Top video there Dan and I can't wait for the next installment of the training a hawk. A video on how you man a hawk would be great but maybe also a video on why you think Harris hawks make such good birds.
They are amazing birds, often underrated, but you can have so much fun with them, if you chose to hunt or just have one to fly for fun, either way they don’t disappoint
Good info. I have seen videos of people using a safety leash which is tied to the glove and just clipped onto the furniture as a secondary precaution. I think I may adopt that initially when o get my first bird later this year.
Different things work for different people, you just have to find out what works best for you. In my opinion I have always stayed well clear of any kind of clips, I just know of too many examples of clips failing and it’s an absolute disaster if the bird flys away with all the equipment on, I obviously can’t say that a falconers knot or the safety positions will never fail but I think there’s a lot less points of potential failure than with a clip. A friend once lost their bird when the clip broke and I had to spend hours tracking down and helping get the bird back, I can’t see that happening if he had just tied the knot. But please know I’m not here telling you what to do or trying to be all negative on your idea, this is just my opinion based on my experiences 😄
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise! I am applying some of the basic methods you are showing here and your other videos, to perch and flight train my peafowl. I have two 9-week old peacocks and 2 peahen on the way. I know the first training is trust and getting used to touch. Would love to hear your thoughts on embarking upon training thats not well documented. :) Thank you again!
Nice vid Dan, I wouldn't tie to the glove because I think the safeties are a lot more convenient unless you were keeping the bird on the glove for ages
Hello, I'm a falconer from Indonesia. I've been watching your videos quite a lot recently cause it helps me to be a better falconer. Thank you for your knowledge. Anyway, I was wondering where can I get a glove like yours? I can't seems to find it anywhere on the internet. I would love to buy one of those if you don't mind. I think my partner (male grey-headed fish eagle) would love to perch on that glove! Cheers! :D
hello, I am a falconer from Russia, we make ourselves from cow or bull leather, you can also use artificial leather that is used for car seats, but it is thinner and you need several layers so that the bird cannot pierce your hand, in Pakistan it is possible to buy falconer gloves , you can also do this on the ebay website
Why is nobody training for hunt and hunts with the hawk most common and equally beautiful Buteo Buteo (Common Buzzard )? They say it's not aggressive enough, it's claws are smaller than those of its American cousin the red tail hawk, it's better for flying demos at falconry shows etc. Still I can't see why a passionate falconer wouldn't try to do that? Do you happen to know somebody or have some vids?
It’s a great point to bring up and I think there is a few different reasons for it. A few decades ago before importing birds from other countries was a big thing, the common buzzard was used by many falconers. But when falconers started to gain access to more exotic species there was a shift probably to do with the fact it was new and exciting. I think the reason the Harris Hawk, which is technically more like our buzzard than any hawk, stayed and is still so popular is because it is one of the few social birds of prey, so it’s easier to build up that working relationship and include a dog. Another reason I think is because the common buzzard is more of a scavenger whereas the Harris Hawk has a pretty aggressive prey drive so it’s just a bit more exciting to hunt with. Could also possibly be because we rightfully need paperwork to keep common buzzards whereas a Harris hawk doesn’t need any kind of identification on paper. I have flown and done displays with a common buzzard and I think they are great birds, it’s just a lot easier to get and work a Harris hawk and when you compare it up against the common buzzard, the Harris hawk is just more versatile. Hope this helps
@@MercerFalconry very grateful for you thorough answer. So one would need to do more paperwork for an native very common species than for an imported one?! I would not think of that. Don't know a lot about falconry. I see though it's a masterly activity with a old tradition and a lot of passion comes with it. For that it seemed very weird and a bit superficial that people tended to neglect an historical European bird for the sake of convenience and exotic. I mean if you are a master falconer you should aim of trading the harder birds as well. I also find hard to believe there aren't enough falconers to like this bird in one way or another. It's a very beautifulI. I might argue the most handsome from the Buteo gens. I've seen same people owning and hunting with countless species of raptors including those from the owl family all except the buzzard among them 😕. Do you think this might change in the future?
Unfortunately I don’t think that will be the case, I’m not a fan but I think in the future hybridising hawks/ buzzards will become more common than the pure native species we have, it’s already getting done with Harris hawks and Red tailed buzzards, and also Harris Hawks, red tailed buzzards and ferruginous buzzards to make 3 way hybrids. In my opinion part of the magic of having these incredible and beautiful predators working so closely with us is lost when all these hybrids become popular but I know many falconers who love them. I think the common buzzard is safe as a staple for most falconry centres but I think it’s days of being a popular falconry bird are over due to the rise of hybrids
No I don’t think so, the reason Harris hawks, red tails, and ferruginous can all hybridise is because they are all buzzards and are in the same genus but the goshawk is a hawk and is in a different genus so would only be able to hybridise with other true hawks
I love all of your videos, they are amazing and really helpful. Thank you so much.
You are very welcome, I’m happy they help! 😁
Top video there Dan and I can't wait for the next installment of the training a hawk. A video on how you man a hawk would be great but maybe also a video on why you think Harris hawks make such good birds.
Hello, i love falconry and i´am new to that and your videos really help me, thank you. :)
Excellent, thank you for that, have you got a bird or thinking about getting one in the future?
@@MercerFalconry I don´t have anyone yet, but i want harris hawk in the future, he´s my favourite.
They are amazing birds, often underrated, but you can have so much fun with them, if you chose to hunt or just have one to fly for fun, either way they don’t disappoint
Good info. I have seen videos of people using a safety leash which is tied to the glove and just clipped onto the furniture as a secondary precaution. I think I may adopt that initially when o get my first bird later this year.
Different things work for different people, you just have to find out what works best for you. In my opinion I have always stayed well clear of any kind of clips, I just know of too many examples of clips failing and it’s an absolute disaster if the bird flys away with all the equipment on, I obviously can’t say that a falconers knot or the safety positions will never fail but I think there’s a lot less points of potential failure than with a clip. A friend once lost their bird when the clip broke and I had to spend hours tracking down and helping get the bird back, I can’t see that happening if he had just tied the knot.
But please know I’m not here telling you what to do or trying to be all negative on your idea, this is just my opinion based on my experiences 😄
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise! I am applying some of the basic methods you are showing here and your other videos, to perch and flight train my peafowl. I have two 9-week old peacocks and 2 peahen on the way. I know the first training is trust and getting used to touch. Would love to hear your thoughts on embarking upon training thats not well documented. :) Thank you again!
I am watching this video on loop (literally) whilst playing games
That’s great, thanks a lot it helps out! 😁
Nice vid Dan, I wouldn't tie to the glove because I think the safeties are a lot more convenient unless you were keeping the bird on the glove for ages
Yes, being able to do the safety positions without thinking about it just makes tying a knot seem like an absolute faff
Can you talk about/video on how to properly correct a bate on glove? Thanks!
I like your videos😍😍
Hello, I'm a falconer from Indonesia. I've been watching your videos quite a lot recently cause it helps me to be a better falconer. Thank you for your knowledge. Anyway, I was wondering where can I get a glove like yours? I can't seems to find it anywhere on the internet. I would love to buy one of those if you don't mind. I think my partner (male grey-headed fish eagle) would love to perch on that glove! Cheers! :D
Thank you I’m happy you enjoy the videos, my glove is made by Chris Payne
hello, I am a falconer from Russia, we make ourselves from cow or bull leather, you can also use artificial leather that is used for car seats, but it is thinner and you need several layers so that the bird cannot pierce your hand, in Pakistan it is possible to buy falconer gloves , you can also do this on the ebay website
Hey is there a way I could contact and properly talk to you?
Yes, if you have Facebook or Instagram and search for Mercer Falconry on there you can send me a private message
The image you would see before clicked or tapped on this video is a gyrfalcon.
Why is nobody training for hunt and hunts with the hawk most common and equally beautiful Buteo Buteo (Common Buzzard )? They say it's not aggressive enough, it's claws are smaller than those of its American cousin the red tail hawk, it's better for flying demos at falconry shows etc. Still I can't see why a passionate falconer wouldn't try to do that? Do you happen to know somebody or have some vids?
It’s a great point to bring up and I think there is a few different reasons for it. A few decades ago before importing birds from other countries was a big thing, the common buzzard was used by many falconers. But when falconers started to gain access to more exotic species there was a shift probably to do with the fact it was new and exciting. I think the reason the Harris Hawk, which is technically more like our buzzard than any hawk, stayed and is still so popular is because it is one of the few social birds of prey, so it’s easier to build up that working relationship and include a dog. Another reason I think is because the common buzzard is more of a scavenger whereas the Harris Hawk has a pretty aggressive prey drive so it’s just a bit more exciting to hunt with. Could also possibly be because we rightfully need paperwork to keep common buzzards whereas a Harris hawk doesn’t need any kind of identification on paper.
I have flown and done displays with a common buzzard and I think they are great birds, it’s just a lot easier to get and work a Harris hawk and when you compare it up against the common buzzard, the Harris hawk is just more versatile.
Hope this helps
@@MercerFalconry very grateful for you thorough answer. So one would need to do more paperwork for an native very common species than for an imported one?! I would not think of that.
Don't know a lot about falconry. I see though it's a masterly activity with a old tradition and a lot of passion comes with it. For that it seemed very weird and a bit superficial that people tended to neglect an historical European bird for the sake of convenience and exotic. I mean if you are a master falconer you should aim of trading the harder birds as well. I also find hard to believe there aren't enough falconers to like this bird in one way or another. It's a very beautifulI. I might argue the most handsome from the Buteo gens. I've seen same people owning and hunting with countless species of raptors including those from the owl family all except the buzzard among them 😕. Do you think this might change in the future?
Unfortunately I don’t think that will be the case, I’m not a fan but I think in the future hybridising hawks/ buzzards will become more common than the pure native species we have, it’s already getting done with Harris hawks and Red tailed buzzards, and also Harris Hawks, red tailed buzzards and ferruginous buzzards to make 3 way hybrids. In my opinion part of the magic of having these incredible and beautiful predators working so closely with us is lost when all these hybrids become popular but I know many falconers who love them.
I think the common buzzard is safe as a staple for most falconry centres but I think it’s days of being a popular falconry bird are over due to the rise of hybrids
@@MercerFalconry is there an hybrid between a common buzzard and goshawk? 😀 Just interested on how would that work or look
No I don’t think so, the reason Harris hawks, red tails, and ferruginous can all hybridise is because they are all buzzards and are in the same genus but the goshawk is a hawk and is in a different genus so would only be able to hybridise with other true hawks
its not a hawk its a bvuzzard