Prairies

[Athene]

Excellent hunting birds, they are said to be a nightmare for the owner. I haven't found anyone in Spain that flies them, so I would like to know more about them. Also, have you flown them at fur? I've heard they are quite good at it. Maybe I try it for myself next year...

Thanks,


Enrique

[Hawkmaster]

i have found them a NIGHTMARE too, but only used it for displays! I am however possibly going to do a Male Gyr/Prairie as a Gamehawk this year?

[Athene]

There are "contradictory versions" about prairies. Americans use passage birds, and bear their stormy character because those birds are natural killers (they even take hares!). On the other hand, some people have told me that imprints are as tame as a parrot. Was your bird parent raised or an imprint? And what's the problem with them, do they attack you or bate continously or ...?

[Hawkmaster]

Parent reared and it used to scream to show anger, bate whenever you came near, once on the fist it was OK in the end, but was an absolute ****** to stop footing and biting.

I will never have a pure bred one again, although I know not all will be like that. I will also never have a Lugger again, same king of bird in my experience.

[Peregrynne]

Every thing that I have read and heard about pure prairies is that they are just a nightmare to man. Once you get them working they can be very aggressive. All the info that I have ever gathered suggested that hybrids were the answer.

[Kornie]

I love the look fo the peregrine praire...stunning!

[IAmTheWeasel]

At this years NAFA meet a guy trapped a passage Prairie. He used a pigeon harrness. When he tossed it out the window, a Marsh hawk came in to try get the pigeon and the falcon nailed it in the back from a full stoop....She chased off the hawk and went back to the pigeon and was caught. Ballsy little buggars aren't they!

[Peregrynne]

Some might call that just craziness....lol

[Sprout]

I've been flying a PeregrineXPrairie tiercel for the last 5-6 years. Initially imprinted and tame hacked and a very quick learner footing wise on partridge. Temperament generally ok until after a kill and then an absolute psychopath, takes a brave man to try hooding him after a kill! But been a pleasure to fly, would not overlook one of these as a lowland game hawk.

[Isaac]

The first bird I ever trained was a haggard praire when I was 14. My sponsor trapped it and let me keep and train it until the moult. It was a great bird to train and did everything perfect. Apparently highly unusual considering it was a praire AND a haggard. Maybe I was just lucky...?

[GoneHawking]

I fly a parent reared Peregrine X Praire male, Although he is vocal when he disagrees with something he is otherwise a cracking bird, flies really strong and high and loves to be airborne.
He can decide to throw a tantrum somtimes but generally he is a nice bird, Hunting wise he has taken pheasant deep in cover and chases most things that move.

[Goran]

Only the best fly prairies.Not easy bird but rewarding flights.

[Athene]

come on, share your experiences!! :o :D

[Goran]

I never had prairie (my next longwing) but my friend has few for bird control.Agressive birds.Saker in small.Last year, one guy in Alberta had over twenty hares knocked by his prairie but he did not have a fast dog to help and lost every one.Not popular birds here in N.Am.Falconers in some provinces can trap wild prairies and nobody breeds because here is no demand.For little more $$$ one can get tiercel peregrine and not go insane because temperament of a prairie.

[Athene]

Just want to do the very same thing. Hares. I'll have to get a dog, or go to the gym. How big was the bird? Is it always necessary to have a dog or can the bird kill the hare by itself?

Oh, and is there a lot of bush in alberta or is the landscape very open, just with grass?

It's funny, but people here in Spain dont consider sakers as aggressive birds. Most people say they are coward and half-hearted, and think peregrines are much more aggressive. In fact, I only know of one or two who have been introduced to rabbits, and none to hare.

[Goran]

Athene, prairies are smaller then peregrines and males alot smaller(450g).I am in Ontario but have been in Alberta few times (3500km drive).Alberta is very flat and open with only west side bordering the Rocky Mountains.
Because the land is BIG most falconers use gyr hybrids on a long chase but a dog is nessesary to flush the quarry.Prairies can go but are too light to do much damage to hares.Some guys use longdogs to catch hares.

[Athene]

was he using a tiercel to hunt hares? :o

I've heard that the females are more or less 850-900 grams (hunting weight). having into account that our typical brookei female is around 750-800, prairies are bigger. Anyway, I guess that anything smaller than 900 is not enough for a hare.

By the way, how big are hares there? Ours are around 2'5 kg. some may reach 3 kg.

[IAmTheWeasel]

In Canada I think he has White tailed Jacks and Snowshoe hares. They can weight up to 10 lbs from what I have been told. Down in Texas I have seen ten lbs blacktail jacks regularly, but most are around 6-8 lbs.

[Shaun Byrne]

Weasel, "Everythings big in America" :D

[Wightwings]

especially stomachs......... :lol: :wink:

[IAmTheWeasel]

Mmmmm....did someone say food??.....Goin to have a good fish and chipy in a minute in a local tavern......Mmmmm

[Wightwings]

pmsl like it weasel :lol: