Hawking on Landfill

[JupeSingh]

Hi,

I've just done a forum search re: landfill hawking and have read a few threads. However, I wanted to get people's thoughts about the viability of long-term landfill hawking.

For instance, if someone hasn't got the open land to fly at black stuff with longwings, could they happily hawk on landfill week-in, week-out? Advantages, disadvantages, issues etc....

I ask this question because I'm currently trying to identify all possibilities re: available land.

Ta.

Atma Singh

[Berkut]

I do a lot of hawking on landfill and it is great sport.You are able to get flights all year round but the very nature of the job will sometimes mean you have to wait around for your flights.Anyone who rubbishes it has never done it.

[SnakeHuts]

.Anyone who ""rubbishes"" it has never done it.


Neil was that a pun? play on words or an accident?:lol:

[TiercelMan]

[QUOTE=jupesingh;639795]Hi,

For instance, if someone hasn't got the open land to fly at black stuff with longwings, could they happily hawk on landfill week-in, week-out? Advantages, disadvantages, issues etc....

Great sport. There are some drawbacks in that there are normally projections, nets, and heavy machines on most landfills. I had the misfortune in one year of having two falcons killed, and one with a fracture. One killed hitting a projection, one hitting a gull head on, and the fractured wing by hitting a level stick. Also once or twice the falcons killed in the front of a compacter(huge machine for leveling rubbish), and I just managed to stop the driver on each occasion. But this was flying 5 days a week throughout the year.
The more successful you are also, the more difficult it is to get flights and the gulls learn it's a dangerous place to be.
But over all some excellent flights, the gulls don't take cover except in water, and it's free. With a bit of luck you'll even get paid!:lol:

[Tiny]

Having worked as a falconer on landfills for a few years, i would not recomend it at all to anyone. The hazards to the birds are many. They can catch birds who's live and feed constantly off the landfills, and they can be horribley diesased and sickly, also the nets pose a real danger but more deadly are the Gass Flares which are becoming more and more common. They use these to burn off the methane produced by the decaying rubbish. As they burn the methane they can produce electricity. The hazard from theses is that the methane burns with a clear flame from the top of the flare and the birds cant see it. They may try land on the top of the flare or fly through the flame.... i've seen the results of this first hand. its a horrible way for any animal to die.
If the Landfill is brurning off the methane produced... stay far far away from it

[TiercelMan]

Having worked as a falconer on landfills for a few years, i would not recomend it at all to anyone. The hazards to the birds are many. They can catch birds who's live and feed constantly off the landfills, and they can be horribley diesased and sickly, also the nets pose a real danger but more deadly are the Gass Flares which are becoming more and more common. They use these to burn off the methane produced by the decaying rubbish. As they burn the methane they can produce electricity. The hazard from theses is that the methane burns with a clear flame from the top of the flare and the birds cant see it. They may try land on the top of the flare or fly through the flame.... i've seen the results of this first hand. its a horrible way for any animal to die.
If the Landfill is brurning off the methane produced... stay far far away from it

You're right Tiny. I forgot to add that in my previous post. However there are still a few sites that don't burn off the methane. The other option is to try pig farms. They usually have a problem with gulls stealing the pig food

[Mark Collins]

Had falcons go through the methane burners on 3 occations, first one ,bird was badly burnt recoverd , but melted most of his feathers, it was windy, and he actually landed on the burner, how he wasnt killed i will never no, some sites are very dangerous, i have caught crows between 2 articulated lorries , the 2nd one had backed up alongside the first , and the falcon was between the 2, i used to have birds just for the tip and birds to be flown away from the site and i kept it like that, great flights lots of quarry but very hazadous, mark.

[Graham Irving]

You're right Tiny. I forgot to add that in my previous post. However there are still a few sites that don't burn off the methane. The other option is to try pig farms. They usually have a problem with gulls stealing the pig food

The problem with pig farms is the pigs, your hawks are on their menu!
Been there, seen it happen, got the T shirt as they say .................!
Graham

[JupeSingh]

Thanks for the replies.

So pig farms are no good due to the pigs and landfill sites where methane is burned-off are dangerous...

In terms of health risks to bops (and humans...?), any detailed comments, past experiences regarding landfill sites? Any illnesses you know were the direct result of the bird flying/feeding on quarry amongst landfill?

Shaun, any thoughts?

Ta.

[TiercelMan]

The problem with pig farms is the pigs, your hawks are on their menu!
Been there, seen it happen, got the T shirt as they say .................!
Graham

Must say Graham, I've had no problem at all with the pigs. The gulls feeding were all herring gulls, and because the pigs were so used to them battling with each other around their feet for food they were oblivious of the falcon killing or eating a gull and completely ignored them. Can't say your problem would never happen as it's a dangerous thing to say "never", but weighing up the odds, and I've killed loads of gulls on pig farms, I'd still fly on them. After all, every time a hawk is flown there's always a multitude of potential risks. It's a matter of assessing the odds.

[CloakDaggerTiercel]

I do a lot of hawking on landfill and it is great sport.You are able to get flights all year round but the very nature of the job will sometimes mean you have to wait around for your flights.Anyone who rubbishes it has never done it.


Neil, Stop talking garbage:yawinkle:
sorry

[Tiny]

Thanks for the replies.

So pig farms are no good due to the pigs and landfill sites where methane is burned-off are dangerous...

In terms of health risks to bops (and humans...?), any detailed comments, past experiences regarding landfill sites? Any illnesses you know were the direct result of the bird flying/feeding on quarry amongst landfill?

Shaun, any thoughts?

Ta.

We had one peregrine die suddenly after being flown on the landfill.. she was fine during the day and went down hill suddenly in the evening.. she was dead by eight that night. The only thing we can put it down to was the landfill. We always robbed the kill off them if they killed on the landfill or surrounding area's. She had killed a rook that day, but it was taken off her quickly and subsituted for chicks......we dont know what happend,
As for humans... dont fall, if you get cut, no matter how small, get it treated.. and make sure your tetnus shots are up to date.
To my mind.. ( in most cases )landfill falconry is just not worth the risks

Niall

[Hacker]

You will not be able to just turn up and hawk a landfill.
Any decent landfill will want to give you an induction before allowing you onto their site and ensure you are aware and heed all safety issues as well as having your own PPE and most will want to see your PL insurance.
In your area there is a limited amount of landfill`s and 1 you will not be able to fly at because of it`s proximity to heathrow another at Colnbrook has a birdcontroller as well as the two others that are under contract to NBC.
You would be better off spending your time knocking on farmers doors and offering your services.

[Hacker]

Or even get a job as a bird controller then you will have all the flying you will want and more..

[JupeSingh]

Richard, thanks for 'a very relevant reply'. :yawinkle: Landfill sounds like a lot of hassle...logistics, safety and more. Being a bird controller sounds seriously cool :supz:. Dreams - where would i be without them...

What are your thoughts regarding pig farms; there are a couple not so very far away from me...may be you've had a peak at them. Worth me taking a look...gulls...crows...maybe?

Re: farmland, spotted around 5,000 acres worth - was going to take a look today but mrs was ill. Will take a look next weekend and see if suitable e.g. cover, roads, telegraph poles etc. The view from Google Earth looks promising...

The way I'm looking at it, my first priority is confirming suitable land before anything else. No point setting my heart on a course, bird etc before it begins to get sorted.

I'm going along to Marlow (BHA) tommorrow night - looking forward to it...thats my plan at the moment - I'm reading, looking at land and hope to regularly attend the BHA meeting.

[Hacker]

There should be members there that can give you an insight into hawking in the area, myself i do not do any recreational hawking in that area but just be aware of pig farms as i had a harris that was on the menue of the resident sow until i intervened.
Pigs like a tasty meat addition to there diet so be very careful!
A crow or gull will take flight if a pig gets to close but a bird on it`s kill makes for easy pickings for the pigs.