The allure of falconry: One man's passion

[Peregrine369]

know a good place to get an aprenticeship in illinois? I got almost everything set up and I just need a place to become an aprentice

[grneyez33]

Hi Lee,

Been to Palos Hospital lately? Met you last year in the ER. You told me I should check out your video. Very interesting! It's nice to know there are people like you that prefer to help these animals instead of hunting them. I work with exotic animals so I can definitely appreciate what you do.

Take care!

Lauren

[mvinci145]

I'm looking into this art now. Its so impressive to see an animal thats able to fly away at any moment but yet chooses to come back.Sort of a symbiotic relationship. Plus your helping young birds live to adult hood where many die

[scorpiostinger65]

I wish that ALL exotic animals had the rigorous demands on training and care that falconry does. This man is wonderful; he knows he has a wild animal, and treats the hawk accordingly. People need to THINK before the get dogs or cats, let alone a hawk, lion or tiger.

[SHAWTYDAVID]

A bright individual production : )

[MrLouBarker]

Lee,  I think you were in the Rangers back in 83-85. It's Lou Barker. 333rd E btry Call me 540-908-4079 either way.

[vboytan]

awesome, not what i expected it to be. I thought the bird would form a bond with you much like a dog would. But regardless this is pretty awesome. Are parrots the same way or do they actually get close t to their owners?

[HagenSteele]

@vboytan

Parrots are very social birds and pretty much NEED company to feel secure, be it an owner, or another bird. Parrots left alone for extended periods tend to develop behavioral issues, especially if they don't have toys or something else constructive to occupy their time.

Raptors, however, are pretty much solitary birds who hunt and live alone except for mating, child rearing etc.

Harris hawks are one of the exceptions in that they are very social raptors.

[AzBirdDog]

Absolutely awesome, and Beautiful Bird!!!!!

[matrixfoxtard]

hey nice video. nice out look on it too

[ClearOutSamskaras]

So, the Falcon/Hawk are birds of prey. They won't miss you if you leave them, because they are not higher functioning animals. It just shows how stupid the whole movement of Social Darwinism was/is. Higher functioning sophisticated creatures want to form connections with others to satisfy a spectrum of wants/needs from simple emotional connection to the building of culture and civilization. A predator just wants to feed. A sophisticated animal wants to feed and do so much more!

[grneyez33]

Interesting video.  I can tell you love what you do. Gym coach, paramedic, and falconer! What a combo!

[rem2daj]

It just seems like people holding majestic birds against their will

[kevseabass]

@rem2daj I Love animals to be free but i cant see how it's against their will. they could fly off whenever they want

[Mich199999]

@rem2daj no asshole stop speaking out of your ass the bird is WILLING to stay with the person it can fly away any time ok stop opening your mouth it helps poeple out

[shadowblade145]

@rem2daj They could go off wherever they want. They're not under like a shock collar or something. It is a kind of partnership. Hunter takes care of bird, feeds bird, and gets (most) of it's kill. Bird kills bird for hunter, gets fed and chills back in it's "cage" (more like a mansion from the look of this guys cage). It's good for both of them.

[mreichert68]

well you are right about that they dont have affection for us but haris's hawks can sometimes bond with their owners

[719iceman]

this would be an excellent skill if SHTF

[MrFuckyoumannn]

@719iceman Falconry is a way of life and is something some people enjoy like hunting with guns or racing horses. To each his own so just stfu because you sound like a fucking idiot.

[719iceman]

@MrFuckyoumannn wow, im not even gonna make fun of u, because u dont know how to read a comment and im guessing u dont know what SHTF is so why dont u google it little kid

[shadowblade145]

@719iceman Shit's gonna hit the fan someday. And this guy, I can tell, will be ready for it. Both the Falcon and him will be warm and fed.

[MrFuckyoumannn]

@Vendetta8775 WTF is wrong with you please check yourself into a mental hospital immediately and let them know that you think this please. You are a danger to yourself and society.

[shadowblade145]

@Vendetta8775 Sounds delicious. I would do that if I have the opportunity to fight back and kick your ass! I must also be armed.

[rutgerchieko]

nice rt woooow:p

[householdfilms]

thats my teacher XD

[greenvapour123]

In the UK it is a very different story, I am midway through doing the lantra beggining falconry assesment which is the only form of formal falconry tuition in the UK (coincidently I am being trained by the author of the assesment). There are no restrictions on buying captive bred birds although trapping wild ones is strictly illegal. I hope to pass my assesment this Thursday although I won't be able to get my bird untill I have worked out wht I am doing over the next few years.

[ghazghkull2001]

@greenvapour123 to own one of these kinda of birds your life plan gets assesed? I ask because i have also rescently taken an interest in falconry?

[TheFalconer66]

@greenvapour123 Just out of curiosity, who's training/trained you???

[greenvapour123]

@TheFalconer66 Dee Mitchell, she runs a falconry business with her partner.

[TheFalconer66]

@greenvapour123 Oh right, OK. Just wondering. Its not the person I was thinking of.

[Pokagon18]

hows does one make a living and take care of these raptors.

[bigjohntightlips]

this is a realistic view of how falconry is today, with all our mod cons such as didgy scales and all the leather at our disposal,, it is still man against a wild hawk or falcon, its a skill like you say time is the key time and more time,, 5 big stars from john,, stay lucky hunting :-)

[rutgerchieko]

Groeten van Rutger van Belgium

[rutgerchieko]

Wow beautiful red-tailed hawk, I'm jealous of your bird.

I'm 17 years old and have a male and female harris hawk. + a female gyr x saker falcon

[McDaidUSA]

This seems much more rewarding than hunting. Its too bad that falcons don't show any attachment to their human owners, that would seem to be another level of attraction to the sport. But it is what it is, and seems like a great way to experience nature. Nice video, I learned a lot.

[MrBriq]

I always wanted to do that.