Photo album, page 3
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The eye sight of diurnal raptors is about 8 to 10 times superior to a human eye. They can catch up to 80 images per second and so their nervous system has a matching speed accordingly. Human eye can catch up to 20 images per second…We then describe the “mental world” of these raptors as being 10 times faster than ours !
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This Goshawk caught a Green Winged Teal in an ambush over the river stream. To bring this kind of quarry into the falconer’s bag it took many different scenarios with more and more difficult set ups using captive bred game birds. There are two categories of hunting raptors: the accipitrines and falcons are said to be true “attackers” and the buteos and eagles are said to be like “searchers”.
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Pointing dogs and ATV’s are valuable helpers in some set-ups in open land. The pointer will help find the quarry and flush it under the falconers control to serve the falcon at “waiting on” position. A stooping falcon can reach speed up to 300km/hrs. Some pursuit flights can go for several kilometres.
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This Lanner Falcon is less than 12 hours from hatching and is receiving its first feeding. The falcon will be hand reared for about four days before it is placed back in the scrape (nest) with parents and siblings.
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This young female Red-Tailed Hawk is about to be shipped to a new home by airplane. Precautions are taken in order to keep feathers in perfect condition during the long trip in a kennel.
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A Falcon shelter will provide protection from weather, other predators and to some on lookers with too much enthusiasm! Additional pretection is provided during winter months.
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