Capture/Release

[Calusa]

What is typical, to capture and release when you're done, or keep with the original capture?

[Yarak]

Most capture and release. Some will hang onto a particularly gamey bird for a few seasons. Very few keep a passage bird for an extended period. The choice should be up to you and your sponsor. Some sponsors insist on releasing, others on intermewing. I insist on neither...its totally up to my apprentices.
Yarak

[Allan]

We aint got that choice.....Its illegal to trap over here.

[frootdog]

I feel it is benificial to do both at least once. I released my first bird and am keeping this bird at least through next season. I also feel you gain more expierience by training more than one bird. They are not all alike even within the species. If you end up with extra game in the freezer after you have released a bird donate it to a local raptor rehabber. Just my 2 cents.

[Calusa]

Is it abnormal to keep a bird its entire life?

[frootdog]

No, just ask Yarak. I don't think he's ever going to release his bird. 11 years now right? or is it 12?

[Yarak]

Calusa said:

Is it abnormal to keep a bird its entire life?

That depends. Falconry is full of risk. How long do you really think it is likely that you CAN keep it? I know way too many people who have had their birds die before the bird was even two. Mortality is high, not as bad as the wild, but it can come at anytime. So I guess what I am saying is no it is not abnormal. What is unusual is keeping a passager for more than 10 years. I am, and continue to be, very fortunate. She has killed more than 400 head. She has been bit badly, three times consticted into unconsciousness, footed herself twice and survived West Nile Virus. I am going to take it as far as I can. I feel as though that I am on borrowed time anyway.
Yarak

[squirrelhawker32]

Greg Thomas a falconer here in Indiana has had his RT for going on 20 years and says that's the only way to go. That's a true show of dedication.

[Calusa]

I believe I would prefer to keep the animal. I would get attached, as I have to my previous hawks. I would also be concerned as to a level of dependancy that the hawk has on the human after so long.

Wildlife centers, etc have animals for 20+ years, why not falconers? Though I suppose a hawk used for falconry is subject to more stress..

[Weasel]

Well, as Yarak pointed out. This sport does not lend itself well to becomeing attached to a bird that does not need us or really care if we are there for them or not....We simply train them through manning etc. to accept us as someone who provides food for them. They WILL revert back to the wild with no problems what so ever, unless they where destined to be weeded out of the mix. There are too many things that can go wrong in this sport to prematurely end the life of your hunting charge. Sickness, fences, other animals, electrocution are just a few of the things that can easily cut short your season. Remember that no matter what you do, that passage hawk is always a wild bird and see's you as a big predator. It does not like to be petted or stroked or ticked under it's chin. I could teach a hawk to accept my scratching the back of it's head, but this does not mean that it likes it....It would simply puts up with what I am doing as it does not see it as a threat. I cringe when I see falconers petting the birds back or making kissy sounds to it.......THE BIRDS DON"T CARE OR NEED IT!!!!! Sorry....got a bit off subject there, but it goes to show that they do not become domesticated in any way. The closest you can get to this is with a captive bred bird where they are imprinted on humans.
Another reason why alot of falconers release birds and trap another is for the shear thrill of seeing having a wild hawk being manned down and trained to accept the human partner into it's life. Another reason it to try another species of bird.

[bobdale]

A big Amen to the Weasel's last paragraph.

Buzz, my passage FRT, will be intermewed. I released the bird we flew last year. Then why not release this one you ask? Fair question... I'll tell you. I had lots of fun with Buzz, many fantastic flights and a respectable head count, too (which is still climbing as she took yet another squirrel over the weekend ;D). She's getting... more agressive, i suppose, with every kill. I have heard stories about how much better RTs fly the second year than they did the first. I'll find out for myself. Finally iwant the experience of intermewing a bird.
Like Yarak said, it's between you and your sponsor. My sponsor has one bird that he's been flying for 16 years and one that he's flown for 11 years.
But make no mistake about it; even though i spend lots and lots of time with Buzz in and out of the field, she'd just as soon peck my eye out as a rabbit's.

[Calusa]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

[Minca]

Bring up a good topic for conversation and you get good responses! That's exactly what we intended this forum for! ;D

[Bluehawk]

My sponsor (when I apprenticed int he late 80s) demanded I catch and release one bird and hten catch and take a second bird through the molt ,before he would sign off on me . I nromally release the bird at the end of the season and have noeve had any regrets on dong so . I have had my season cut short twice the first tiem was my thiird season and I was cocky and flew my Tail way to high and still have no idea where he is . the second dies during the season and autopsy showed notuihg but some sigsn of mal nutrition which we coulsnt see any reaosn for AND several of the guyus im ny area lost birds during the same time period for no apparent reason also . We think it was the quail we pruchased .
any way Except for the possibility of catching a Gos I will rerlease all my birds after the season

[bobdale]

I love trapping and training new birds. There's nothing like the rush you get from watching it stick to the trap and following through to the first kill!
Around here the squirrels go into torpor around mid Nov. Intermewing Buzz will (hopefully) let me get in a little more sqirrel hawking ;D