Harris hawks

Satyr_The_Great

Hey people,does anybody here know anything about harris hawks?or any other species of hawk that live in ireland?would love to get one at some point if i can find out enough info on care and cost.

thejaguar

Have a look at http://www.falconryofireland.com/

I did the 'hawk walk' with some friends - we brought out some harris hawks and the chap who owned them really knew his stuff.

He even gives you a lesson at the start about different birds of prey among other things.

I think it'd be worth giving them a shout.

Satyr_The_Great

iv seen them on the tv,i saw that site the other day alright.always wanted a hawk or an eagle,would love a harris hawk, something thats native to ireland.

Schlemm

Don't know much about them, but Harris Hawks are good to start with, they get on well with people.

Satyr_The_Great

yeah thats why id like one to start with.they are found all over the world as far as i know, specially in america but they are known to be in ireland too.if anybody has info on prices for them please let me know,all info will be greatly appreciated.

Vas_Guy

To purchase a Harris Hawk you need a license and to get one you have to be:

1. Have you property inspected by a wildlife ranger.

2. Have an experienced falconer sign a form saying that your competent in the art of falconry.

If your interested in falconry do a hawk walk there are a few falconry centres around the country, then if your still interested do a days hunting. I did a few hawk walks, hunting, etc, but the best place I found for falconry was Animal Magic in Limerick, http://www.animalmagic.ie/, they are very hands on, in the other places they do not let you really do much but in Animal Magic its allabout getting hands on experience, but with most falconry centres you pay about E150 for 1 hour with them I think I paid E150 for a full day 10 am to 8pm! Plus they are really nice people.

If your still interested join the Irish Hawking Club http://www.irishhawkingclub.com/ they'll put you in contact with an expereinced falconer in your area who will help you out.

The steps are get the bird at about 12 weeks, manning this is where the bird to socialised to everything, training and then teaching it to hunt.

A female HH costs about E800 a male is cheaper, then you need avery and telemetry equipment in case you loose your bird, in some case the telemetry is more expensive then the bird itself!

Feeding is easy the bird is weighted before every flight and while you can fly your bird all year round its recommended you only fly it in the hunting season as they molt in the summer and if you fly them constantly during the summer the proteins that normally go into producing a good floom of feathers is burned off in flying so they will not have a good plumage in the hunting season.

A HH is a good bird to start falconry with, do'nt let experienced falconers try and force you to start with anything else like a gosshawk, etc. as these birds are difficult to train, expecially for a beginner.

Good luck

Satyr_The_Great

cheers for the info,it will be some time before i get one, a year or so maybe as i have other plans that are taking priority at the moment.but i want as much info and experience as i can get before i get one.

Our man in Havana

http://www.falconryireland.com/falconry_flights_map.htm

Hun check out falconry Irleand they are in Kinnety castle in Birr so not too far from you.

carlie 100

Or you could check out www.woodlandsfalconry.com if you want good value for money. He has a wide range of birds, eagle etc. and he is extremely helpful. goes through everything in the morning and fly the harrishawk and falcons in the afternoon, a good day out!

btw his website has some good stuff on it, blog, forum, articles etc if your interested in reading about falconry

monty_python

Vas_Guy wrote: »

To purchase a Harris Hawk you need a license

i always tought dogs where the only animals that you need a license for??? what is the name of this license?? i know for sure there is no dwa in this country