discussed directly, that the input required to have the bird give the performance you hope for with relaibility and consistency is huge. AKB with his eagles and hawk eagles is highly dedicated, highly motivated, has 1,500 acres of his own land outside his door to hawk on every day, and indeed with no obligation to a boss, he can and does hawk every day that weather allows. With his skill and 30+years of experience he does a fantastic job. My question would be do you have time? Remembering of course that through all this you are training a young dog and developing the two creatures as a team. Personally I would be looking to achieve the performance you desire from a less demanding species, then ask honestly of yourself is this bird as good as it could ever be in any falconers hands? If yes, consider a hawk eagle. If no, is it worth risking such a prized bird and lets face it, such an expensive one just to satisfy a desire.
The African Hawk Eagle is powerful, but this is relative to feet. If you plan to fly in the grampians or even if you want to go to the Cairngorms which is a huge daily journey from Fife, is such a light bodied bird going to develop the pectoral strength to handle Scottish mountain windy weather at 1000' or more by training on the relative flat lands of Fife? Where Chilean Buzzard Eagles come from, they will naturally experience more wind and have thus developed a wing and body mass to cope. The African Hawk Eagle has not. The Bonellis, being a little larger is better equipped to cope.

I have hawked with Andy in the Grampians and we have enjoyed seeing my Golden and Black eagles along with other falconers birds at massive pitches, birds powerful enough to cope, but often struggling. Andy's Chilean on a fair breeze made tremendous pitch, but would not stoop a hare but dropped like a falcon to the fist. On the same day it gave tremendous effort at a hare off the fist. I believe that some consistent work would have the Chilean highly impressive, and that would impress me more as the expectation on the bird is lower. If I was training either bird, results with the Chilean would also be more satisfying.

This has been a tricky post to balance. Andy is a good friend of mine who I know will give the African all he can, and I know he listens and responds to sensible advice and input and he thinks about what he is doing. In the three or four years he has been hawking he has achieved good results with several species. I don't want to knock him down, but invite comment on time and input required for this type of flight reliably and consistantly.
If you go for it Andy, bloody good luck and I really look forward to seeing the hawk flying, but do you have time?

Barry.

[Tim Laycock]

EagleMan, It would appear that we are both summising but from entirely different points of view :D

[Makubwa]

Can I ask a question?
I know the gos is an awesome bird - I have seen flown one, I know the African Hawk eagle is an awesome bird - I have flown one - I am sorry to say this to any staunch goshawkers out there but my preference is the African Hawk eagle. How can somebody make a preference or a statement prefering one bird to the other when they have not experienced the ability of the bird in question? I know falconers are attached to their birds and their flying preferences but dont judge a book by its cover. I would have money on it african hawk eagle would take more head on the same ground as a gos. I know that is a very bold statement but that is how strong my beleif on their ability is. They are quick, strong, robust large female 1600 grams ; female gos 1200 grams, I know size does not matter but one thing I do know, I would rather have a gos squeeze my arm than a Hawk Eagle any day. I hope I do not spark outrage but these are my views..............

[AndyYounger]

Time is something we would all like more of. especially me! i have always strived to acchieve what i feel is the best from my situation. however my job means that time spent hawking is hindered by working. i am currently looking on changes in the hours and time i am working to work round the issues i have. thnakfully i have been offered a position in a syndycate that is not very fer from my home that will allow me access to good ground with lots of quarry. mainly rabbit and hare. it also incorporates some good sized hills that get the wind hard. this will also aid in buildung the skill and muscle in any bird flown there.
Finding the time is always an issue, i should manage to work things out to allow me to fly every day! getting the best from any bird is another subject. that is something i will always accept advice about( i might not always do what is suggested but will always listen)

[Ben C]

Andy:

No I live about 7 hours away!!! But I have flown with Mike/his RT and I am up to his for a few days in Feb.

With respect to soaring.......you have my greatest sympathy....its BLOODY hard work to get right. Particularly getting the weather right. I have been pleased only ONCE this season. And that didn't even result in a kill.

Hawka once told me that the soaring part is easy, but consistancy and catching is the key and I have to say he was right. It is especially hard without a dog.

GOOD LUCK

[HawkEagle]

I guess the answer is the money. If you have the money then why not? African hawkeagle is deffinitely an impressive bird. Gos is also impressive but it's just too insane bating all day and dont remain tame for very long period without handling. For large hare hawking I feel you really are asking too much from the gos.

[AndyYounger]

If i was hunting just hares i have to say i would use a chilean! they are very boyant and make a good wind work for them very well. they are also very placid but aggressive hunters. as for an allround bird i think the hawk eagle will be better than a gos and a chilean. i anderstand the gos and chilean are not similar at all but the hawk eagle is somewhere in the middle.
All birds are very capable and fly in different ways.
i just hope i can do the bird proper justace.
cheers

[NGuruve]

im sure that you will do your bird justice man and would really like to know how it gets on once you get hunting

[EagleMan]

wich could be the price for a female african hawk eagle ? is there any serious breeder?

[EagleMan]

EagleMan, It would appear that we are both summising but from entirely different points of view :D
is my opinion too, friend:D

[AndyYounger]

by justice i mean time to put into the bird. i will let you know hou you get on.
the price for one of these is £6000. if you can get one. the are like rocking horse sh*t. hopefully they will become more popular in the future but for now thy are hard to get.

[Tarqers]

i have currently 2 pairs of unrelated ornates in trinidad,just waiting for this bird flue to get resolved,hopefully they will breed this year,but they only have one chick,,,,tarqs

[Tim Laycock]

i have currently 2 pairs of unrelated ornates in trinidad,just waiting for this bird flue to get resolved,hopefully they will breed this year,but they only have one chick,,,,tarqs
You must be Rockerfella!<g>

[HawkEagle]

well well, 6grands for a small eagle. I am absolutely loaded but I'll not pay that much for an African hawk eagle. It's not a crowned eagle. I reckon the bird should not be anymore than 3grands. For flying off fist to hare nothing will beat hawk eagle trust me.

[Barry]

Andy,

Wake up and small the coffee. £6000,:o no way. African Hawk Eagle £3000 maximum. You are being robbed!

Barry.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

With the amount of people who are clamouring to produce these birds, give it five years and they will be three grand. Has anybody noticed what is happening to Gos prices now imprints are better understood? Falconry bird prices work on a boom or bust cycle. Now try getting a Common Buzzard in todays market and you could be paying three hundred quid. Where as eight years ago people were giving them away left right and centre. Stick with what youve got and fly one once you retire.

[Tarqers]

You must be Rockerfella!<g>
no just a distant relative.,,,tarqs

[Tarqers]

well well, 6grands for a small eagle. I am absolutely loaded but I'll not pay that much for an African hawk eagle. It's not a crowned eagle. I reckon the bird should not be anymore than 3grands. For flying off fist to hare nothing will beat hawk eagle trust me.
the cost of shipping birds has risen dramaticly,most carriers will no longer
let them go as eccess bagage as they used to,some are now insisting on an agent as go between,you have to pay sombody to catch/breed and look after them in umbongo bongo land ,time to smell the coffee alright,,,,tarqs

[HawkEagle]

I guess it's like having a ferrari. You pay for exclusivity. I reckon you can spice up the sport more by having great variaty of bop to experiment. There are so many bop out there to try out not just haris, gos, rt and etc. It's just too boring isn't it? We all drive the same cars wearing the same clothes eating the same food going the same place, boring........:)

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

I guess it's like having a ferrari. You pay for exclusivity. I reckon you can spice up the sport more by having great variaty of bop to experiment. There are so many bop out there to try out not just haris, gos, rt and etc. It's just too boring isn't it? We all drive the same cars wearing the same clothes eating the same food going the same place, boring........:)
Your right, as soon as youve paid for it the depreciation begins!

[NGuruve]

Andy,

Wake up and small the coffee. £6000,:o no way. African Hawk Eagle £3000 maximum. You are being robbed!

Barry.

ask raptoria for yourself they sell the bird plus shipping and all extras for £6000 no joke its a rip off even for a bird i love so much

[Barry]

It's worse than that, I think the bird Andy is getting is bred in the UK so there are no additional fees for trappers, carriage, agents insurance quarantine etc. This bird is plain too bloody expensive!

Barry.

[HawkEagle]

If you know how much I paid for my mountain he you'll be gobsmack!:) And you'll also leave the african he alone.:yawinkle:

[NGuruve]

o well that just means not many people are gunna get to own a african hawk eagle haha to bad i will when i move back over there hehe soz

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Are you still planning on getting one Andy?

[Eagle-Eyrie]

i know that this thread is rather old but have to add my 10 cents... I fly a female ahe and she weighs in at 1700g she has taken a range of quarry including feather and fur. i have flown her off the fist as well as from a soar and she plows down anything she puts her mind to recently there are many new threads on this amazing species and it would be a good idea to read up on them otherwise there might be some repitition. The issue of Gos vs Hawk Eagle has come up many times and i would always take the hawk eagle but at the end of the day it is all up to the falconer and his circumstances. i would enjoy exchanging ideas on this species so if you are interested pm me or reply to this or the other ahe threads.

good hawking

dylan

[LSD1]

i know that this thread is rather old but have to add my 10 cents... I fly a female ahe and she weighs in at 1700g she has taken a range of quarry including feather and fur. i have flown her off the fist as well as from a soar and she plows down anything she puts her mind to recently there are many new threads on this amazing species and it would be a good idea to read up on them otherwise there might be some repitition. The issue of Gos vs Hawk Eagle has come up many times and i would always take the hawk eagle but at the end of the day it is all up to the falconer and his circumstances. i would enjoy exchanging ideas on this species so if you are interested pm me or reply to this or the other ahe threads.

good hawking

dylan

hi ya mate what kind of jesses are the one you use and how do the hold the bird ????
also what are they made from ???
atb les

[Eagle-Eyrie]

hi there

they call this the "Zim system" it is basically a nylon rope 5mm-8mm thick with a sampo swivel threaded through the eye and sewn together. at the end of the jess you tie a figure 8 knot on when through the eyelet. the reason the guys back in zim started doing this is that it was a problem to get quality leather back in the earl days of falconry and so made a plan. some like it some dont but like everything in falconry everyone has their own opinion. i prefer it as there is little chance of any breakage without signs first and you dont lose your swivel/jess in the field as it is one unit. as for flying jesses i use 2-3mm nylon cord that has a loop on the end and is used just like a leather flying jess for slips.

good hawking

dyl

[Little Joe]

hi there

they call this the "Zim system" it is basically a nylon rope 5mm-8mm thick with a sampo swivel threaded through the eye and sewn together. at the end of the jess you tie a figure 8 knot on when through the eyelet. the reason the guys back in zim started doing this is that it was a problem to get quality leather back in the earl days of falconry and so made a plan. some like it some dont but like everything in falconry everyone has their own opinion. i prefer it as there is little chance of any breakage without signs first and you dont lose your swivel/jess in the field as it is one unit. as for flying jesses i use 2-3mm nylon cord that has a loop on the end and is used just like a leather flying jess for slips.

good hawking

dyl

Great system! Almost the only one used in Zim and SA nowadays.

We have adapted it a little further now for falcons. The jesses are not tied together at the swivel, but runs through freely. You only undo one end and pull them out. I think this will work well for shortwings also and might prevent scale damage and leg injuries, but I havent tried it.

[Eagle-Eyrie]

The african hawk eagle interest groups first newsletter is out and if anyone would like to recieve it please email me on dylfreeman1@yahoo.com and i will forward it on to anyone who is interested. if there are any queries and concerns please feel free to contact me.

good hawking

dylan