Websites for owls

[JVanLeir]

I am looking into purchasing an owl, something small like a pygmy or a burrowing owl, but I am not sure where to find a breeder. Snowy Owls look cool too but there seems to be a lot of laws against owning a great horned owl or a snowy owl....

[Hawkmaster]

www.owlpages.com

[Peregrynne]

JVanLier....you will need to do a lot more than just look for pages to buy an owl from...they all fall under the endangered species act of 1971 with regards to migratory birds

This means that you have to be licensed to even think about getting one... no matter the type of owl they all fall under this ruling....you can check with your local fish and wildlife services to see what it would take

just trying to give you a place to start

[Bubo]

also GHO's will be on the protected list as from Aug 1 2005 so a permit will be needed for these owls from that date. Also, if you dont mind me asking, do you have any experience with owls? i dont mean for this to sound rude but starting off with such tiny owls is a very demanding thing.

[JVanLeir]

I have no experience at all... just considering options best suited for begginner. I still need to find an sponsor...a lot of them charge hundreds of dollars for a day or two of lessons...and that stuff is just to see if you are interested in becoming a falconer. I was thinking about owls for their shere beauty. That one in 'Meet Bob' post is adorable.

[Tanith]

Hope this is not the Harry Potter effect

You need to seriously think about the long term that will be required to care for an owl.

If you are serious then I wish you the best of luck.

[Peregrynne]

any "sponsor" that charges is not a real sponsor...if you are taking a course that is one thing and a lot of people that are qualified to be sponsors do offer them...personally I don't know of any that would charge you under the pretense of being a sponsor later on... talk it over with those who are offering courses and clarify with them...if you are truly serious about falconry and keeping birds of prey then they can help you sort it all out... the first thing they would let you know is that you don't really have a choice when you get started...it is either a red tail hawk or american kestrel...with a few other exceptions in various states

once again this is not meant as an attack it is meant as an urging to get all the information you can and make an educated decision...it can be great fun..good luck and don't hesitate to pm if you need to

[Wightwings]

once again this is not meant as an attack it is meant as an urging to get all the information you can and make an educated decision...it can be great fun..good luck and don't hesitate to pm if you need to

sensible and sound advise from all already. It does worry me greatly to read things like I am looking into purchasing an owl, something small like a pygmy or a burrowing owl, but I am not sure where to find a breeder. Snowy Owls look cool too but there seems to be a lot of laws against owning a great horned owl or a snowy owl....

not discouraging you or digging at you but you need to fully understand the long term commitment and sheer hard work involved with BOP.

hope you find someone to help you.

chris

[Renton]

It does worry me greatly to read things like
Quote:I am looking into purchasing an owl, something small like a pygmy or a burrowing owl, but I am not sure where to find a breeder. Snowy Owls look cool too but there seems to be a lot of laws against owning a great horned owl or a snowy owl....

Well said Wightwings.

[JVanLeir]

I am fully committed, already saved 300 dollars, signed out 17 books related to falconry from the library (though still in the reading process), and applied to the state for all the information they can give me on it, though I have not recieved any reply yet. As far as commitment goes, I consider myself decent, but I value the learning experience from a sponsor considerably higher than that of a book.

[Peregrynne]

I sponsor is not just an option..it is a requirement for you to practice falconry in the US, so you will get your practical experience from him/her when you find them.

The commitment that is being spoken of is the 24/7/365 one that you will make with the birds. Just for an example, the owls that you were mentioning in the first place live for 25+ years at times and that is a very long commitment. This is not something that you can just stop doing or give away if you decide you don't want to do it anymore. That is why it was mentioned in the first place.

[JFSeaman]

Based on his postings JVanleir seems quite commited to BOP, which means in most US states he can be put into a faclilty that takes care of people like us and administers electric shock until we loose our obsession with BOP. :-)

Back to reality. I'm supprised at what I find in the UK with respects to Owls. Forget the HP effect. I get the same from all the experienced falconers/hawkers: owls are not good to use for falconry. Yet every one of them has at least one owl.

I seem to be infected myself, for some reason I fancy the European Eagle Owl and find myself planning long term to bring some home with me when I return to the US.

Most of the falconers I know in UK have their owls from rescue or none-releasable birds. Some of the owls are retired falconry center birds, some are donations from the HP effect.

My recommendation to JVanLeir, is not to substitute an owl for a proper falconry bird. Owls do not provide dramitic flights againts capable quary.

And to work on getting an owl if you want one. It's fun too and more work than a hunting BOP. Remember all owls are imprints and you belong to them. 24/7/365 you are the family of he owl. Vacations are impossible.

Anyone know the pointers to a permit for owls in the US?

[JFSeaman]

I forgot something for JVanLeir.

If your sponsor wants to charge money get a different one.

If your sponsor (who doesn't want money) says don't get an owl, dont' get an owl until you have your general license.

My 2p worth.