Imprint Golden Eagle

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Sometime ago in a pm AndyUK asked me too post some information about hawking with Golden eagles. So a little later than planned here goes. The eagle I currently hunt with is a bird that originaly was imported into the UK in late Autumn 1991 from Moscow Zoo. He is a social imprint that was reared to a very high standard in my opinion and that of many falconers who have met or know him. I when looking for a Golden Eagle had a very clear objective in mind. I wanted a medium to small sized male Golden eagle primarily for Hare hawking, secondarily I also wanted a breeding prospect via AI. The sex choice was to acheive a faster more agile hunting bird that was more easily portable in the hunting field. The choice of a Golden was because they are the most capable eagle that was available in europe without being gold dust or stupidly expensive. I wanted an imprint as I have mentioned for AI but also because I have worked with them before and like the handling aspects of them and the fact that they seam to look inward to the falconer. Please do not be missled by old out of date information telling you too avoid imprinted eagles at all costs. People have made this comment based on the behaviour of individuals that were partial food imprinted birds, or have had too long being flown to the fist and developed food relationship problems with their handler. The reason in my mind that people fail to acheive results is a lack of insight and understanding of the motivation, intelligence, and time factors required with these capable birds. Goldens when being managed at home are very much trouble free if kept stimulated. I dont hide mine away in a weathering all day and expect a laid back bird. I treat him a little like an imprinted falcon that has begun its training. You wouldnt suddenly shove this bird into a mews start wieght control for flying at prey and expect it not too scream and become possesive over food. So with this in mind he has been kept infront of people for the majority of the time that I have owned him. He has impeccable manners with visitors and shows no sign of territorial behaviour in weathering, lawn, or hunting territory known too him. He though is only ever handled where food is involved by me. My partner dosent have to be in fear of her life either as she does handle him in a domestic situation. When training, or hunting she is quite often around helping out and is seen by him as very much part of everyday scenery. Wieght control is key to success as with many birds and is very similar to a populer opinion that Harris hawks have a flying and hunting weight. This is very true of my bird I can fly him in an enviroment where he knows that prey is not available at just under the seven pound mark. Where as for serious hare pursuit flights we start the season at around the six pound three mark. At this weight he will pursue a Hare anything up to about the half mile mark in flat open terrain. This though as with any other bird he will only do when fit and confident. Now although fitness is of great concern to me in the early part of the domestic season. Confidence becomes far more important to me before true coursing flights are acheiveable with a success rate. People may have preconcieved ideas that because the Golden is heavily armed its going to be a done deal as soon as one contacts with prey. This is deffinately not the case at all, self belief is more important than realy close slips, razor sharp talons and at sometimes fitness. Fitness is the first part though and thats where Ill return. The fitness program is geared to lure flights, motorised via in my case a V8 Discovery. This can be easily and safely acheived with just one person. The method behind my set ups differ from those of others too accomodate my working method. The lure line itself is exceedingly long, so as to be easily visable behind the vehicle in both wing mirrors. The lure carcass (I only ever use dead prey in full) is attached to this line which is carefully arranged under the body of the Land Rover to avoid any risk of snagging at speed. This is then secured via a loop around the tow hitch drop plate, then trapped in the rear door. The eagle is positioned in a tree within sight yet approximatly twenty metres away. The operation is simple I accelerate away and watch for the pursuit in the wing mirrors. The key is under no cercumstances over face the eagle in early stages. Allow the bird to catch the lure by slowing slightly if it ever looks tired. I quickly, or in eagle terms quickly move on too hawking within about three weeks. At this stage the eagle is willing to slip at running Hares up to about 100m when they first get up. This range increasing dramatically by mid season. Endurance is built with these longer slips though a close couple are the order of the day when re-entering. This is where we are working on confidence. If all has gone well hes caught in his mind every single prey item that has ever got up infront of him. This is a tactic I would love to try with a youngster, they would be such premaddonas in my opinion. Now another way to ensure a high percentage of success is lamping because you can find slips away from cover, and completely focus the eagles attention on the prey in ther beam without risk of the bird becoming unsighted to its prey. Once a few kills have been taken be it at night or during daylight hours you can just watch the change in the mentallity of the bird. Once we have got to this stage longer slips begin to be taken by both young and mature eagles, as long as youve kept the flights simple to begin with. To give you some sort of idea last year bearing in mind Im hunting flat ground to acheive coursing flights, he slipped at a hare around four hundred meters away from me and chased for at least another eight humndred whilst still closing! The result was a close thing but no Hare, and he wanted to hunt on. post more later.

[StormRider]

I feel privilaged to get an insight into the ownership and handling of such a magnificent species. Just a quick question tho!
What sort of land do u fly this beast on?
STU

[Dan Paradis]

Very goog K; send us some pics please...:-P

[Blaze]

K has some very good pics of khan (eagle) on some kills and k is picking and opening the quarry for khan with his bear hands covered in blood....the relationship and trusting between khan and k is very strong...Good read K :lol:

[Addi]

bloody hell .. those english classes paid off then

[LeighJauncey]

Great post, an excellent read. It's really nice to have someone talk positively about social imprinting - when done well the benefits are great - for the falconer and the well-being of the bird. Of course it depends how the imprinting is done but then that's true of the training of any bird, parent reared or otherwise.

[DeathFromAbove]

Was out with karl and Khan this weekend, had a great time, karl and his other half are really nice people, found myself very welcome and had a superb time, not to mention quick with the brews on a cold morning lol :wink: many thanx to you Karl mate! (altho i did get a bit of flack from my other half when i got back....DOH!! lol) Did you get your discovery started in the end buddy? :lol:

Here are some pics of the day out, which led to a few slips at hare and one particular superb flight at a bolted hare from a spot Karl informed me always held this particular hare, which very nearly ended in a kill.........it seems Khan and this hare have nothing short of a vendetta going on.........:axe: ..........think i know who my money's going to be on for the final outcome lol.

[DeathFromAbove]

More pics...........

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Before anybody mentions it I know that the Gyr needs coping! Thanks for the kind words, and posting some great pictures. Hope to get out with you again soon. Ill get past fitness training later on tonight when Ive seen to my other birds. PS The owl is mine and stupid!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Taking up more or less where I left off last night, Im going to move from fitness training to my basic handling and flight protocols with him. This may sound like real basics but many people ask me about the finer points of eagle management on the glove. The first point people raise is the weight issue when manning, carrying or hunting with a Golden. Now Im afraid its a very unglamorous answer in that I just get on with it. Unless Im going to be stood about for ages awaiting a slip in a group situation, I do not use any kind of arm brace stick whatever else too support his weight. If my arm tires I simply put my ungloved hand under the one occupied by the eagle. Simple cure and no silly sticks, arm braces or whatever else too get caught up or generally in the way. Now fist flying of large eagles was given a bit of a knock by a very respected author. She though wasnt preparing an eagle for the hunting field but for short duration demonstration work in non soreing situations. This in my experience brings out the very worst in any large eagle be they imprinted or parent reared. So fist training during reclaiming for the hunting season is carried out with very slight variations from training any other bird of prey. However there are some strict rules to be followed with a young eagle. 1, never even contemplete becoming involved wtih food on the glove until the eagle is confident that you will not remove it. 2, Secure the jesses with the minimum off fuss whilst the eagle is still occupied with its reward. These rules being the foundation of a nice mannered and layed back eagle on the fist. I normally when training a young eagle use half dead day old chickens on the glove, enough to need two or three bites with an Aquila if held firmly in the glove. Yet there is not enough food on the glove too encourage the eagle into posesive behaviour toward myself. This is the time to bring your arm under and along the bottom of your gloved arm and position the jesses to prevent the bird getting a foot loose and demanding more food! With my male eagle I can come straight in from the front and secure the jesses without this tactic. Yet at the retraining stage I go back to basics, and follow this safety protocol. Also when flying such a large bird it is necessary to allow extra space for the wings during landing, this being acheived by having the gloved fist just above eye hieght when the bird is coming in. This also nips straight in the bud any ideas a young eagle may have about coming off the fist at you in defence of its newly gained piece of food. I also enter the eagle to a normal swung lure of the design available in Dr Nick Fox's book. This being used primarily if I need to get the eagle down from an elevated pearch point in a hury. Once I have the eagle flying instantly a distance of around fifty metres to glove and lure, the time has come for free flight. I continue fist work for around three days increasing the distance as far as the bird will allow, which can be a tremendous distance. Then hes on to the full carcass lure and fitness training. Now as part of the lure training mock battles are introduced where the eagle is pulled around quite strongly on its carcass lure to simulate a resistance being put up by the prey. Yet far more importantly this takes all the eagles attention away from you and onto the eagles "Prey". This along with correct handling on the fist side steps most if not all aggression being displayed toward you. As the first thing you do after the mock battle is help the eagle hold down its "kill". This enforcing the aid rather than threat picture in the eagles own mind. Now this is where experience comes in knowing how much is bluff and how much is meant aggression being displayed by the eagle. Anyone who has ever been put off picking a Red tail or Ferruginous up off a kill by the bird, shouldnt even concider getting an eagle nether mind training one. Will continue later my family have just arrived as its my birthday tomorow, and Ive told them they will not see me as Im off hunting.

[NGuruve]

nice pics there man cool to hear about training the goldern aswell abit

[TheZuffler]

This is a good, interesting read. Please keep it coming!! :supz:

[OutFlying]

In which year did you own him ? imported in 1991. How long will an eagle hunt successfully for ?

Jim.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Just a quick reply before I go out. Ive owned and flown him for four and a half years and have flown him for four seasons. Ive flown younger ones as well and there aint much difference apart from the experience level of the bird where quarry is concerned. Although I did teach him too hood at twelve! If he stops for any reason hunting, Ill then know how long you can hunt one for. They are much longer lived though than the average bird of prey.

[OutFlying]

Thanks for the reply, what age would you expect (barring accidents) for him to hunt to ?

Jim.

[Eragon]

*Warning Stupid Question Alert*
Do you use telemetry on any of your birds :?:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

In broken terain always on flat terrain not always. Had a problem with the durability of standard transmitters lately but thats a story I will address a little later.

[Eagle Austringer]

Brancher and others,
I just found this site and am the current Chairman of the International Eagle Austringers Association. (We had an article early this year in Intl. Falconer about our new organization.)
Here in the States, we are only allowed to fly Passage Goldens that were taken in depredating areas. (Eating sheep and wildlife.) However, there is change in the air and we may be allowed to raise our own Goldens in the future. I have hawked with Andrew Knowles-Brown and Geoff Clayton in Scotland and with many of the Eagle Austringers in the Czech Republic. They seem to have little problems as well with imprints. However, I know the problems that can occur with a improper imprint and they can be a bit scary to handle.

What I am looking for is to acquire a data base of those in Europe and the UK that raise and fly captive bred Goldens, their methods and facilities. If we gather enough data to prove there is no danger with these birds, if proper husbandry is implimented, then the Federal Government should allow this if we have a certification program in place.

Not that we wish to switch over from passage to imprints. We are struggling to maintain this privledge and are only looking to future resources for our birds. There is nothing like a passage bird and the only problem is the initial manning process and their suseptability to asper. They take little to no entering on game and after three years, they form a bond like no other bird I have ever flown.

Thank you.

In the "Art",
Michael W. Kuriga

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

I know off a twenty odd year old still being hunted. I'll know for myself once I get to that stage!

[OutFlying]

At this age is it going through the motions or is it still as good to fly as its early years ? Sorry for the questions, just interested thats all.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

The bird was being hunted sucessfully.

[OutFlying]

thanks

[Roel_Birds]

'1991 import from Moscow Zoo', you say? Was this bird called 'James' by his original owner?

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

As far as I am aware the Eagle has always gone by his current name as have his siblings. The three are named Khan, Gorby, and Moscow. I believe Mr Merritt had something too do with the original import.

[Maxell]

'1991 import from Moscow Zoo', you say? Was this bird called 'James' by his original owner?

Was not James Diana Durman-Walters golden eagle, don't think it came from Moscow zoo

[MickeyDredd]

'1991 import from Moscow Zoo', you say? Was this bird called 'James' by his original owner?

Was not James Diana Durman-Walters golden eagle, don't think it came from Moscow zoo

Did any of them really come from Moscow Zoo? :wink:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Good question? Thats what the paper work says though.

[MickeyDredd]

Thats all that matters ;) :lol:

[Out Hunting]

Brilliant post K. Thanks for the insight.

[JedT]

Karl ,Khan was previously called Laggin or Laggan not sure on the spelling,after a small place in Scotland by Gary B,after i got him I changed his name to Khan,Khan/Laggan is not the "James" Goldie -------- it's great to see/hear how well he is doing.

[JedT]

Karl ,Khan was previously called Laggin or Laggan not sure on the spelling,after a small place in Scotland by Gary B,after i got him I changed his name to Khan,Khan/Laggan is not the "James" Goldie -------- it's great to see/hear how well he is doing.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Well Karn is now in his breeding quarters with what seams like half a tree. Yesterday he started tredding me off his block so straight into the pen. Im having to use a falcons AI pen at the mo. New pen deffinately on the cards for next season though with a few of my own ideas thrown in. He is as I write sat one foot up on his nest ledge head under wing, sat in amongst the start of his construction effort. So far its not very impressive but we will see what the next couple of days bring.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

The nest site is now massive with twigs and greenery in all directions. Couldnt acuse him of being a tidyness freak. Hes mounting me up too five times a day and calling for me. Hopefully I should have semen within the next week or so. I'll try and get some photos for the site of him on the job!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Will do Andy, glad someone appreciates.

[CooperMan]

K do you go in and present him with branches etc or just drop them in the corner for him to get. Will he expect you being the female to line the nest or is this not required to strengthen the pair bond.
I can not wait to see these pictures
1 I've never seen semen collection from and eagle
2 I think it may be a giggle
3 I'm a perv

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Got the resizing thing sorted this very evening so I'll try for some decent action shots tomorow. We share the nest building all the way through.

[Afshimo]

sounds very cool K, keep us updates, any more pics of khan flying or perching etc? he looks beautifull! c u

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

My other half is resizing some pictures as we speak.

[Afshimo]

cool!

looking forward!

[Zam]

This is a question for K!

I have found your thread very interesting - and now have a couple of questions I hope you wouldn't mind answering!:D

Firstly, you say that Karn/Kahn was imported from Moscow in 1991 and you have had him for 4 years. Would I be right in assuming he was fully trained when you got him? If so, can you explain why you chose a fully trained eagle - rather than train one yourself?

As your bird is an imprint, how long did he take to "bond" with you?

Have you imprinted and trained a Golden from the start - say 8-9 months old?
If so, do you think there are any big/small differences between doing all yourself and buying in a "ready trained" one? (Apart from the time element!!!)

Really sorry to bombard you with questions - but I find this subject very interesting! Hope to see your pics soon of Karn and his nest etc!!

Oh! - One more question!:oops: When you are not flying him, during the moult - how much (and what) does he eat?

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

I was looking for a bird that I could use for AI that was already mature to start working with. Jed had him before me and in his own words had to get rid of him due to loosing his hunting land. So he didnt want him to end up just stuck in a pen. As far as bonding goes he was actualy mounting me off a bow pearch within the first week to ten days of me owning him. I bought him just at the end of his breeding cycle. I have been involved with eagles that have been untrained but only trained one start to finish myself. I normally fly him ten months of the year. As I beleive that having eagles sat around doing nothing is very detrimental to their lonjevity.

[Afshimo]

he's beautifull!

[CooperMan]

lol I see what you mean about tidy that looks like typical male house keeping.
Hanah is right though he is a bit of a handsome devil.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

He looks a bit full there Hannah as hes just stuffed fifteen chicks down his gullet. The pen is on the small size as its one of my Imprint falcon pens in the AI block. It will have to do for this year, though I have plans for next year. I want to build three twelve foot square pens for imprint eagles with fold down walls. This being so that if I get youngsters I can pull the male and open two pens into one or all three into one. Just to allow more space for the developing young. Then hopefully I'll have a hack type pen sorted for them. I was talking to Kentish about borrowing his, he even agreed until he realised it would be full of falcons at the time I'd need it. Just think of the diet it would get in there!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

lol I see what you mean about tidy that looks like typical male house keeping.
Hanah is right though he is a bit of a handsome devil.
You should see him in get yer knickers off mode!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Earlier in this thread I was talking about the level of trust on kills, slipping from a Discovery at night, and the last picture is controled introduction of my new Wirehaired at around five months. What do you think? Forgot to post the pictures.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Will anbody else on heres eagle let them do the above with a kill?

[Berkut]

K,
My 4 yr old male lets me right in about the kill. For the first 6 - 10 kills he used to come off the kill at me,but the more he killed the smoother it became and now he is great.
My 2005 male was exactly the same for the first few kills but now he is pretty good. I think the key is possibly repetition and confidence on our part.What says you ?
Regards.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Your right. I think though its worth mentioning for others who may read this. That both myself and you use other anti aggression conditoning methods else where in our training as well. Our methods may vary yet the same result is acheived. If (In my humble opinion) people cannot work these stratergys out for themselves through experiences with less powerfull species, they shouldnt be attempting an eagle of any type. I know of a few people with less than three years under their belt, a string of falconry misshaps. Yet they are in their own minds ready to handle these large raptors.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

AI is on the cards.

[Liam Hay]

LOL thats just not right i am sure its a grey area regarding law lol

K rather u then me m8

[Ben C]

He SHOOTS he SCORES!!!!! Back of the net!:supz:

[MickeyDredd]

He SHOOTS he SCORES!!!!! Back of the net!:supz:

back of the neck, more like ;)

[Tim Laycock]

back of the neck, more like ;)

Beat me to it:lol:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Now we get to the gorgeous part of the project! Cinobar the daughter of David Fox' (Garden of eagles), Phillip Glasier, or Jemima Parry jonses Sable. Shes a gentle giant at 14lb.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Photos

[Tim Laycock]

Not small is she :lol:

Will that board take the weight of her nest structure with her sitting it Karl?

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Its inch thick and will take my weight. Plus around the edge Ive got 3X2 as a lip to stop twigs falling off. (I fitted that with her helping, i.e. after I put her in!) Thought it was best to leave trying an insemination till she was ready!

[Tim Laycock]

The board sounds to be sorted Karl.

I think the insemanation is best left until she "comes onto you" :lol:

Its the easy way to avoid claret:P :rolleyes:

[HawkEagle]

Wow, that's amazing K. It seems you can really talk the bird language. I have heard Sable has passed away. I have seen her years ago in NBOPC. She was noticeably larger than other goldies there.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Yeah unfortunatly Sable died the year after Cinnabar was born. Im jealous as hell as she is kindly on loan to me from Berkut a true eagle devotee!

[Tim Laycock]

It seems you can really talk the bird language.
I saw and heard him talking his "Bird Language" last night :shock:
Never heard anything like it :rolleyes: :lol:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Whats your honest opinion on the males reaction thenn Tim? Now were in the cold light of day!

[Tim Laycock]

The thing that realy struck me was how badly he wanted to share his genes with you.

Is "Eagle Dogging" the newest spectator sport in west yorkshire:rolleyes:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Stage one accumplished, got my first semen today!

[Jammu]

Stage one accumplished, got my first semen today!
congratulations!! Let us know how it's going:supz:

[CooperMan]

Stage one accumplished, got my first semen today!K, is the semen as viable at the first collection of the season or do they normally fire blanks for the first couple of times increasing in viability as the season progresses.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

This is what Im working on finding out! Hopefully Im going to have a good wee while with semen production this year to investigate. The female Cinabar that is on site, (Kindly on loan from Berkut) is calling now and accepting food directly from myself and nest material. So If were lucky we could just get them insinc. Second shot today was a larger volume and showed some motility so hopefully!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Cinabar today for the first time allowed me to lift her tail and touch her cloaca so theres movement. Spent alot of time today with her messing around with her nest and feeding her with my fingures. Still got them all as well, BONUS! Dont talk to me about Lanners though.

[Muddy.Waters]

Thank you for letting us share in this wonderful relationship you have.
What a nice read,please keep posting.......

[CooperMan]

Cinabar today for the first time allowed me to lift her tail and touch her cloaca so theres movement. Spent alot of time today with her messing around with her nest and feeding her with my fingures. Still got them all as well, BONUS! Dont talk to me about Lanners though.
S****** s****** she let you touch it. Ah that take me back. In fact it sound pretty similar to being married now. So how long will it be before you inseminate her, do you start as soon as you can touch her cloaca, after the first egg or will her body language change further, is egg lethargy visible in eagles?

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

We have a long way to go yet and thats realy up to her. The sighns that Im looking for are as follows 1, She starts calling more often for me to enter her pen 2, She begins flagging her tail coverts toward me when I enter her pen 3, She begins squatting and leveling her body out, to accept me putting a hand on her back 4, She begins to position her tail to the side and presnt the cloaca 5, she begins to draw via a reverse pulsating of the cloaca. Then is the time that I will begin to inseminate, this though is if everything goes to plan. Birds can jump stages ignore stages and show no signs at all then still present you with an egg!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Unfortuanetly Cinabar didnt lay this season so no baby Goldens.

[HawkMan69UK]

that is the most informative thread i have read i a very long time fair play k....and you do look like your dog:lol: ;)

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

that is the most informative thread i have read i a very long time fair play k....and you do look like your dog:lol: ;)
Told ya!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Picked up a second semen donar for the AI project yesterday. Hes got issues but Ive got the time to put in to make him come good. Will post pictures ASAP.

[FlameHairedFalconer]

Picked up a second semen donar for the AI project yesterday. Hes got issues but Ive got the time to put in to make him come good. Will post pictures ASAP.

No pun intended :lol: :lol:

Looking forward to seeing the photos K

FHF

[Tim Laycock]

Glad I wasnt the only one who saw that :lol:

[Hacker]

naughty, naughty:P :P :P

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Your all sick LOL!

[Intek Hosting]

Do you have to fake an orgasm before he lets you go??

[GriffMJ]

Hi K

Just looked through the thread after a friend mentioned her and her size ... she is big :!: Is she a straight Euro or does she have a Kazak mix? I cant see her cere front on.....

http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=10781&stc=1&d=1140451470

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

3/4 Aquila chtysaeteos daphnea. Thats the Berkut to all the eagle people out there. You should know anyway Griff she wears your hoods LOL.

[GriffMJ]

3/4 Aquila chtysaeteos daphnea. Thats the Berkut to all the eagle people out there. You should know anyway Griff she wears your hoods LOL.

Lol...... didnt realise she was that big?? Love to see a pic of her hooded when you have a chance :)

[Berkut]

Griff.It,s a ****** hood K has for her.The new MJ-Hoods are with me.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Hood snobbery LOL. Aint falconry grand.:supz:

[GriffMJ]

Hood snobbery LOL. Aint falconry grand.:supz:

All Hoods are equal.... but some are more equal than others :lol: :lol:

[Berkut]

Hood snobbery LOL. Aint falconry grand.:supz:
A ****** hood supplied by me.:yawinkle:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Photos of the new addition!

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

As Neil said earlier in the year 'Hes a great colour match for Cinabar'. I think you'll agree!

[DeathFromAbove]

Nice one Karl, bute you have there mate :supz:

[Richard]

Beauty, look at those eyes :rolleyes:

He'll be ontop of you soon enough :wink:

[SakerYZF]

Very nice all these eagles making me want to start a hare breeding and releasing scheme down here:-P

[Saker-Mad]

very nice bird you have there:supz: keep the photos coming.

[Intek Hosting]

He's feet are looking nice and clean, any stitches yet??

[Fires59]

get one any bigger karl and you will have to get to the gym lol:)

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Some more.

[Tim Laycock]

They arrived then :lol:

[Berkut]

They look to have settled down ok Karl.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Werent like that yesterday mate LOL!

[HawkEagle]

Some more.
What are these birds? Are they steppe x goldie?

[Berkut]

What are these birds? Are they steppe x goldie?
Yes they are.Quite nice examples considering.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

The new female for the breeding program.

[HawkEagle]

What a beauty. What is her weight?

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Currently shes 12lb 3oz on the way down. She was flown previously around the 10lb mark.

[Goldie]

Karl, those jesses that Joseff is holding on to actually stay on irrespective of the terrain he was flying on. His opinion was that his eagles were strong enough to snap any branches that may have caught them.
I never got an answer to the question of barbed wire, my german left a little to the imagination and his "Scottish":wink: was non existant:lol:

Without doubt,he is the best trainer of Eagles i have ever met and i am sure she will do you proud in the field and in the breeding project when the time comes.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

As far as jesses go Ive always worked on the same theory.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Training shot.

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Another

[Richard]

eeek :rolleyes:

[Kevin Massey]

Well Karl came over to a small bit of permission I have with Saxon.

Very windy conditions, but we were out. On another place were Tim and Adam.
We all met up for a gab and a pic and departed for the afternoon.
If I go on writing about every hare we kicked up...every attempted chase we'll be here all day..

But we must have kicked up and seen about 20 Hares over two different places...As you can Imagin a lot of the slips just see the hare ears back into the wind and away.
One slip in particular (and the one I managed to get pics on:lol: )...We could see a hare in a scrape and was holding solid....Karl made his way to the right side of it, karl kicked up the hare and it played ball for a while, running right down wind...Saxon closed it down well and I thought it was a done deal, But he turned it once and as he went in the hare turned back on him and cut right across the wind and put the after burners on and away... Not a massive slip but with conditions the way they were it was good.

Even the landowner came down to have a look...well untill Saxon took a shine to his pup jack russel:oops: ...And I mean wanted it....BAD:twisted:

All in all a good day...some good banter in very poor conditions, But we were out doing the doo!!! and enjoying every minute of it...Cheers Karl.

[Kevin Massey]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo.jpg

[Kevin Massey]

Can you see the hare?:lol:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo1.jpg

[Kevin Massey]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo2.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo3.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo4.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo5.jpg

[Kevin Massey]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo6.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo7.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo8.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo9.jpg

[Kevin Massey]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo10.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo11.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo12.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo13.jpg

[Kevin Massey]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo14.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo15.jpg

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Just got back in and would like to thank Mass for the day. No Hares were accounted for, next time will be a different matter. Cheers Kev and co! K

[Berkut]

Excellent stuff guys.

[Kevin Massey]

Some random pics to come
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo20.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo21.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo22.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/foo23.jpg

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

You should have got a shot of how much he wanted the jack russell Kev. :oops: :roll:

[Kevin Massey]

The Crow Magnet:lol: :lol: :lol:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/thecrowmagnet.jpg

[Berkut]

Karl,
I got a shock there.I thought cause the goldie doesn,t like girls you,d chopped off the ponytail.:yawinkle: :)

[Kevin Massey]

Karl,
I got a shock there.I thought cause the goldie doesn,t like girls you,d chopped off the ponytail.:yawinkle: :)

No neil...He's still a fanny:lol:

[Kevin Massey]

Give me a moment to post these...

Follow his shadow...He starts well ...bless him !!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/shad1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/shad2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/shad3.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/shad4.jpg

[Kevin Massey]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/shad5.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/shad6.jpg

[Chip]

cracking looking bird you have there karl,hope to see it fly next time your out
with kev.

[Laggan]

Great pictures.......no need for many words with those. Thanks.

[JedT]

Karl never do that,if i can remember the first time you came to see Khan you were a bit worried what i might think of you,i was expecting some one in tweededs and a r/rover,i was over the moon to see a down to earth lad,no **** and Khan was going to a GOOD home,i still miss Khan he was a big part of my life--------- for all you old gitts punk night has just started on tv.

[Addi]

i can assure you as some on ewho has know karl for too many years and reularly at his place that kahn is in a very good home and is a cracking natured bird !

[Intek Hosting]

Karl nice to see the boy out doing his stuff.
And to think you got him there without needing the dog suit in the end :-)

Now get girly hunting and I'll really be impressed :-)

[Kevin Massey]

Karl Teresa found your transmitter in the garden.

It looks to me that he has pulled ot off...well pulled it apart and off.....just a guess here but:lol: :lol:

Will post up a pic of it bud:axe:

[Kevin Massey]

OOOOOps:lol:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/mass2k5/trannie2.jpg

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

Dont you just love eagles!

[Kevin Massey]

it still works....Hell of an advert for marshall that:supz:

[Game & Pursuit Falcon UK]

New clip and arial and Im away again LOL.