Lost Gyr

[MitchellBrad]

Tonight we flew Stanley about an hour before dark. A few pheasants landed in the grass, released both dog and falcon. The dog was having a hard time finding scent. It was cool, around 0C with around a 15 mph wind. Stanley began to climb and climb and climb. Before she started into her stoop at something off in the distance I bet she was at least 2,000 feet. You folks have no idea how fast a gyr is from that height doing a 45 degree stoop. It has to be seen to be believed. Hopped into the truck and drove to the nearest high spot. Off in the distance Stanley was returning several thousand feet in the air when I stepped on the only 4 sharptails in Codington County. They had one heck of a head start and angled towards the west to a farm house with trees more than a mile away. Stanley was cutting through the sky, something to be seen to be believed!!! Then they were over a hill and out of sight. The next time we got a signal it wasn't from the West where she'd gone, it came from an ENE direction. We drove trying to keep up with her as she headed for huge flocks of snow geese and Canadas. After a few minutes the signal got weak then quit. We drove around a bit and got nothing. Pete and I went to Pete's place then I left in my truck towards home. Dashed into the house, told Katy and the wife I wouldn't be going to dinner with them until I found Stanley then left. Got gas at the casino and headed towards the last place I'd gotten a signal. Nothing!!!!!!!!! I drove to the highest spot I could find a couple of miles from there and got an almost inaudable chirp on the receiver. Gunned the truck and drove towards the chirp. I stopped about a mile further and got a couple of more chirps. Found a road heading W and began to hear the most welcome chirping from my receiver. I continued W as the chirps got louder and louder. When I thought I had it narrowed down I got out of the truck by a small grove of trees. Redtails always nest in the dead tree. Loud chirps. Even though I tried to aim the truck's lights into the grove I couldn't find her so off to Pete's I went. Got Pete and his high powerful torch then back we went to find Stanley. In time we found her half way up a cottonwood nestled against the truck sporting a full gorge. Nothing we did would bring her down. Soooooo up at 0530, do chores and off to try to recover Stanley armed with pigeons and a pheasant. Wish me luck.

I'm telling you folks something I have seen with Stanley. Watching a wild hunting gyr fly is a treat of a lifetime. What she can do is beyond any peregrine or hybrid I've seen. It's a wild, uncontrolled roller coaster ride to fly one of these birds. Whether I recover Stanley or not this ride has been the best of my life. This is nail biting falconry, not some mundane controlled thing.

I was also thinking to myself about those who don't live out here. All the roads look the same during the day and they must look desolate at night. When I found Stanley there wasn't a light to be seen, nothing but dark. It doesn't really mean much to me because I know this place and the country. Know almost every road for ten miles around but to be stuck out here and not knowing if you head east or west you'll eventually find a paved road. Of course in the dark how could one know east from west. Personally I feel very comfortable about this but for the stranger used to signs, lights and all the comforts it must be scarey to go down a road where nothing, not even a light is visable. Gotta love SD

Brad

[Hacker]

Brad,
A horrible feeling when you lose the signal!
But you persevered and located her so best luck in the morning and hope you retrieve her.
She sounds one powerful falcon.

[SeagulBasher]

good luck hope you recover stanly tomorrow:prayer: :prayer:

[MitchellBrad]

Brad,
A horrible feeling when you lose the signal!
But you persevered and located her so best luck in the morning and hope you retrieve her.
She sounds one powerful falcon.

I ain't sleeping tonight:( She's about 5 miles from where I last saw her chasing that grouse, might run up there to see how the old gal is doing.

Out here we sometimes lose the signal or get bounces, false signals due to the region was glacial which means a lot of big rocks. I'm guessing she caught either a goose or a duck on one of the big lakes. She doesn't look dirty so she didn't tussle with it in any water. She also has flown down ducks before in tailchases. Put her up to hawk upland and she saw a duck flying along and flew it down.

She is a very powerful falcon considering she's an intermewed passage gyr it is to be expected.

I'm telling ya when that falcon turned on she went at check just like the wild gyrs I see fly. It's always been heart pounding ever since I've had her. To me this is what falconry is all about though I know a lot of falconers who would scoff at the idea of a gyr as a speck in the sky scooting across the sky as only a gyr can. Only lost her a couple of times before but never out at night.

Brad

[Mark Holder]

Waiting with with baited breath Brad, i wish you well

Mark.

[MitchellBrad]

Waiting with with baited breath Brad, i wish you well

Mark.

I just went and checked her Mark. She's only about 7 miles from my house, by road. Closer as the gyr flys. She's still there and not hootered so that's a plus. Hope these finger nails grow back.

There is a huge lake about a mile from where I found here. What she's doing is pretty typical gyr. Kill and go set about a mile from the food, digest and have at it again. I've got to get there early otherwise she'll make another kill then I'm afraid I'll have to trap her.

I up and lost her hood in all the excitement. I've got 3 others that might fit her. It seems when these things happen everything goes haywire.

Brad

[Mark Holder]

[
There is a huge lake about a mile from where I found here. What she's doing is pretty typical gyr. Kill and go set about a mile from the food, digest and have at it again. I've got to get there early otherwise she'll make another kill then I'm afraid I'll have to trap her.

I up and lost her hood in all the excitement. I've got 3 others that might fit her. It seems when these things happen everything goes haywire.

Brad[/QUOTE]

Wish i was there to give you a bit of moral support Brad, good luck and keep us posted.

Mark.

[MitchellBrad]

Wish i was there to give you a bit of moral support Brad, good luck and keep us posted.

Mark.[/quote]

Thanks Mark. You'll be the first to know. Jeesh I'm tired and am so wired I can't shut my eyes. Brandy and coffee don't mix very well:) Tomorrow is going to be a miserable day even if I get her back right away.

Brad

[CanadaManada]

See, Brad, what I like about you is there isn't a singel ounce of fakness in your body. You're out there, flying a gyr at dusk, when most would be scared to let it out of the mews for fear of its loss.
Not only that, but you'll do everything possible to get it back, and if it is possible, you will get her back, even if you have to trap her.
Good luck. I guess you'll be heading out in a couple hours.

I know what you mean about those lonely roads. Back home in Newfoundland, you can see every star in the sky and put your foot in a place maybe no man ever has. Nobody can imagine how much you come to miss that, living in Japan.

[Dude]

I wish luck for ya m8!

[Big JoeJoe]

Good luck Brad.

[Pogger]

Good luck Brad. Hope you get that big sassy lady back. Be thinking of you. :D

[DeadDogs]

Sincerely all the best Brad,fingers crossed for ya.

[Kentish Falconry]

Best of luck with the recovery Brad, I am sure if anyone can get Stanley back it is you.
I will be sitting here now with bated breath awaiting your next post that I hope will be to say you are back home with Stanley.
Terry

[GameHawker]

Good luck Brad I spent a cold night in my truck last weekend.

All the best and a save recovery.

Carl

[GyrXPeales]

Brad you and Stanley have been in our prayers tonight. But you'll get her back. You've shown your quality as you always do. Sad to say too many "falconers" wouldn't have taken time to get her pinned down after it got dark. It's a good example you've set, if you've got a signal follow it up until you find the bird. If you don't have a signal rent a plane and go up until you get a signal.
I know you love that bird Brad, but she'll probably give you a good cussing for leaving her out like that. They always seem to think that you stuffed that duck down their gapes, put them in the tree, and left them out for the night. You should expect the sound of a ****ed off Gyr at first light.
All my prayers Brad,
Jeff

[TiercelJim]

good luck brad, hope you get her back ok so you can get back out and see some more gyr action!!

[MitchellBrad]

Best of luck with the recovery Brad, I am sure if anyone can get Stanley back it is you.
I will be sitting here now with bated breath awaiting your next post that I hope will be to say you are back home with Stanley.
Terry

Well guys I got her back. Didn't hardly sleep a wink last night. At one time I looked at the clock, went back to sleep and woke up. The numbers hadn't changed. Did early, really early, chores. Gathered up everything I could think of to entice a cropped up gyr back and left. It's cold, well not that cold for SD but cold enough. Drove to the tree and waited for sun up. She was still in it so between listening to the radio and occasionally tweaking the receiver all seem OK. When I'm cold or nervous the fingers don't work. I drop things. Had a good supply of jesses with me to slip through the cuffs just in case I ended up with a small pile on the ground. There was nothing I could do but wait and wait I did listening to the "oldies station" out of Millbank. My first thought was if necessity arose I hope I had some toilet paper:yawinkle: None in the truck. This could be a long day. As the sun began to rise I flipped the lure, nothing!!! So I had to use something more enticing for her. When the gyr hit it she started to chitter and jumped off it as I approached her. She still had a golf ball sized crop on her. Each time I approached her she stepped off and began to complain. After 40+ yrs of flying hawks and falcons this isn't the first time this has happened but each time it does I always get chills down my spine. So I had to belly and let her break in. Then I was able to belly up to her. All sorts of things go through your mind when your doing this. The worst was a vehicle coming down the road. I'd seen one earlier. Several decades ago I'd caught a tundra falcon underneath a pink blanket. The old timers said to slowly grasp one leg, I practically enveloped the poor falcon. So with this nervous gyr on my fist I had the same thoughts especially since I was having a terrible time getting that jess on. Maybe the cuff will break? It's stuff like this that I think of. So while she ate I did keep a my thumb and index finger around the left leg, insurance. Finially got the jesses through. Hooded her and hopped into the truck.

I'd left my portable perch at Pete's so Stanley rode home on my fist with the window partially down. Heat was on full and Roy Orberston singing to us.

When I got to the house I had the horror of my day. She'd shredded the antenna on the powermax. This was one lucky recovery.

Brad

[Pogger]

Well done Brad! I'm so pleased for you. Now I can get on with things without thinking about missing gyrs. :D

[MitchellBrad]

Brad you and Stanley have been in our prayers tonight. But you'll get her back. You've shown your quality as you always do. Sad to say too many "falconers" wouldn't have taken time to get her pinned down after it got dark. It's a good example you've set, if you've got a signal follow it up until you find the bird. If you don't have a signal rent a plane and go up until you get a signal.
I know you love that bird Brad, but she'll probably give you a good cussing for leaving her out like that. They always seem to think that you stuffed that duck down their gapes, put them in the tree, and left them out for the night. You should expect the sound of a ****ed off Gyr at first light.
All my prayers Brad,
Jeff

Jeff, thanks! Any falconer who wouldn't or didn't intend on staying up all night long to track a lost bird isn't a falconer in my mind. All things cease when a bird is lost so the bird can be recovered. I would have rented a plane if I hadn't gotten her back, goes without saying. She did have her way with me this morning. I bet if someone else had been along they would have heard the thumping from the truck.

Brad

[Kentish Falconry]

Great news Brad I am over the moon for you.
Good job you got her before she moved on as you would never have tracked her without the antenna
Great end to the story M8
Terry :supz: :supz:

[MitchellBrad]

good luck brad, hope you get her back ok so you can get back out and see some more gyr action!!

I want to thank everyone who posted. I've lost this gyr before, part of the program I guess. If she hasn't killed she will come down to the lure or fist in the headlights.

Yesterday and last night was a wild ride. But if you want to practice falconry the way I do this happens. There is no sense in having a bird if you don't fly it especially a passager. They aren't good for anything else. I'll be back at it again in a day or two. Now I'm going to try to figure out what she caught.

A while back, not this season, she did something like this. We found her eating a mallard. My partner told me, "Lets go home. I don't think my heart can handle anymore excitement this day,"

Got her back, that's all that matters.

Brad

[MitchellBrad]

Great news Brad I am over the moon for you.
Good job you got her before she moved on as you would never have tracked her without the antenna
Great end to the story M8
Terry :supz: :supz:

No **** Terry!!!

That was some pretty wild flying yesterday. Shows ya what a gyr can do and do and do. I'm gonna call Pete and ask him if he wants to go hawking today. I should get an ear full from him:)

Brad

[Kentish Falconry]

No **** Terry!!!

That was some pretty wild flying yesterday. Shows ya what a gyr can do and do and do. I'm gonna call Pete and ask him if he wants to go hawking today. I should get an ear full from him:)

Brad

PMSL Brad even you are not that brave M8
Be lucky (Too late you already are :lol: )
Terry

[MitchellBrad]

See, Brad, what I like about you is there isn't a singel ounce of fakness in your body. You're out there, flying a gyr at dusk, when most would be scared to let it out of the mews for fear of its loss.
Not only that, but you'll do everything possible to get it back, and if it is possible, you will get her back, even if you have to trap her.
Good luck. I guess you'll be heading out in a couple hours.

I know what you mean about those lonely roads. Back home in Newfoundland, you can see every star in the sky and put your foot in a place maybe no man ever has. Nobody can imagine how much you come to miss that, living in Japan.

Thanks, I appreciate that. If you want to practice falconry you have to get out there and do it. I hope you get back to your native Newfoundland soon. Nothing beats a clear sky with every star twinkling. Nothing beats the Northern Lights either. We get them here but without the color.

Brad

[Natch]

help for u :D

[Morientes]

that´s great Brad, i´m so happy for you!!

Some time ago i was helping out a person who lost his FRT, it was flying in the same area for 3 days but wouldn´t come down. So frustrating!!

After those 3 days he had the chance to really grab her out of a small tree while he was falling down. So smashed to the ground INCLUDED his FRT.
Both were not hurt , but i will never forget the look on his face!!:grin:

I am glad that i don´t know the feeling of losing a bird, but i can imagine very well how it can make you going insane.
And then the stories without happy ending...:cry:


Patrick

[FlameHairedFalconer]

Pleased you got her back Brad :D

FHF

[MitchellBrad]

Pleased you got her back Brad :D

FHF

Thanks. So ends the second chapter of her Great Escape. The first time she didn't spend the night out but it was longer and more involved.

Brad

[SeagulBasher]

well done mate glad you've got her back :supz: :supz:

[DeadDogs]

Really pleased all has ended well.

[Dude]

:):):)

[GyrXPeales]

Just got back from hunting the birds, and as usual you put a smile on my face. Give that bird a kiss for me!
Couldn't be happier for you Brad.:supz: :supz:
ATB,
Jeff

[Kentish Falconry]

Just got back from hunting the birds, and as usual you put a smile on my face. Give that bird a kiss for me!
Couldn't be happier for you Brad.:supz: :supz:
ATB,
Jeff

Jeff
If your wife finds out you want to kiss other birds M8 you will be in deep Sh*t

Hope you had a good trip back from NAFA
Terry

[GyrXPeales]

Jeff
If your wife finds out you want to kiss other birds M8 you will be in deep Sh*t

Hope you had a good trip back from NAFA
Terry

Terry, Kim is used to me kissing all my birds, she gives them a little peck sometimes too. That would be so much more fun if they weren't "actual freakin birds"LOL.
The trip back was good although I would have liked to stay awhile longer. Saw load of Red-Tails, Harlans, Bald Eagles, Prairie Falcons, Merlins and Kestrels on the way home.
We did have one funny thing happen on the way home. About 10 miles east of Kearney, we had a Jake Turkey run hell bent right in front of us across I-80. Now keep in mind this was Thanksgiving morning, and the traditional dinner in the states is Turkey on Thanksgiving. You could just hear that bird saying "Not This Year Suckers". It occurred to me that Brad Mitchell might have been lurking in the tall grass on the side of the road launching that bird in front of us just to make me laugh. I didn't see Brad but I laughed so hard I literally pulled off on the side of the road.
Have a good evening Terry.
My best as always,
Jeff

[Falconry Equipment International]

Brad sorry I HAVENT BEEN IN TOUCH FOR A LONG WHILE( soz hit caps lock:oops: ) sorry to hear about your loss, if anyone can retreive a hawk you can;) hope this is shortly followed by your post of successfuly getting her back. BTW I finaly read your email yu sent me several months ago, interesting read and yes you definately should carry in wrinting @!!! HTH

[Falconry Equipment International]

:roll: :roll: Hi b rad Think there is a serious time lag, just posted my reply to have sveral answers pop up inc your successful recovery of Stanley, real pleased for ya my friend:goodman: BTW do you have skype? if not pm me you no and I will call you next week

[MitchellBrad]

:roll: :roll: Hi b rad Think there is a serious time lag, just posted my reply to have sveral answers pop up inc your successful recovery of Stanley, real pleased for ya my friend:goodman: BTW do you have skype? if not pm me you no and I will call you next week

Hey Julian. I don't know what skype is so I guess I don't have it. Thanks for the comment. No hawkie for this boy today. I'm beat. It's a great day, no wind, clouds so I can see the gyr:rolleyes: and a little below freezing.

Check your PM, I'll send something in a bit.

Brad

[TiercelJim]

Pleased for you brad! its a pain in the ass tracking a bird down espiecally as darkness falls but It certainly gives falconry another dimension part of it all i suppose,after all every time you turn up at your hawking ground youve got a blank page infront of you!anything could happen!adds to the buzz I reckon.
jim.

[Hacker]

Brad,
just got back from this morning and my last post m8!
well pleased for you and the bird, a result, keeps the heart pumping eh!

[MitchellBrad]

Pleased for you brad! its a pain in the ass tracking a bird down espiecally as darkness falls but It certainly gives falconry another dimension part of it all i suppose,after all every time you turn up at your hawking ground youve got a blank page infront of you!anything could happen!adds to the buzz I reckon.
jim.

Certainly it helps to be proficient with your telemetry and to know each and every transmitter. Including their capabilities. If it weren't for owls night tracking wouldn't so bad. Something about the evening I guess.

I talked to Pete a little while ago. At around 8 pm he stepped out on the porch and got a good signal about 8 or 10 miles away. At midnight he couldn't get a signal so somewhere between 8 and 12pm she pulled the antenna off.

And when I mentioned if he wanted to go hawking today he told me I was nuts.

Brad

[TiercelJim]

Not nuts brad just a falconer!!:D

[MitchellBrad]

Not nuts brad just a falconer!!:D

Oh yea!!!

Brad