|
|
Post by aperfectcircle on Feb 7, 2007 9:32:28 GMT -5
I'm looking into flying a Coop next year.. Passages or imprint? I already have a nest located that's been used for at least three years but i would also be fairly easy to trap one in this area.. Pros and cons?
|
|
|
|
Post by Weasel on Feb 7, 2007 21:29:45 GMT -5
After witnessing one of each, I would go with the passage.
|
|
colohen
Full Member
One Falcon One Wife, Two Falcon No Wife ! HWL
Posts: 283
|
Post by colohen on Feb 10, 2007 7:08:37 GMT -5
If you plan to fly a coopers I would recommend that you make sure you have the following :
1) TIME !! and plenty of it , accipiters need to be worked EVERY day and hunted on game at least 3 to 4 times a week !
2) thermal controlled mew , at flight weight a coop does not have the fatty tissue to combat cold weather and you stand about a 90% chance of loosing it if your mews tamper is not maintained about 60* .
3) eyass : This is a accipeter and mistakes in imprinting is easy . Like the goshawks , not called face huggers for nothing , there a bit high strung and proper steps need to be followed to prevent behavioral problems in raising a eyass .
If I were going to take a accipiter , I would watch the nest closely , until they're about ready to branch , fully fledged with a little down on the top of the head . This would cut down on some imprinting problems , screaming , face hugging , food aggressions etc...
4) Get Mike McDermott's latest book " Accipiter Behavior Problems " and read it first ! If you have a problem getting a copy let me know and I can arrange to get you one .
5) Best yet ! Forget the coop , Get a Harris Hawk ! ;D
 K]n
|
|
|
|
Post by frootdog on Feb 13, 2007 1:58:30 GMT -5
After witnessing one of each, I would go with the passage. What are you trying to say about my bird there? |
|
john
New Member
Posts: 58
|
Post by john on Feb 13, 2007 14:20:20 GMT -5
It would depend a lot on your experience level, what kind of time you have, and how much game you have. I've flown an imprint male coops and passage female coops and my suggestion would be the passage, especially if this is your first accipiter.
With an imprint, especially if following McDermott's method, you really need a lot of time to be around the hawk, particularly non-food associated time. Plus you need to be able to hunt almost every day and have ample opportunities for slips on wild game. This is particulary true in its first year or you will become the bird's focus as the primary food source and that will lead to problems like aggression and screaming. You also really need to be able to keep it in the house with you until it's catching wild game regularly. This can become a messy burden after 3-4 months.
With a passage, the most important thing is to take an early passage. I trapped mine in late September and was amazed how well she manned down and trained. You will still need to start by keeping the bird in the house, but only for 2-3 weeks before being able to move it outside. Daily interaction is still necessary because as a passage it will go wild quickly if not handled. Plus, your unlikely to have aggression problems. I would consult Bill Boni's book, And One Makes Three as well as McElroy's Desert Hawking with a Little Help from my Friends. McElroy's would be pretty hard to find, but Boni's is available now. I followed his recommendations on the coops and the female I had was wonderful. I was shocked how great she was in the field and will definitely fly another one.
I've never tried a brancher so I can't comment from personal experience. However, I have heard that they can also turn out like an imprint.
It's also a matter of personal preference. Three of my favorite birds to have flown were all passage birds, so that's just my preference I guess. Some people prefer the eyas, so obviously they would give a different suggestion. But even McDermott in his first book suggest that if you don't think you have the time or experience to raise an eyas, take a September coops as a first accip.
Just curious, but where are you in KY?
|
|
