Well it must now be Spring. Stuff the clocks changing. That just meant I got 1 hour less in bed. The big sign for me was the fact I saw my first bumble bee of the year. I also saw what I think was a Osprey. It was at a good height up in the sky and was getting a hard time from several sea gulls which it dwarfed. I struggled to get a good look at it with my binoculars but the markings looked about right. Spring is here. I know this may not be very falconry but 1 of the joys of working outside is you get to see the seasons changing. Spring is a great season as everything comes to life from the snow drops pushing through the frozen ground, to the first bumble bee, migrating birds, buds on the trees bursting open and feeling the warmth of the sun on your face. It is all good. Winter is about dealing with it, Spring is about awakening, Summer is fun and Autumn is all about preparing. That's how I see it.
Back to life at Strathblane Falconry. The last week has been quite steady. The 2 schools went well. Bob (Gyr x Saker) behaved at his first school visit and sat quietly on the glove while I spoke about him. I was a little bit worried about him as he has not been the most steady of birds and was nuts when I got him but he was very good. Alba (Barn Owl) did her stuff and flew round the school halls. The first schools hall was great as it was a big hall and she must of been up 30ft some times and I would call her and she would drop down on the glove. The second school had a small hall but it was ok as it was 1 that she has flown in many times before so I knew what to expect.
The weekend was fully booked. Saturday was very busy. I had an all day session in which lasted 5 hours and then it was straight into a family fun 1 hour session. I was feeling it at the end of Saturday and the birds all flew well. On Sunday we had 3 people out in the morning for a half day session and then I treated myself to the afternoon off. Some of the birds also got the whole day off. It's not a case of all work and no play.
I don't like my guys sitting at fly weight day in day out being hungry. If the bookings are coming in and we are very busy then fair enough they are working but if there are times when I can give a bird a break and little bit of chill out time I will. Over the last week I have been able to do that.
Artemis was the first. I gave her a deers head as a treat and she was delighted and it was a case of close the outer door to her aviary so she could work on it in peace. I am always amazed as to how much she can get out of a deers head. I gave her the deers head on the Wednesday, Thursday I took it off her and didn't feed her as she hadn't cast, Friday she did cast (a cast is what she can't digest and doesn't pass through the gut) and I weighed her - she had put on 4oz in weight. That's alot. A 4oz increase in weight is massive. I was able to do a bit of work on Saturday with her.
Next were the falcons Sanda (Lanner) and Uist (Lugger). Both have been working hard flying and also doing verticals (jumping from a block perch to the glove) to build up their fitness faster. They each got their daily foo of 3 or 4 de yolked chicks and 1/2 a quail on Saturday. Sunday was spent chilling out. and relaxing. Oran was another who was given a chance to relax in the fact that he got a quail to eat on Sunday. When left in the early afternoon he had finished it and was looking very please with himself. I have also been able to give Alba (Barn Owl), Jerry (Tawny Owl) and Luca ( Northern Hawk Owl) mice as well. I have said it many times before but when I give my birds quail, mice or rats or any food other than day old cockerel chicks I always feel good. I get a real kick out of how worked up they get when they food like that. The sad thing is I suspect in a lot of places where birds of prey are kept for commercial purposes food like that is a myth for the birds.
Talking of food. I was given a bag of deer bones by someone who does deer stalking. They will be good tiring for the birds. This is where they will have to work at the bones to get the last of the meat of. It helps to keep their beaks in good order and also enrichment for the birds themselves in the fact they have to work to get their food. There is a fair bit on the bones as the guy who butchered the deer is not a butcher. I will try some of it on the birds over the next week and see how the get on.
The coming week is not to busy so I will take the opportunity to take Sanda and Uistok to fly them on the farm as i have been using this farm for ages and the farmer knows that i know how to conduct myself on his land especially during the lambing season. Also the 2 falcons are not going to do anything to his sheep or lambs. This is totally different to Artemis (Steppe Eagle) being taken out to a farm to fly.
Mardy (male Harris Hawk) flew free on Friday for the first time in 6 months after his moult and was back dealing with clients on Saturday. As he was so good so I have decided to put Amber in for the moult and stopped flying her. Brel the other male Harris Hawk should be flying in the next day or 2 once I have put a bell, tail mount and new flying jesses on him.
The coming week with longer days and hopefully better weather will be all about working with the birds that have been rested over the winter to get them flying and up to a good level of fitness. I really enjoy this time as I get to fly the birds for myself.
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