thinking of getting a bird.

[gilly-93 31]

thinking of getting a small bird ether a sparrowhawk or a kestrel my dad wonts me to get a harris hawk but with no experience or anything i dont wont a big thing like that but maybe move on to a bigger one once i get confident and learn how to fly properly. can you reply and tell me your opinion on these bird and whhich one is the better bird

thanks

[stu_young 3]

kestrals an sparrowhawks are no good really for your first bird as there whieght control is harder to control your best bet is a harris hawk

[Guest Lady-Hunter07]

My Very 1st bird was a Kestral best bird i had,i have had 5 kestrals i also have had 3 sparrow hawks and i would say from my own personal expereince i would pick kestral everytime..

 

[NIGHTSHADOW 3]

KESTREL, OR COMMON BUZZARD, Buzzard, you have more weight to play with. I learnt with a Kestrel, then a Common Buzzard, then a Spar, then moved onto a RedTail. But I fly a a female Harris Hawk at the moment.

[Guest Lady-Hunter07]

I do Perfer my 3 female harris hawks now tho

Edited January 27, 2008 by Lady-Hunter07

[bullet 125]

like stated above mate the wieght control is a lot tighter with smaller birds, so i'd go for a harris everytime

[gilly-93 31]

cheers for replys im looking more into harris hawks now from your replys and they are very stunning birds.

would a HH be good for a first bird?

and

what would i need to look for out for?

like male or femail?

would like to get a part trained one expecting to pay around 400 pounds is this about right?

 

im am building an aviary on the decking so can keep an eye on it through the window!

[rickardo 76]

have you got anyone you can talk to if you have any problems? i would also get ur self a good book like FALCONRY AND HAWKING BY PHILLIP GLASIER.. this would help no end , also give you a better insite of which bird you want..

[gilly-93 31]

have you got anyone you can talk to if you have any problems? i would also get ur self a good book like FALCONRY AND HAWKING BY PHILLIP GLASIER.. this would help no end , also give you a better insite of which bird you want..

no nobody to talk to but people on here will help me along i hope thanks for tht [bANNED TEXT] will look into it

[Blaze 49]

Depends what you are wanting to use the bird for?....If its hunting then a kestral is of no use really unless your fond of grashoppers ....sparrow hawk are spectacular to watch hunt but very easy to make fatal mistakes....Harris would be ideal as a first hunting bird!...IMO!

[lakeman 12]

kestrels , although a nice bird, servre no purpose as a falconry bird. and spa's are DEFFINATLY not a beginers bird.(your margin for error with weight control with a bird of 230 GRAMS is minimal compared to one of 1lb/2lb)

start with a HH or similar. and learn as much as you can about husbandry first (the BFC have an apprenticeship scheme) . also look at doing a course at a local falconry center or travel if need be (LANTRA now do a falconry course). this is not a sport to go into blind. you should also look at what land you have access to and what your quarry species will be (and a game licence).

 

dont mean to come accross too strong but have flown birds for many years (mainly spa's). and am also on the commitee of the BFC (southern regeion) and have seen a lot of birds ruined or worse by lack of knowledge and experience.

Edited January 27, 2008 by lakeman

[gilly-93 31]

im not thinking of hunting with the bird well not this first bird anyway im just trying to get to know how to fly bird and basic training ect thats why i dont realy wont to spead slot of money on a proper hunting bird when i wont be hunting with it thats why im asking which is the better bird out of sparrowhawk and kestrel and thanks for the possative replys

[SPAR 2]

Get a job at a falconry centre if thats all you want to do or get a common buzzard you will learn alot from one

Edited January 27, 2008 by SPAR

[gilly-93 31]

Get a job at a falconry centre if thats all you want to do or get a common buzzard you will learn alot from one

i would do but i dont leave school for another 2 years!!!!!!

[gilly-93 31]

I hope this post is not a joke.. ..

You want to steer clear of both sparrow hawk's and kestrel's like the plauge they are for the experienced falconer realy.. the weight control on them has to be just about bang on otherwise you will kill the bird or you will get nowhere in the training process..

The prey species for a kestrel is limmited and they are only realy flown to the lure.. the sparrow hawk will take a lot more range from small bird's to partridge's but like i siad they are only for the more experienced falconer..

You would be a lot better setting your sight's on a red tail hawk or a harris hawk as they are bigger bird's and can cope with mistake's a little bit better..

But before you even consider getting a bird you will need to join a Falconry club if you dont have a falconer near you and you will have to read the print of a good book..

 

On the decking subject near the window you deffinetly dont want the bird looking into the house where it can see you during the training process when you start stripping the weight.. otherwise you could end up with a bird screaming everytime it see's you for food..so you may have to consider a different place for your mews/weathering..

Good luck..

Millet

whats funny about my post?

dont look down on someone unless [bANNED TEXT] helping them off the floor thanks eniway

ps im 14