Photo album, page 1
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Several weeks of training and fitness were required to bring this young Saker Falcon into condition in order to catch crows in full arial flight. Pursuit flights are very difficult but also highly spectacular !
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This tiercel (male Goshawk hunted from the fist, proved to be faster on the wing this time and caught this young Mallard Duck. Accipitrines must be hunted daily to maintain their « keeness » to hunt. For this reason, quarry must be abundant.
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Falconry from horse back can be performed under ideal conditions and requires access of suitable open land deprived of fencing and roads. Experience as a falconer and horse rider are also desirable. Practiced by very few, it is however a way of life for the eagle hunters of Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
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The apprentice falconer is proudly holding a Ferruginous Hawk. Several apprentice courses are conducted at the Centre every year.
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Here is a Goshawk with a tremendous boost of confidence ! Snow Geese are in great numbers during migration times in our area, providing many flight opportunities at them. However once on the ground with the hunting hawk, a goose can be very aggressive and may fight back while trying to escape. The austringer must hurry to assit his bird to avoid injuries. Goosling Hawk = Goshawk
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The training of hunting birds at « waiting on position » requires a high level of knowledge and skills. This is also true of the training of hunting dogs to cooperate with a falconer and his birds to « point and flush » the quarry on command, in order to serve the falcon or hawk.
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