Larks

[GoneHawking]

Went out with my tiercel perexprarie today and he started off in his usual manner and then he spotted some larks just lifting, he then continued to persue and started to ring up after them and got to his highest height of around 600ft, he was really enjoying himself in the light breeze and even had time to have a second rouse during the flight, I'm not sure how much he really wanted them because he was slightly high today but he certainly flew superb, and it makes it all worth while when you sit back and watch your falcon climbing naturally after quarry, a good day and could only have been bettered if a covey of partridge were waiting underneath, Next time.....

[Shaun Byrne]

Cracking mate, did you bring him back in on the lure? Will he stoop back in from that sort of pitch?

[GoneHawking]

He dropped is pitch a little and then stooped into the lure, leveling out and catching it in the air at speed, A shame to have to bring him into the lure but I had no choice as the larks had beaten him and there was nothing else to put up.

[Shaun Byrne]

Now if you'd been in the States you could have had a little something in your bag for him!!

[GoneHawking]

Yeah as much as I don't like to admit it, that would have been a perfect opportunity to reward his efforts with a flight.

[MattSpar]

I repeat, the use of bagged quarry, whether legal or not, is DEPLORABLE.

[Shaun Byrne]

I repeat, the use of bagged quarry, whether legal or not, is DEPLORABLE.


In your opinion obviously?

[Finnish]

In your opinion obviously?

Yes i agree with you H4.

[Hawkmaster]

MattSpar WELCOME hope to see and hear more from you!

What you flying and what have you flown?

Regards Paul

[Varmint]

Not much by the sounds of things?? :twisted: :twisted: :lol: 8)

[GoneHawking]

I never said I used bagged game, only that it would have been a good time to reward his hard flying, I personally have never used bagged game but thats just my opinion and mine alone.
Anyway the main point of the post was that he flew really hard at a difficult quarry, given the time of year when larks fly hard to.

[MattSpar]

My falconry began in the far off days when we flew mainly peregrines, merlins, gosses and spars. Sometimes one would come across the odd redtail. Harris' hawks were unheard of.
I was eight when I handled my first bird, a little owl. Hardly the best to start with. That was actually a little over forty years ago.
Subsequently, I have had sport with peregrines, spars (both sexes), merlins (both sexes), gosses (both sexes), redtails, lanners, coopers, and more besides, plus the usual kestrels and buzzards in the early days. Latterly, I have been won over by the now ubiquitous harris'. The first one I saw fly did not leave me feeling very impressed. Rather a lazy, unremarkable bird I thought. Unattractive in appearance to boot. However, in the light of current popular opinion, I decided to try one for myself and.... have been converted. I firmly believe (and here I'm going, no doubt, to cause yet more offence) that the harris is not for the weekend falconer, and must be flown hard, and daily, right through the season to attain its rightful potential. My own accounted for 162 head in a four month period, 44 head of which was accounted for in just nine flying days. I don't consider this a boast, just ths result of a fit, confident bird, and just possibly, a reasonably competent falconer. I should add that I am, of course, extremely lucky to have both the land, and the time to fly daily, which I fully understand, not everyone does.

[Shaun Byrne]

I like you better already MS, yet another fan of the humble (not) Harris Hawk.

[ChicM]

Back to the original post - GH, is it ok to fly larks with falcons? I'm genuinely not sure so that's why I ask. Don't forget - I'm the eejit who's HH has developed a taste for blackbirds and didn't know it was a problem!

I get lots of them on the farm at this time of year and although I don't have a falcon...I know a man who does!

[GoneHawking]

I have a DEFRA license to take blackbirds with my spar but not larks as these are not my intended quarry, if the lark had been caught I would have tried my upmost to release it unharmed, but accidents can and do happen.

[ChicM]

Right - I wondered about the license thing GH. Can you get a license for larks too? To be honest I'm not really keen on hunting songbirds - mainly because I like them so much (I've kept softbills and other songbirds since I was 7) but as you say accidents can and do happen and my male HH has a real fixation with blackbirds. I know that I can try to control him off the fist, but it must be almost impossible with a falcon. I'm really just curious as to the mechanics of the legal process. Like if you had a lark permit and a fieldfare got in the way (on my farm they're in mixed flocks right now) for example.

Where does that put us then when our bird takes a songbird? I mean, we don't slip them at them intentionally but they can (and do) get caught. Where would we be left if there was a complaint or something (dunno how these things work actually).

And...does the same laws affect cat owners!?

[GoneHawking]

ChicM, Not a guru on the law side of things, but I would imagine that if someone saw your bird take a songbird then you as the owner of the bird would be responsible for it's actions, I know you can't ask the bird not to fly songbirds but I suppose the buck has to stop with us, How many Goshawkers me included have had thier birds fly little owls???? I was able to release them but not all cases are like that.
In the case of licenses for larks and blackbirds, you have to fill in a application form detailing the birds with ring numbers that will take the songbirds along with numbers expected to be taken, you will also be asked to complete a report detailing the actual amount that were taken throught the season, if you don't you probably won't get another license the following year.
I believe if you think the bird will take these species or you will fly them on purpose then you SHOULD do the right thing and get a license, and not wait to be caught out, the same applies with the game license.
I hope this helps answer your question, but again as I said i'm no expert.

[ChicM]

That's worth knowing GH. I'll look into a bit more seriously then. I don't intend to fly any songbirds but I know what he can be like when out so...better safe than sorry.

I still think the cat question is valid: if a pet owner's cat takes a songbird aren't they violating exactly the same laws?

[GoneHawking]

ChicM, totally agree with the cat issue but as with all parts of the law there seems to be serious flaws in it.

[ChicM]

Yup - life, and the law, are never straightforward eh?

Here - we got any lawyers on the forum then? Way things are going we might all need them! :D

[Afshimo]

I'd love to see a falcon have a go at larks, that must be some show, and keep the falcon pretty fit too!
Your pere/praire did well GH, I'd have thought most birds wouldn't have bothered going after larks (bar merlin lol) Do other falcons go after larks too?