Eagle meet

[Dougie Mc]

Does anybody know how it went

Hybred

[AndyYounger]

i wasnt able to make it up. bloody work got in the way again! iam sure Barry will let us know when he gets a chance.

[Barry]

This year Gathering of Eagles was, despite some dulling of numbers by avian flu worries, another success, but sadly tinged with massive personal sadness.
Only five eagles attended and the start of the week although brutally cold at night had us hawking in T-shirts at 3000 feet in brilliant sun, warm temperatures and absolutely no wind. My eagles are trained to wait on in strong wind so preference was given to Andrew Knowles-Brown and his Bonellis and Jeff McKnight with his male Golden Eagle. Andrew caught two white hares, sadly Jeff's bird although very loyal, had not figured out he could eat white things and did not take a hare.
My female Black Eagle, more buoyant than the Golden was flown early in the week but after landing and feeding on a deer gralloch on Wednesday afternoon was out of condition and a little off colour. She had taken one hare. The wind lifted very slightly as the week moved on although brilliant sun and warm temeratures prevailed. By Saturday 8 white hares were taken including three by my Golden, one by the Verreaux (Black Eagle). Non-eagles took a further three hares, all by my female HH.
The final hare taken from waiting on by my female golden was a true marvel, taking the hare in front of 9 guests from massive pitch and in an amost vertical stoop. Most people commented on the sound of her more than the sight.
Anyway, the loss.
After the gralloch feed the verreaux was a little off colour. She collapsed suddenly at 4am on Friday morning. I tubed her lectade, glucose and Baytril and she willing took a little minced hare. I could not not get any vet interested at the hour of the morning and the bird died in my arms at 06.15. Suspected at the moment is poison from the gralloch. I will post details of the post mortem.
The whole thing is brutal to me and I am ripped apart by the loss. This was the nicest bird I ever flew, the most awe inspiring and far better, more loyal and bonded than my or any other Golden I have see. She was a waiting on specialist and would go up to a spot for hours at the time. She took many hares and one roe deer which was not an intended quarry item. She was bred by JPJ and I had her from 9 months old at which point she was untouched. She would have been 10 this year. I loved her dearly and right now despite relying on falconry for my living, maintaining a team of 35 birds and having been active in falconry for 24 years I am contemplating quitting.
Barry.

[Pitbull]

So sorry to hear of your loss and can ony hope not to experience a loss like that for many years. It seems your bond was so strong and that is why you feel like quitting. Take some time to grieve your loss (others may laugh weather it be human or animal the feelings are the same) and decide on things later. Take care Jakki

[Juzzer]

sorry to hear of ur loss barry,but keep ur chin up m8.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Just been on the phone to the poor guy. Gutted what more can you say, its like loosing a close family member.

[Kentish Falconry]

Sorry to hear of your loss Barry. I know just how you feel having lost my Black Imprint Jerkin last year, due to a so called specialist Avian Vet who wouldn't listen to me.
Don't give up Falconry my friend it is far too important in your life to stop now at the moment you are suffering from the loss but in time this will be replaced by fond memories of days out hunting with her
All the best M8 and if you want to talk you know my number
ATB
Terry:(

[Barry]

Jakki, Juzzer, thanks for the kind words.

Let me paint you a picture. 2002 out hunting with my girlfriend Janet and the Black Eagle. It was a screaming windy day, much to strong for anything else I was flying at that time, except the Golden which I did not fully trust. I put the verreaux up over a small hill not far from the A92 Dundee road. At first she was slow to go up, but eventually she lifted and pushed out over a valley in front of us. Jan and I walked back and forth across the hill for about an hour but lifted no game, the bird never seemed to be more than 100 yards to our left or right and always between around 400 and 800 feet up. Just for fun we thought we would go back to the Land Rover for a sandwich and a flask of tea. As we ate, she just stayed there, never a wingbeat and never any inclination to come down. After lunch we walked out again, and again she just shadowed our position on the hill. We saw not one item of game that day and the bird stayed up in the perfect postion for almost two hours. During that time we offered no food, nor called or whistled her. As the afternoon drew on we decided to call it a day. I offered her a rabbit back leg and she whiffled down to my fist, gave a single 'eeyip' and fed. No aggression, no mantling nothing. That was typical of this bird and taking lunch with her up while out with guests became commonplace. You could go to her on a kill bare handed, open her prize with never a risk of a foot or beak coming at your naked hand.
She was the most perfect eagle and I miss her too badly to bear.
Barry.

[AndyYounger]

i has to be said she was trully beautifull! a joy to watch fly.
Again sorry for you loss. You and Jan.

[Cobra]

.

Let me paint you a picture. .


And very nicely painted too, Barry.
Sincere condolences
Chris

[EagleMan]

This year Gathering of Eagles was, despite some dulling of numbers by avian flu worries, another success, but sadly tinged with massive personal sadness.
Only five eagles attended and the start of the week although brutally cold at night had us hawking in T-shirts at 3000 feet in brilliant sun, warm temperatures and absolutely no wind. My eagles are trained to wait on in strong wind so preference was given to Andrew Knowles-Brown and his Bonellis and Jeff McKnight with his male Golden Eagle. Andrew caught two white hares, sadly Jeff's bird although very loyal, had not figured out he could eat white things and did not take a hare.
My female Black Eagle, more buoyant than the Golden was flown early in the week but after landing and feeding on a deer gralloch on Wednesday afternoon was out of condition and a little off colour. She had taken one hare. The wind lifted very slightly as the week moved on although brilliant sun and warm temeratures prevailed. By Saturday 8 white hares were taken including three by my Golden, one by the Verreaux (Black Eagle). Non-eagles took a further three hares, all by my female HH.
The final hare taken from waiting on by my female golden was a true marvel, taking the hare in front of 9 guests from massive pitch and in an amost vertical stoop. Most people commented on the sound of her more than the sight.
Anyway, the loss.
After the gralloch feed the verreaux was a little off colour. She collapsed suddenly at 4am on Friday morning. I tubed her lectade, glucose and Baytril and she willing took a little minced hare. I could not not get any vet interested at the hour of the morning and the bird died in my arms at 06.15. Suspected at the moment is poison from the gralloch. I will post details of the post mortem.
The whole thing is brutal to me and I am ripped apart by the loss. This was the nicest bird I ever flew, the most awe inspiring and far better, more loyal and bonded than my or any other Golden I have see. She was a waiting on specialist and would go up to a spot for hours at the time. She took many hares and one roe deer which was not an intended quarry item. She was bred by JPJ and I had her from 9 months old at which point she was untouched. She would have been 10 this year. I loved her dearly and right now despite relying on falconry for my living, maintaining a team of 35 birds and having been active in falconry for 24 years I am contemplating quitting.
Barry.
well friends put some pics please , especialy for those of us who are located in other countries :supz:

[EagleMan]

especialy some pcs with the bonelli's:supz:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

well friends put some pics please , especialy for those of us who are located in other countries :supz:
I think he might have a little more on his mind than photos at the mo!

[Zam]

The whole thing is brutal to me and I am ripped apart by the loss. This was the nicest bird I ever flew, the most awe inspiring and far better, more loyal and bonded than my or any other Golden I have see. She was a waiting on specialist and would go up to a spot for hours at the time. She took many hares and one roe deer which was not an intended quarry item. She was bred by JPJ and I had her from 9 months old at which point she was untouched. She would have been 10 this year. I loved her dearly and right now despite relying on falconry for my living, maintaining a team of 35 birds and having been active in falconry for 24 years I am contemplating quitting.
Barry.

I do not know you - but you truly have my deepest sympathies. Everyones bird is special to them. But - at the risk of getting flamed by people - I think there is something utterly unique about the bond which can be attained with an eagle. They seem to understand your moods. They seem to be happy (sometimes!) just to sit beside you on a hillside. They appear to want to be with you - for companionship and not just food. I'm sure this is not true of all eagles. But when you have that particular relationship - it is unlike any other.

I am so sorry for your loss.:cry: Please don't give up falconry. There is another eagle out there for you. Not a "replacement" - but a new challenge

[EagleMan]

I think he might have a little more on his mind than photos at the mo!
so sorry man, i did nor read all your post, so sorry, have faith and don't give up falconry, so sorry again

[Barry]

Terry, Zam, Andy, everyone thanks for the kind words.

I have just looked at the Black eagle thread and frankly I wish I had not. The Black eagle is like a more loyal golden eagle with bigger feet and in my view more powerful. I may be wrong but my Black Eagle flew at 8lb 4ozs, my Golden flies at 10lb. If the black gripped up on the glove it was for sure a harder squeeze and penetration of talons on game was deeper. I am lucky enough to have been out with five Black eagles, and every one had a fantastically strong and touching bond with their falconer. The worst was better than the best Goldens I have seen. My Golden has taken 6 years to get her to her current state of training and I am 95% confident I will return home with her in my possession when I go hawking. The Black eagle was 100% in year 1. You can not imagine what she was like after 10 years.
The Golden eagle is a superb hunter, as have all those I have seen been. The Black however was more committed. If the Golden does not like something at the last moment she will, as every one I have see will, throw up into the air, maybe stooping back in, maybe raking off. The Verreaux, once committed never ever raked away.

In off the fist flights the Golden might just take a lead, but to my mind neither bird is being flown in its natural way nor to its full potential that way. These are high flying birds and should be flown waiting on. Many eagles I have seen fly off the fist better than mine, but few flew as well waiting on. People get scared when the bird goes up and just want to call it back. Let them be free. If you have done your work right they will still come back. You should be no more nervous with an eagle 1000 feet up, than a harris 1000 feet away sitting on a wall. 1000 feet is 1000 feet either way. You just need to make sure you are the centre of its world. I was the centre of my Black eagles world as I am with most of my birds. However the Black eagle was the only one who was the centre of my world too.
Sorry if that seems excessive, but this situation and loss has really ripped me apart and I suppose I am venting my thoughts and feelings here where I don't have to be embarrassed or ashamed of how I have been affected.

I hope none of you ever have this happen to you.
Barry.

[Dougie Mc]

Barry sorry to hear of your loss , there will be another eagle another challange

Hybred

[GM090158]

Sorry to hear of your loss, stay with it. You will regret quitting later, I have been there!!

[Barry]

Just a snap taken by Neil Doig last week on what turned out to be the Black Eagles last significant flight.

Barry.

[Jazz1]

Just read your post sorry M8 for your loss not met you yet but heard alot from Wayne(All Good) will see you sometime, Again sorry you must be gutted

[Barry]

Thanks Jazz,

Wayne is a good guy, he's working hard up there, I hope it works out for him. I used to live not too far from Newburgh, along by Parbroath crossroads.

Tell Wayne I said hello, don't see too much of him.

You probably know where we are. Drop in sometime and say hello.

Barry.

[Sparrie]

Here is some photos from the Eagle meet in Glenshee. I was only up for a couple of days at the start of the week and we didn't get right up the mountain. I don't have any of the birds flying as my camera isn't that great so here is some of the birds and scenery.

Gary

[Sparrie]

And a few more

[Jazz1]

Great pic's and nice view.
I believe a good week was had.
Gary

[PaulColley66]

Barry - I am new to this site and am not, and have not been the owner of any eagles or other bird of prey for that matter. However, I have a great love of the birds and despite my limited contact with them, they mean very much to me. I am deeply touched by the way you speak of your time with your lost eagle but have one thing to say to you: you must not give up your association with these birds. My lifestyle, responsibilities and other circumstances prevent me from doing more than spending days at falconry centres, photographing these beautiful birds. I feel privelleged to spend this time with them. Your contact with these creatures on a daily basis is something you must cherish and will look back fondly on and every day you experience this bond, you are living a life many of us can only dream of. I hope this doesn't sound patronising as it is heartfelt.
Regards - a novice who would love one day to have the experience you have each day.

Paul