A most excellent days excursion . I was unable to fly any bird to the lure on this trip, as the resident Peregrine is now retired and of pensionable age-a shame , because they strike hard and you need to have your nerves still and head calm as they swoop in at speed, all very exhilarating if it comes off well. The weather was warm and calm, so that ruled out any possibility of flying the vultures , as decent thermals are needed to get them airborne , also the large Lappet Vulture was resting due to egg laying exertions. However I had the whole day to work with other birds, and some of them were a joy to handle.

The Barn Owl is a featherweight and a sociable little chap, you will get pecked but only in a very gentle way, they enjoy being stroked and tickled on the back of the head, but they have very sharp little talons .The seem to be able to eat all day, without guilt or indigestion.Short tail vole is the dish most desired and a pair require 300 acres of untouched grassland to forage over-so if you can keep a pair in comfort you are doing the species a favour.

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=866

Here's a small African Owl.

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=868

The Harris Hawk is a recent addittion to hawking, halfway between buzzard and eagle but mistaken for a carrion bird because of its sociable habit (unique for a hawk).These animals are paragons of numerous Pagan virtues- haughty, proud, clever, inclined to sloth, immaculately well dressed, yet sociable hunters and well mannered. I forgot I had the bird on my hand when we were walking out this afternoon,(she was quite happy to sit on the glove or take to the tree tops)

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=869

however when presented with a rabbit my hand was held in a vice whilst she concentrated on eating.

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=870

Quite an interesting mechanism the claws, if the prey squirms the talons bite deeper and deeper by reflex -so if you havethe hawk on the bare flesh you must cease any movement, let the bird peck at you (which hurts) to see if you are a large rabbit or vole and wait till she realises you are a large human and lets go.You should always wear a glove but sometimes the wrong arm gets sat upon, that being the case you should lower the hand and the animal will move toward the shoulder for a more secure perch.You find yourself chatting quite happily to the bird, other handlers and other birds without any unease.

The Snake Eating Eagle is big, heavy, bad tempered and fairly dim. However he has "kickass" killing feet, apparently able to deliver the force of the bite of two alsatian dogs per foot, so any snake is spaghetti.

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=867

An extra glove is neede to handle these birds as the talons are fearsome-in this photo I thought my arm was going to snap, you have to fly these birds off quickly.They are also very very lazy, feed them and they pack up for the day.

And...here's young Toby, he's only just into Owl Jump School and hasn't got his wings yet, but he did some decent hops and jumps this morning....and he blinks cutely and is even tempered.

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=871

for those who are interested I will post off site on my msn blog-plenty of vera the vulture!

http://triclinium.spaces.msn.com/

you cant miss her , she is the seriously ugly one.

Look at the equipment you need!

http://www.falconiformes.co.uk/wip_falconiformes_014.htm

and finally , wikipedia has a useful little note on the Japanese art (Takagari) , notice the congruity with English feudal rules.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takagari