Anyone flown a Bateleur before?

[Bellicosus]

Hello everyone. Have got a contact who's interested in trading a sub- adult Bateleur for my IEO.
I don't know much except their distribution, ther 'tailess' appearance and their capabilities of killing large game in the wild.
Anyone here with experience of flying one?

[Jamaicensis]

I've flown one in a display a few years back, and the small tail is no advantage i can tell you. They are very good flyers high up in the sky soaring, but from the fist they can hardly fly straight at all. Nerver tried Bibo at game though. Maybe someone here on the forum has som experience flying them at game.

Tobi

[Wingless]

They are useless at flying game 9ive never tried but i can assure you they are!) and are probably one of the most efficient carrion eating eagles. As has been said they will soar very well, especially in hot weather. One bird i used to fly was lost numerous times because it would find dead rabbits, pieces of unknown dead animals and he was once found walking through the middle of someones picnic on a golf course, trying to get the sandwiches! :rolleyes: They are normally naturally tame (ive handled only one that wasn't). All in all, great birds for demos, rubbish birds for falconry.

[Wingless]

here is a pic of a juvenile on his way down.

[EagleMan]

Tottaly useless bird..
Unless you wat to hunt small rats or small lizards and insect!

[Bellicosus]

Nice pic. Thanks for the info guys. But they look so pretty, that it would be a waste to pass off on one. Anyone has success with doind something with them?

[Wingless]

Here is a good example of what your likely to catch, a rotten bit of spine.

[MusketMad]

Here is a good example of what your likely to catch, a rotten bit of spine.ha ha ha batty ....that thing used to **** off everytime there was a bit of sunshine....that bird was killed ...some idiot squashed it in the road and left it for dead ...terrible day for us that was ....still have charlie though

[MusketMad]

als got a new one aswell now robbie ...its called NIGEL CHRIS NAMED IT COS HE SAID ITS GREEDY HE HE HE

[Bellicosus]

So, what do u do with your bateleur musket?

[Bellicosus]

That quite didn't come out well. Sorry.
I mean how do u fly him or what do u work him to? Are they good to fly out from boxes? Or from a high perch down to the fist?

[MusketMad]

So, what do u do with your bateleur musket?
its not mine ..i used to fly it in display at the centre i worked at...they have two one is a youngster the other an adult male

[HawkMom]

I remember an article in an old Hawk Chalk about hunting road kills with a vulture. It was very funny, especially about the falconer's 'hood' (gas mask).

[MusketMad]

That quite didn't come out well. Sorry.
I mean how do u fly him or what do u work him to? Are they good to fly out from boxes? Or from a high perch down to the fist?
bateluers are great flyers mate ...the one in robbies photo(wingless)was a brilliant bird would easy go up 2000ft + on a sunny day

[Bellicosus]

2000ft+? WOW!!!
It would be a real challenge to fly one to that height, let alone getting it back!

[MarkOfReading]

good at snakes, good at soaring.

[Dr. David Glynne Fox]

Hi,
I flew a female Bateleur in the 1960's, she was called Bagheera, or Baggy for short. A lovely very friendly bird which liked its nape tickled.
Like others on this thread, I too tried Baggy at quarry but with little success. Interestingly though, when she came in from a high stoop she would cant from side to side and reach a reasonable speed before slamming on the brakes. Another interesting aspect was that she could change the colour of her bare facial lores and feet from pale yellow to blood red at will. Someone once told me that this was due to her mood at the time. This may well be true, but how does one explain the fact that she often perched with one foot bright red and the other yellow!! Split personality or what.
Like any other bird, the secret is total perseverence, but you will have your work cut out. Keep trying lots of lure work, I never did enough of it, but then I had a female Berkut to contend with at the time.
Hope this helps.
David

[Java Falconer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS8CZnW88k4&mode=related&search=

This video really shows that Bateleurs are good fliers, despite their very short tails.

[Lee Brindley]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS8CZnW88k4&mode=related&search=

This video really shows that Bateleurs are good fliers, despite their very short tails.


What do you mean 'despite their short tails'? Everyone seams to talk about this like it's their handicap. Nature does not make mistakes like that. The short tail reduces drag and allows low energy consumption gliding. OK Its no good for twisting and turning through a wood, but Bateleurs are evolved perfectly for the 'job' intended.

[MusketMad]

What do you mean 'despite their short tails'? Everyone seams to talk about this like it's their handicap. Nature does not make mistakes like that. The short tail reduces drag and allows low energy consumption gliding. OK Its no good for twisting and turning through a wood, but Bateleurs are evolved perfectly for the 'job' intended.ALSO HAS ANOTHER PURPOSE ..YOU WOULD WANT A LONG TAIL IF YOU SPENT TIME WALKING AROUND ON THE FLOOR LOOKING FOR SNAKES

[Java Falconer]

What do you mean 'despite their short tails'? Everyone seams to talk about this like it's their handicap. Nature does not make mistakes like that. The short tail reduces drag and allows low energy consumption gliding. OK Its no good for twisting and turning through a wood, but Bateleurs are evolved perfectly for the 'job' intended.

Indeed, I said it because I want to make people impressed by their flying ability, not just underestimate them because of their very short tail.
I'm sure they have evolved that way, as nature made them to adapt their life.

[Bellicosus]

Very true, a long tail would be a hindrance to walking on the ground when looking for snakes. But their diet consists of a far larger percentage pf carrion rather than snakes from what i've read(i don't believe everything i read by the way).
Carrion as a substantial diet might be why they are biologically closer related to vultures than other raptors; or the othe other way around.

[phoenix123]

you should fly it against game birds because thats a big part of their diet in the wild. you should also try to get its secondaries nice and long because ffrom what ive heard they steer with those.

[Bellicosus]

Thanks, but after much discussion, we've decided not to get him.