Your opinions

[Palmer]

Your opinons please.
A 5 year old bird that has been flown for a year of its life, its a gyr/sakar, I believe its 2.4lbs a little tatty.

Would it turn out ok?

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

depends on the birds, depends on the handeler, depends on what has been done with the bird previously.

[Palmer]

depends on the birds, depends on the handeler, depends on what has been done with the bird previously.

Flown to lure last year, but was rather lazy, the handler would me me if i said yes to having it, it is sat in a aviary for the meanwhile.

[Graham Stuart]

You will never know till you give it a go and put the time in ans see what the results are, would you be able to get the bird on loan for a few weeks too see what its like....graham

[Goshawker 20]

Leave alone mate specially if it would be one of your first falcons start with a blank canvass:!:

All the best

Rob Speakman

[Dean]

Leave alone mate specially if it would be one of your first falcons start with a blank canvass:!:

All the best

Rob Speakman
bang on
:supz:

[Matthew Patching]

leave well alone, If it didnt get flown in its first year it will never get properly fit, as it wont have gained its wind while it was still young.

[MattSpar]

You have to ask yourself, do you want to give up a good bit of the season with a bird which may, or may not be any good after all the work you put into it.

It's a gamble, and personally, I wouldn't want to risk losing a season's flying for the sake of a second rate hawk, but no-one can tell you what to do. It's up to you of course.

If you do decide to give it a go, I'm sure everyone on here will be interested in some regular updates, and the best of luck.

[Berkut]

I agree with the above but it depends on the time you have and the price.
The only real reason to try it would be for the sake of the bird.

[Falconer1000]

is it clives bird?
if so i doubt it's ever really been flow that much,
if it's going to be your first falcon start with a fresh bird.
you don't want someone else's mistakes to contend with as well,

[Palmer]

is it clives bird?
if so i doubt it's ever really been flow that much,
if it's going to be your first falcon start with a fresh bird.
you don't want someone else's mistakes to contend with as well,

Ye ait is and he baught it off some t*** that just kept them teatherd for all there lives.

I understand with what you are all saying, i think i will wait untill i have enough cash for a fledgling.

What would you advise getting?

[Palmer]

I was thinking about a kes, but they dont catch anything.

[Falconer1000]

Ye ait is and he baught it off some t*** that just kept them teatherd for all there lives.

I understand with what you are all saying, i think i will wait untill i have enough cash for a fledgling.

What would you advise getting?

i usume you mean malcome ? i used do do archery with him and if it is then your right the time i knew him i don't think he flew any birds even though he did have an impressive collection female tawney eagel, brooki's, hawk owls
ect.
i may be able to sort you out with a lanner next season but there are other options you don't want a kes get a hunting falcon or atleast one that stands a fair chance, let's see how you get on with me and steve this season your see plenty of falcon flying and get a good idea of what suit's you.

[Hound]

i say the same as every one else keep walking

[BFC 007]

Ed,dont get a Falcon until you have passed your driving test,otherwise its lost.

[Palmer]

All has been taken in, lol james it was you and steve that made me want a falcon again. And again i dont want to tred on your toes with the job thing.

BFC i am getting my 50 motorbike license in march, i was thinking that would be ok to get me to where he goes, my dad would then come and pick him up as he is retired.

[Goshawker 20]

Without trying to sound smart bfc is right you need a car to find a bird well it will make it alot easier plus to get around to ground that holds plenty of quarry which is wat makes a good falcon. But im glad you decided to get a fresh bird and the offer of a lanner is a good first choice get a lannerett have fun flying him and do a bit of hedge row bashing :yawinkle:

All the best

Rob Speakman

ps my first bird was a lanner/lugger and he was a cracker set me up for life:supz:

[Palmer]

Without trying to sound smart bfc is right you need a car to find a bird well it will make it alot easier plus to get around to ground that holds plenty of quarry which is wat makes a good falcon. But im glad you decided to get a fresh bird and the offer of a lanner is a good first choice get a lannerett have fun flying him and do a bit of hedge row bashing :yawinkle:

All the best

Rob Speakman

ps my first bird was a lanner/lugger and he was a cracker set me up for life:supz:


Thanks alot for the advice mate

[SeagulBasher]

everone is spot on
dont bother i've got one that was'nt flown for the first two years of its life and i try'd to turn it around may as well have just banged my head against the wall you just car'nt get them fit enough 3or4 passes to the lure and thats it not worth it you could put in hours and hours and be put off flying falcons for life
go for a fresh one:supz:

[Palmer]

everone is spot on
dont bother i've got one that was'nt flown for the first two years of its life and i try'd to turn it around may as well have just banged my head against the wall you just car'nt get them fit enough 3or4 passes to the lure and thats it not worth it you could put in hours and hours and be put off flying falcons for life
go for a fresh one:supz:

Cheers mate i have desided this, depending on my sercumstances next breeding season

[MitchellBrad]

You have to ask yourself, do you want to give up a good bit of the season with a bird which may, or may not be any good after all the work you put into it.

It's a gamble, and personally, I wouldn't want to risk losing a season's flying for the sake of a second rate hawk, but no-one can tell you what to do. It's up to you of course.

If you do decide to give it a go, I'm sure everyone on here will be interested in some regular updates, and the best of luck.

I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Matt. Spot on Matt!!!! And I marked it on the calendar:yawinkle:

If you like a challange then go for it but don't be disappointed if it goes to Hell in a handbasket. One of the best tiercels I flew was a hand me down that today I wouldn't go near. Back then he was the only game in town and was a wonderful bird.

Brad

[MattSpar]

I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Matt. Spot on Matt!!!! And I marked it on the calendar:yawinkle:


I've just looked outside at the moon. It's definitely blue.

[Lurcer]

From my experiance of buying a female harris that had been sat idle for 5 years, id leave it well alone, they almost become untrainable as they know that the food will always come through the door at the end of the day, it ruins a bird when it is keapt free lofted with no attention for a long time, it becomes complacent, and very territorial over its avuary space, no matter if you change its avuary or not, they will not want to come out on their own accord, if i remember rightly i droped the harris' wieght as low as i could and she still wouldnt come out on her own, and when out in the field, she was a very lazy bird, just sat and soaked up the sun........
may have just been my bird, who knows, but from my experiance leave it where it is......
stu

[DeniseTail]

I was thinking about a kes, but they dont catch anything.

If they don't catch anything how do they eat?:roll: In the States an apprentice can only have either a Red Tail or a Kestrel as a first bird.

Regardless of whatever bird you choose your first priority should be to care for it, not worry about it catching, or you will be just as irresponsible as the guy who as the gry/saker!

Ok... I'm done preaching... sorry! It just makes me mad that someone would use these bird as collection pieces. Birds should remain free, or unbred, if they are just going to be tied up to look at. :x

[Puzo]

It would be far better to obtain a falcon of the year from a breeder you trust. You dont know what these birds have been through. You coulod be making a rod for your own back.A bird should get as much flying hunting experience in it's first year when it is at the apex of it's learning capabilities & has developed it's wind. But having said this if you feel you have the requisite experience & time to devote to such a bird to give such a bird the time & understanding it needs to develop it's or as near to it's full potential as is possible, then go for it but go with both eyes open. Know just what you're getting yourself into!!

[Palmer]

If they don't catch anything how do they eat?:roll: In the States an apprentice can only have either a Red Tail or a Kestrel as a first bird.

Regardless of whatever bird you choose your first priority should be to care for it, not worry about it catching, or you will be just as irresponsible as the guy who as the gry/saker!

Ok... I'm done preaching... sorry! It just makes me mad that someone would use these bird as collection pieces. Birds should remain free, or unbred, if they are just going to be tied up to look at. :x

I agree thats why i was thinking about it. you should have seen the state it was in when i first see it, must of had 2 1/2 tail feathers
American kestrals i know you can use them to catch starlings etc but with a british one they are not so good. I have a few people asking me to do displays with a falcon but i have none lol, and the people are big land owners and know alot of people, a kes seemed a good bird to think about because they are exellant to a lure

[Goshawker 20]

I wouldn't go with a kes mate they are very deliteful bird's but not really a great choice for a first falcon they really are tiny things weight wise. Much better to go with a lanner or lugger or even a saker at least when you get bored of flying it to the lure and you will you can have a bash at starlings moggies blackbirds even rooks! Any of the above make a great stepping stone to the ultimate a peregrine:supz:

All the best

Rob Speakman

[Palmer]

I wouldn't go with a kes mate they are very deliteful bird's but not really a great choice for a first falcon they really are tiny things weight wise. Much better to go with a lanner or lugger or even a saker at least when you get bored of flying it to the lure and you will you can have a bash at starlings moggies blackbirds even rooks! Any of the above make a great stepping stone to the ultimate a peregrine:supz:

All the best

Rob Speakman

Quality mate

[MattSpar]

If they don't catch anything how do they eat

Our Euopean kestrel is a very different job to your American one.

[DeniseTail]

Where I live is in a migratory path and I've seen lots of kestral over the past few months. They don't seem that small of a bird. Being a novice, I must ask: What is the difference (other than apparently size according to these posts) between the two? Why are they both called kestrals if they are different birds? :rolleyes:

[DeniseTail]

I agree thats why i was thinking about it. you should have seen the state it was in when i first see it, must of had 2 1/2 tail feathers

Ed - Take the bird! Give it a good home!:goodman:

[Matthew Patching]

they are both from the genus falco the american kestrel was originaly called the american sparrowhawk, by the first europeans that came over,( proberbly because of there more varatious behaviour, but more likely because the 'ornathologists' didnt know what they were looking at, hence the term buzzards for vultures) American kestrels are tiny , males weighing less than 100g have been recorded, our common or european kestrels are almost twice the size but in habits are more small mammal hunters, so behave very differently than american kestrels. Whilst ours do catch songbirds, they have developed methods, (and eyesight) that lends them towards vole and mouse hunting existences.

[Palmer]

Ed - Take the bird! Give it a good home!:goodman:

Falconer1000 may be buying it off of him and then using it for breeding