A Hawks Loyalty

[Horus]

This may seem a daft question to those in the know but please forgive a beginner!!! I was reading a Lee William Harris book who stated that even though you may build up a relationship with a bird it is only one sided on the part of the human. A bird of Prey is only motivated by hunger and is only a tad away from being a wild creature. Is this true or can one build a rapport with a raptor? I know many of the books say Harris Hawks are sociable but to what extent? Any thoughts for an ignorant novice.

[Sniper]

This may seem a daft question to those in the know but please forgive a beginner!!! I was reading a Lee William Harris book who stated that even though you may build up a relationship with a bird it is only one sided on the part of the human. A bird of Prey is only motivated by hunger and is only a tad away from being a wild creature. Is this true or can one build a rapport with a raptor? I know many of the books say Harris Hawks are sociable but to what extent? Any thoughts for an ignorant novice.


I lost a bird this year (only overnight) got a phone call saying the hawk is a mile down the road sat on somebodys roof, went down there tried all the tricks in the book to get it down (she was at a fat weight moulting) so i was not expecting miracles, i was there nearly 4 hrs trying without success, so rings my girlfriend who spends a lot of time with the bird to come down to see if she would have any success....bingo, no sooner she exited from the car put a doc on the gauntlet, she came straight down.....loves my girlfriend better than me, so they do strike bond with people and its not just about food.

[Horus]

Thanks Sniper. That is interesting that the bird has a definite rapport with your girlfriend. So it is possible to form a bond with a bop.

[Blaze]

I went to one of the farms for a walk arround with the hawk.........The farmers 15 year old son came out with me he wanted a go at calling her to the fist so i let him........When called by him she would come in so far then vear away.....After a couple of attempts and her not landing on the fist........I took the glove back n called her she came straight to me so i dont know.....What do you think?.......
PS....she was at hunting weight!

[Horus]

Hi Blaze

Do you think this is because the bird associated food with you??

[Blaze]

Dont know really maybe cos she is vocal

[Horus]

Hi Blaze

Sorry what do you mean by vocal? Just trying to learn as much as possible!!

[Gos212]

Years ago a friend of mine flew a female Ferruginous which only responded to him, that breed seems to have that reputation though. This bird would try and do its best to tear the face off anyone other than him that got in range of it when tethered. It was ok when out hunting though.

As a kind of experiment, I took the bird home with me and tried to get that bird to accept me and from the very first day until 10wks later that bird never changed its attitude one bit towards me. I tried to re-man the bird over this period and it did no good at all. Even when I dropped its weight I could go in with food on the glove and it didnt bait off, it would take the food from me throw the food to one side and then try and get me ! This bird never baited away, it baited towards towards me !

The day he came back for it, cos I had given up by this time, I stayed out of sight and he walked in and calmly picked the bird up no problem at all. She sat on his fist quite calm as he stroked her. He called for me to come into sight and the moment it seen me her hackles went up again !

Would you buy that bird !!!

[Horus]

Thanks for that Gos. No I would not buy that Bird!! But it does seem that the bird DID have a bond with your friend which is interesting. More than just food it appears.

[Gos212]

Hi Horus,

One thing I forgot to say was when he approached the bird to pick her up he never spoke so it cudnt be a voice thing.

The Fem RT I have shows a different reaction to my missus than she does to me, food or no food. Not aggresive, just wary. Same reaction most birds have to strange dogs (glad she doesnt read this !), so it must be a sight thing.

Mind you, who amongst us could ever figure out the female of any species !!!

[Horus]

Oh how true Gos.!!! If we ever worked that one out we would have hit the jackpot!!:):lol: :rolleyes:

[Darren]

my male harris is ok with my daughters, misses, dog & myself but if a stranger comes near him he climbs my arm or bates away....he is very wary of strangers