Harris hawk

[tatsblisters 7,950]

1 hour ago, Greyman said:

I would have thought it was a little different flying a hungry bird at multiple bolted rabbits to a naturalised preditor hunting for food the impact would be minimal unless numbers got out of hand ? and just before I go away for a few days I saw my first red kite  flying over my house in Bristol this week ,( not my first kite, but first one here,) got a bit excited while all the other blokes on site looked at me like a twat, but it will stick in my head like the first peregrine I saw many moons back, now have at least 6 nesting pairs near me that I know of and I am not looking seriously, good times for the raptors ?

You are probably right Greyman the impact would be minimal as long as they did not get near the same numbers as the common buzzard and bolting rabbits for them is great sport especialy on places like the dales were the bird is flown from the fist the time's I have seen them flying free by their handlers wile walking through woodland on numerouse occasions species not on the quarry list have come a cropper to this very smart bird of prey.

[foxdropper 17,092]

It' not the actual killing done by adapters that affects gamebirds especially in pens ,it' the stress they are put under through constant visits .We rear fame birds artificially and then moan when a predator wants a meal or two lol.Harrs hawks  could indeed become a commen sight in our countryside .They are far better predators than our buzzard and more aggressive in defence of young having seen both in captivity. The male Harris I had was found by a mate hooked up in a bush and I flew him for 4 seasons before giving him to another mate for breeding .Would love another bird but times not right .

[slip-em quick 74]

Here in leeds its not unusal to see multiple kites gliding  in circles high on thermals,ive seen at 11 once.There the most common bird of prey we have round here and have colonised most woods round my way.Its not surprising really, as the reintegration program started at harewood house on the edge of Leeds,in which they released 90breeding pairs from europe.

[ChrisJones 7,973]

4 minutes ago, slip-em quick said:

Here in leeds its not unusal to see multiple kites gliding  in circles high on thermals,ive seen at 11 once.There the most common bird of prey we have round here and have colonised most woods round my way.Its not surprising really, as the reintegration program started at harewood house on the edge of Leeds,in which they released 90breeding pairs from europe.

That, sir, is a beautiful thing. The start of summer, this end of the planet, is signalled by the return of the turkey vultures. They're not endangered like the kites but watching these enormous birds gliding by the dozens is pretty spectacular!

[tilimangro 1,013]

On 30/03/2018 at 13:19, j j m said:

years ago i paid 1200 for my first harris hawk how times have changed,they loss them now they go out and buy another one,i breed most birds of prey and my birds just dont go to any one

I remember paying the same and valueing that bird above everything else in my life at the time

taught me loads

cant believe how cheaply birds can be got for these days

[Greyman 25,266]

Here's one I found a few weeks ago sadly most of the bird was gone and there was not enough plumage for a proper I'd, my two main contenders are, hopefully a buzzard as we have them in bucket loads around me but worryingly found it in an area I saw my first goshawk in a year or two ago and have seen other reports of goshawks in the area so what do the experts recon ???

[foxdropper 17,092]

Parrot 

[foxdropper 17,092]

On our local tip you can see upwards of 30 kites in with the gulls .

[foxdropper 17,092]

5 minutes ago, W. Katchum said:

We got serious rise in numbers up here in most birds of prey an owls. I not complaining i love seeking them about,  can’t wait for light nights to creep in bit more as my youngest who is 2 is owl daft? so gonna take him to a spot I know where we can watch barn owl hunting late evening?

Did you ever get him an owl mate or am I thinking of someone else .

[Rabid 1,936]

20 minutes ago, Greyman said:

so what do the experts recon ???

I reckon it's dead.

 

But am sure someone more qualified will be along shortly to put me right ?

[foxdropper 17,092]

Cracking bird for youngsters mate ,even imprints .

[Greyman 25,266]

4 minutes ago, W. Katchum said:

Thought did cross my mind mate but I’ll let him stick with his pigeons for now? 

Get him an owl call mate, it's good fun you can call them right in and get quite a few all hooting back at you at once, 

[Daniel cain 42,889]

2 hours ago, foxdropper said:

Cracking bird for youngsters mate ,even imprints .

Had a tawny owl and then a little owl as a kid, I'd love another but with work, family the dogs I couldnt do it justice...

[Welsh_red 4,307]