I'm DONE with shooting Starlings.

[FWBGBS]

...I'm onto trapping now!

My buddy Dale finally acquired a long sought after Prairie falcon. He'll train "Bypass" to mostly take rabbits and ducks.
The first fledge in my neck of the woods was heard on 5-10. As a courtesy I gave them a few days to settle in and familiarize themselves with my offerings.
After shooting my share I trapped a quick 18 for Dale.
Not to come off as a pompous snot, but we have so many of these buggers it gets a little boring knocking them off.
10 minutes in the morning and another 10 in the afternoon and I'm good.


   


At 25 days old Bypass isn't much to look upon. Though, as the second photo represents, she'll quickly come into her own.


 


The kills on plastic are the totals for that day.
Pictures weren't taken for all kills. Yeah, I get lazy.


           
     

[Motorhead]

So much for "Live Long & Prosper" .... lifes downright questionable in your neighborhood   

Good job on those buggers !! .... Falconer, now that's pretty cool 

[dk1677]

Very cool!

[condor22]

 The starling here have ESP, if I look out the window they fly off as I'm fetching my gun.  Drive by 'em and I'd swear they're laughing at me. And the couple I did manage to shoot at, just flew away. I'm out the door now, maybe............ 

[Tater]

You scared me there Brad with the title of the thread, but I'm glad to see you're putting them to good use. That falcon = very cool!
Post some pics as it grows and hunts please.

[BenjiHunter]

Cool stuff!!!

[TheBullsEye]

How much did that falcon cost?

[Deechord]

Where does one...buy a Falcon? In some states...you have to apprentice with a Falconer for some time. Usually a member of a club.

[Monkeydad1969]

Well FWBGBS,

I wish I could say the same, but the YB's here don't come around very often.  Yours are thick.  I set out all the usual fair, and all I get are Grackles, and I can't shoot them.  Having to much 'bored' fun.

[FWBGBS]

You scared me there Brad with the title of the thread, but I'm glad to see you're putting them to good use. That falcon = very cool!
Post some pics as it grows and hunts please.

She's barely a brancher now. Though, she'll be in the field within a few months. I'll post pics as they become available.

[Laz]

Wow very cool! But sorry, I think I missed what you do with em after you catch them? Feed them to your falcon?   

[FWBGBS]

How much did that falcon cost?

Not purchased but found as a nestling.
Dale's friend in Eastern WA helps count & track Prairie falcon numbers. There were two in a nest, which by law allows you to take one if criteria are met, and Dale opted for the female. Regarding birds of prey the female is almost always larger.
Most falconry birds are caught wild (as an apprentice your allowed only one bird which can be either a Kestrel or Red-tailed, and it MUST be captured wild). This rule is imposed in case the apprentice doesn't pass par or looses interest in the sport. Thereby allowing the hawk to be set free back into the wild; where a raised nestling wouldn't make it.
Harris hawks and Gyrfalcon are a more popular purchased bird. An all all white Gyr can cost over $10,000. A red-tailedl goes for around $700.

[Gertrude]

super cool !
I'd love to see some of her action in the future.

I've seen on youtube some POV videos where the falcons are wearing a tiny camera, and it records their kills.
 Have you ever done anything like that ?

[wwonka]

Very cool. Now that's an ancient hobby. There are drawings on the pyramids of Egyptian pharaohs hunting with falcons.

Raptors (birds that kill with their claws) are amazing. I love those beautiful over-sized orange claws with the shiny black talons. Your bird's cousin the peregrine falcon is the fastest living thing on this planet. Peregrine falcons dive to kill their flying prey, striking them at 200 mph with those claws, instantly breaking the prey's back.

[FWBGBS]

Where does one...buy a Falcon? In some states...you have to apprentice with a Falconer for some time. Usually a member of a club.

You're correct. One must apprentice for two full years under the guidance of a general or master falconer (Dale's a master). Then theirs a test, of course, and a bit of paperwork to finally get your license.

Falconers are in a very tight click. They know one another very well; both the good and the bad. Like any sport or hobby falconers join local clubs when they're just starting out and for the comradery. I know three falconers and one belongs to a local club. The other two just don't have the time. All three do belong to the NAFA though.
What they all really enjoy doing is mentoring others. I like it for the great stories they share.