September 21, 2014.
A HOT day, humid, little cooling breeze. This is set up day. The cabana where the birds sit in their vari kennels was cleared and they got out around 2:00. It was very hot to move them I had to take a cooling break during taking them out at the heat of midday (drank LOTS of water) to prevent overheating. I got them on their perches, spritzed them with water and then proceeded to get them ready for evening flights. I walked around the pool area with one hawk (the red-tail) since guests were served food and fries are a favorite of the pest birds. Saw lots, and lots of baby iguanas around as well. Got the telemetry and field equipment together, then at 6:30 started a patrol in front of the office building as the grackles and starlings came in. I flew both hawks (Harris') and my most experienced one started foraging flights which move the birds around. She aways stays nearby, but has gotten into the trees where she could not be seen easily. So the telemetry assured me she was still around. Of course there was lots of interest from the public, educating about this natural method. One fellow told me he flew Harris' hawks in his native England. They are a favorite of falconers with their personality and social structure which works very well with humans. It started to get dark so I searched for the older hawk, she was behind the guard house in a tree. She was low in the tree plucking a bird she had caught. So, the pattern is being set. Got the flashlight out, found her. Got her down on a T post (food on T post held in place with ball bungies, and a flashlight on the T post illuminating a the food. Both held in place with ball bungies. She then readily went into her vari kennel, for she knows she is safe. The T posts I feel is an extremely important tool for abatement work and hawk recovery after dark. She readily went into her kennel for sleeping. I don't have hawks out camping and sleepless nights. Wrapped everything up with birds safely back in the truck around 9:00. A good start and a good day.
A HOT day, humid, little cooling breeze. This is set up day. The cabana where the birds sit in their vari kennels was cleared and they got out around 2:00. It was very hot to move them I had to take a cooling break during taking them out at the heat of midday (drank LOTS of water) to prevent overheating. I got them on their perches, spritzed them with water and then proceeded to get them ready for evening flights. I walked around the pool area with one hawk (the red-tail) since guests were served food and fries are a favorite of the pest birds. Saw lots, and lots of baby iguanas around as well. Got the telemetry and field equipment together, then at 6:30 started a patrol in front of the office building as the grackles and starlings came in. I flew both hawks (Harris') and my most experienced one started foraging flights which move the birds around. She aways stays nearby, but has gotten into the trees where she could not be seen easily. So the telemetry assured me she was still around. Of course there was lots of interest from the public, educating about this natural method. One fellow told me he flew Harris' hawks in his native England. They are a favorite of falconers with their personality and social structure which works very well with humans. It started to get dark so I searched for the older hawk, she was behind the guard house in a tree. She was low in the tree plucking a bird she had caught. So, the pattern is being set. Got the flashlight out, found her. Got her down on a T post (food on T post held in place with ball bungies, and a flashlight on the T post illuminating a the food. Both held in place with ball bungies. She then readily went into her vari kennel, for she knows she is safe. The T posts I feel is an extremely important tool for abatement work and hawk recovery after dark. She readily went into her kennel for sleeping. I don't have hawks out camping and sleepless nights. Wrapped everything up with birds safely back in the truck around 9:00. A good start and a good day.
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