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Post by BlueTiercel on Aug 2, 2005 7:08:59 GMT -5
I agree Frootdog, it is an excellent book overall, and Hal is from the old school though he obviously realizes the things that have changed due to his inclusion on Matt Mullinex doing a chapter on AK's in the book. i really think it is an editing issue that wasn't fully taken care of. It is by far the best "falconry" book i own though i don't own that many yet. I would say i really learned the most from it and enjoyed it while the study guides are just that, study guides. The more varied (as long as it's good valid material) an apprentices education the better, and i would say if i had to read one book it would be a book like NAFAHH due to the fact the scope of stuff discussed is just so much wider and in so much more detail, and it's fun to read.
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Post by jondarp on Aug 5, 2005 9:03:28 GMT -5
One thing to keep in mind about reading study guides and books for the test in that each state's test may be (probably is) different. Some states don't have a state test and simply use the federal exam, on which as I understand, a lot of questions come from material in NAFHH.
On the other hand, the Connecticut apprentice exam had very few questions on it that were derived from NAFHH. There were a number of questions on our state regs and virtually all of the rest were either the same or very similar to the falconry exam simulator on the Online falconry web site and/or the New York State study guide. I took the online test over and over until I was consistently scoring 100 percent and studied the. New York State guide diligently.
Not to belabor the point, but some sources of information are fine as study aids, but may be somewhat out of date (e.g., some of the medical information on the online exam and in the NY state guide). They will help someone pass the test, but the information is not entirely accurate.
On the other hand, books like NAFHH, The Red-tailed Hawk, may or may not be useful as study aids (depending on your state's exam) but still serve as excellent sources of overall information.
Just my two cents worth.
- Jon D.
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Post by BlueTiercel on Aug 15, 2005 17:29:58 GMT -5
Hey Jon,
Have you taken the test yet? I am planning on taking it soon...as you probably know, I have a sponsor! I tell yah it really means alot that Cindy said she will sponsor me, Mark said "she's a hell of a lot nicer than me", haha, I don't know if you caught that. anyway, this is a very exciting thing for me as things are starting to become more of a reality. unfortunatly it is allready late in the summer and with time constraints we are going to wait until september to trap that kestrel. BUT, I am going to take the test fairly soon, after Cindy and I go over the state regs , etc. I plan on going out hawking with as many people as possible and hopefully that will help me learn a lot more, too. sorry if this is in the wrong place, didn't see a "i have sponsor thread"
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Post by ccrobbins on Aug 15, 2005 20:11:40 GMT -5
Great news BT, what are you going to do about a facility?
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Post by BlueTiercel on Aug 15, 2005 20:30:01 GMT -5
I am going to be building a mews and weathering area next spring before i trap the bird that september. When I talked to my sponsor today she recomended a 12 by 8 mews 8 by 8 feet of which are mews I geyus and the other is a 4 by 8 area with a shelf perch and stuff or something. I am not totaly sur ebut think th ebird is sometimes allowed to fly around in the larger area during the off season while Iam at work and maybe kept tethered in the smaller area on the shelf perch during hunting season. I am then going to build a 10 by 10 foot weathering area for her to weather in while I am at home and can keep an eye on her. I am not totally sure on all of this but That was pretty much what was talked about on the phone today. I will no more on sunday probably, when I call her up again. Thankfully my sponsor lives only about 10 miles away from me! And we only have something like 9 or 10 active falconers in the state! she is also married to the guy who got me interested in falconry. Between them I think they have 60 years of gamehawking experience with various raptors. Also, as you might have gathered I met Jon Darpino at the Maine Falconry and Hawk Conservancy Club Picnic. He was there with his sponsor Jim G of Rhode Island (who i met once before)and Nate, Jake and Robin. I think Jake is a falconer, or maybe it's Nate and Jake...help me out JonDarp. Anyway, all great people and I had a GREAT time at the picnic. I have to admit I was very nervous at first when I pulled up and saw the club as they were having a business meeting. All those falconers and here I come someone who knows squat. But as my wife and I walked up Mark Fanning came up with a big smile on his face and I introduced him to my wife and everything was great from there. To bad my wife had to leave to go to a wedding, she missed a great time.
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Post by jondarp on Aug 16, 2005 6:05:54 GMT -5
BT,
To answer your questions, I took my state exam last October. Both Nate and Jake are falconers. Nate will be truining general this fall and Jake is a second year apprentice, also under Jim G.
So, are you planning on flying a kestrel this fall or am I misunderstanding?
- Jon D.
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Post by BlueTiercel on Aug 16, 2005 17:31:43 GMT -5
I talked to Cindy on monday and she thinks it will be a bit to much of a rush to fly a kestrel this fall as we need an early trapped bird to be up and hunting before cold weather and such. almost makes me think...hmmm redtail, but I am not gonna push my luck! also mews being built in spring will be set up for the k-bird. Right now I am ordering state regs to study and getting advice on where to purchase stuff and hopefully make a BC and some stuff this fall. I am taking te test this fall as I studied that mauel awhile ago and shoud do it while it's fresh in my mind then I an have passed the test and feel like I have acomplised something.
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