Ok lets start with the big news.
Today was an important day. If you like VERY IMPORTANT
This afternoon I had my Zoo Licence inspection. I have mentioned in the past when I have had inspections and I have 3 a year - 2 from Alistair Lawrie the vet who I use if the birds are unwell or get injured checks over the centre and the birds every 6 months and once a year the council vet does an inspection. This year is slightly different. I have a 4th inspection from the government vet due to the fact that my Zoo Licence is due to expire in the coming months. This is what was happening this afternoon.
I am happy to say that the inspection went well and the government vet plus 1 person from Stirlingshire Council Environmental Health who issue my Zoo Licence were very happy with centre, the systems I have in place for the upkeep of the birds and their needs.
I always feel quietly confident when it comes to inspections of the centre. Strathblane Falconry has never had any problems with inspections in past and the centre has always passed any inspection first time. This is something that I am very proud of. I always want to show not only my birds but the sport of Falconry in the best possible light.
So what has been happening. As per usual - quite a lot.
I was talking in my last entry that I was going to go and get food for the birds. Getting the food is always a big deal for me. I am always looking for new things to feed the birds so when I go and speak to the guy who supplies me with food I am always asking if he has anything new. This time time the answer was no so it was just the norm - 26 boxes (250 chicks to a box) of day old cockerel chicks, 40 quail, 2 kg mice, 3 kg rats and I am not sure why but I decided to buy 10kg of duck necks. I suspect it was the bulk discount that won me over. I normally only buy 2kg. Needless to say I am using a lot of duck to feed the birds and they seem to be loving it. I always feel it is important to give the birds a good variety of food where possible. The cheap and easy option is to feed the birds chicks every day and some people do but when I see 1 of my falcons working hard eating a duck neck pulling at it working it's neck muscles to get it's food or an eagle owls reaction when I give it a rat to eat I know I am doing something right for my birds. It is not only the nutritional requirements that I am trying to meet but also environmental and behavioural requirements that I am trying to enrich.
I also had the first big display of the year - Glasgow Vet School Rodeo. This was my third year doing it and it all went well. I have received some good feed back from various people who watched my flying displays. The birds all behaved and flew well. The Rodeo is a well run event with a great static area which more than meets my requirements when the birds are sitting out in between flying displays. The sun shone as well so there was a big crowd. It is also a chance to catch up and say hello to some of the vet students who come out on EMS placement to the centre. I have to admit it is 1 of my favourite events as I always a good time at it. Out of the birds there was 2 stand out moments. Bob (Gyr x Saker) caught me out in the 2nd flying display and struck the lure. Thankfully I was getting ready to finish up with him. I was going to do 2 more passes to the lure and then finish but he struck the lure so I had to finish there and then with him. The other was Artemis (Steppe Eagle). I have never flown her at a event like this but I decided to set up a line which she was attached to and see if she would fly which she did. I didn't put her in the demo but as I had such a large static area at the Rodeo for the birds to sit out in there is more than enough space to try a few things out. As it was I had a huge crowd while Artemis was flying from T perch to T perch. I may look at putting her in a few demonstrations later in the summer. A big thank you to Alix who helped me on the day and also to Gail who was attending the Rodeo who also gave me a help at 1 point.
That wasn't he only large event I have done in the last few weeks. We are in Corporate Event Season. This is the time of the year when corporate work tends to happen. It can happen at any time of the year but in the spring / early summer this is when enquires and events tend to be most common. The following Saturday after the Rodeo I was at Kirknewton House to do an event. Brel (Harris Hawk) was the stand out bird swooping out of trees onto the clients glove as we were in the gardens of the big house which were very impressive. It is funny. The weekend before was a large event with 2 flying demonstrations where I was flying Brel, there was lots of people watching but no crowd participation and he was perfect - as soon as I called him he was on the glove. The following weekend it was rotational event where Brel needed to fly to people and once again he was perfect except he wouldn't fly to me until he had landed a guests glove first. If I called him in he wouldn't do it even if I offered him food. If I asked a guest to put the glove on, put their arm up even if there was no food Brel was straight to them and then he would fly to me. It's like he knows what is expected. He is a fantastic bird to work with. He maybe grumpy and bad tempered at times but he doesn't seem to be scared of anything and just gets on with it where ever I ask him to fly.
I mentioned in my last blog entry how Cooper the young Harris Hawk who I got in Sept last year was looking like he was going to catch something. Well it happened. I said it was on the cards. Last week he caught a rabbit at Cameron House. I had done a few hawk walks over there in quick succession and I could see he was flying with a bit of purpose and intent. Lets just say he wasn't just going through the motions. There had been a few close calls and a confidence to his flying. He had taken a shot a a goose that gave had given him some grief when he was sitting on the ground - he just took off and as he flew past the goose and he hit it. The goose didn't look that impressed. I was about 2/3 of the way through the hawk walk approaching some woods. Cooper was flying about with as I said intent and I knew I needed to keep an eye on him and then I saw him fly down into the woods and I knew he had seen something and I was off and running. I had seen him fly like this a couple of times recently and just stood and watched but this time though I just knew he was going to catch something. Sure enough as I made I made my way to him in the middle of a large patch of brambles I could tell he had caught a rabbit. His first and with the way he is flying I know it won't be his last. I would like to point out that I have never encouraged or trained Cooper to hunt. He saw an opportunity and took it. All birds of prey have the instinct to hunt and they will if they see an opportunity that they think they can take.
The coming weeks are looking busy with a good variety of events from the activity days in the centre to photo work and a good selection of work out on the road either at Cameron House or at other venues. Hopefully I will remember to take a camera so I have some pictures to show what myself and the birds have been up to and where we have been.
949
Friday, 27 April 2012
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Getting ready
Three weeks since my last post. The time just flies these days.
Starting with a bit of good news. Corrie (European Eagle Owl) who in my lost blog entry I was talking about how he got lead poisoning the previous month. Well it looks like he has made a full recovery. He is moulting at the moment. I am picking up handfuls a feathers that he is moulting out everyday when I go in and clean his aviary. The fact that he seems to be having a good moult should be a sign that he is feeling good with himself and he has recovered. He is also more like his usual self which is great to see.
Things have been busy either with bookings or just working with the birds. At times it has been interesting trying to get everything done. I work on my own mainly. There are benefits to working on your own and there are disadvantages. First up the benefits - everything gets done the way I like it and I don't have to sit down and discuss what is going to happen with anyone. The down side is there is no one to answer the phone if I can't get to it and there is no one to delegate to which would of been handy at times. Saying that I have been working on my own now for 10 years and I have managed so far.
Most of the bookings booking I have been doing recently have been fairly routine things - activity days or hawk walks at the centre or over at Cameron House. Two bookings do stand out though. The first was a ring delivery that I did flying Alba (Barn Owl) at a wedding at a local hotel. Alba was a star. She flew straight down the aisle landed on the grooms glove, I took Alba off the the grooms glove and removed the pouch that the rings were in and handed it to the best man. Congratulations Stewart and Suzie the happy couple. I haven't done a lot of ring deliveries at weddings so it was all a bit new for me and Alba but I was quietly confident that there wouldn't be any problems for the simple reason - it was Alba who was flying.
The other booking that sticks out was a visit to secure unit for young people. I have done a few of these and it is always a bit of a wake up call visiting a place like that. The young people are no problem but I always come away and realise how lucky I have been. I did 3 talks and I try and make the sessions as hands on as possible to allow the kids (teenagers) to be more involved. Most are interested and are happy for the birds to fly to them, others are a bit worried and some are really enthusiastic and happy to be involved. There is only so much I can do and show in these sessions due to the location and the fact that the talks happen in doors. I took 4 birds - Taz (Kestrel) for handling, Uist (Lugger Falcon) to talk about the hood and why we hood birds, Alba (Barn Owl) and Lobey (Turkmanian Eagle Owl) for flying. All the birds did well.
As I said earlier the other bookings have all been routine stuff but 2 do stand out and both involved Cooper (Harris Hawk). In my last blog entry I mention how I misplaced Cooper on a hawk walk at Cameron House due to me going to slow and him flying off ahead and following some other people. Well the next day I was back over at Cameron House flying Cooper and I managed to misplace him again. This time it was not because I went to slow, it was more to do with the fact that he saw something he thought he could catch - a wood pigeon. Out came the receiver for the telemetry (all my birds wear a transmitter when flying free) and I quickly tracked him down at the other end of the hotel. Once again as soon as he saw me he was straight on to the glove when called. I think it is only a matter of time before Cooper catches something. He crashed into some bushes today Cameron House trying to catch a rabbit. He also made a half hearted attempt to catch a goose but thought better of it thankfully.
A lot of what I have been doing over the last week in between bookings has been getting ready for the first big show of the year. For the last 2 years and again this year it is the Glasgow Vet School Rodeo. I have been busy flying birds getting them up to a descent level of fitness so that they will fly well on the day. Over the last 5 weeks I have been working with Brel (Harris Hawk). It has nothing to do with his ability, with Brel it is down to plain and simple fitness. After spending almost 6 months out he was really unfit so it has been just a case of flying him and building him up again. After 5 weeks of being flown for 20-30mins almost everyday for the last 5 weeks he is looking good and should be in good form for the flying displays at the rodeo. When I do these large events or any event for that matter it is not just about picking up a bird and letting it go and hopefully it will fly ok. I always try and make sure I have the birds in good form, flying well so when it comes to show time and doing the flying display I can let them go I know that they are going to fly and come back and not fly to the nearest tree and sit. It may sound hard to believe but I am thinking about and preparing for displays that are weeks ahead. Thinking what I need to get ready, looking at how the bird is flying, putting together a team, who I think will be best, which bird will be flying the strongest for that event. This all starts weeks in advance. Now the Rodeo is upon me. It is happening this weekend and the next 2 days will be spent getting things ready. Some of the birds who are flying at the Rodeo will fly tomorrow and then get Friday off. The day before a big show I always try and rest the flying team. Feed them in the morning so that they are all hungry a willing to fly the next day. Saying that while the flying team get a day off to relax I will be flat out. I will spend Friday getting things ready for the next day and I am full booked with bookings at Cameron House in the afternoon. Then on Saturday it is show time. Time to see if the preparations I have done has all been worth while and the birds fly well. Don't get me wrong it can still go wrong, things happen that can be out with my control but I will always do my best to have my birds in the best condition for a flying display.
While putting everything together for the Rodeo I have also need to go and do the food run for the birds tomorrow. Something that needs to be done every 3-4 months. Tomorrows order to feed the birds for next 3-4 months will include day old cockerel chicks, quail, rat (I am running low on squirrel and not sure when I will get some more), mice and duck neck. I always try and give my birds a good selection of food.
Time to finish up this entry. Up early and it will be a long day between getting ready for the Rodeo and collecting bird food.
919
Starting with a bit of good news. Corrie (European Eagle Owl) who in my lost blog entry I was talking about how he got lead poisoning the previous month. Well it looks like he has made a full recovery. He is moulting at the moment. I am picking up handfuls a feathers that he is moulting out everyday when I go in and clean his aviary. The fact that he seems to be having a good moult should be a sign that he is feeling good with himself and he has recovered. He is also more like his usual self which is great to see.
Things have been busy either with bookings or just working with the birds. At times it has been interesting trying to get everything done. I work on my own mainly. There are benefits to working on your own and there are disadvantages. First up the benefits - everything gets done the way I like it and I don't have to sit down and discuss what is going to happen with anyone. The down side is there is no one to answer the phone if I can't get to it and there is no one to delegate to which would of been handy at times. Saying that I have been working on my own now for 10 years and I have managed so far.
Most of the bookings booking I have been doing recently have been fairly routine things - activity days or hawk walks at the centre or over at Cameron House. Two bookings do stand out though. The first was a ring delivery that I did flying Alba (Barn Owl) at a wedding at a local hotel. Alba was a star. She flew straight down the aisle landed on the grooms glove, I took Alba off the the grooms glove and removed the pouch that the rings were in and handed it to the best man. Congratulations Stewart and Suzie the happy couple. I haven't done a lot of ring deliveries at weddings so it was all a bit new for me and Alba but I was quietly confident that there wouldn't be any problems for the simple reason - it was Alba who was flying.
The other booking that sticks out was a visit to secure unit for young people. I have done a few of these and it is always a bit of a wake up call visiting a place like that. The young people are no problem but I always come away and realise how lucky I have been. I did 3 talks and I try and make the sessions as hands on as possible to allow the kids (teenagers) to be more involved. Most are interested and are happy for the birds to fly to them, others are a bit worried and some are really enthusiastic and happy to be involved. There is only so much I can do and show in these sessions due to the location and the fact that the talks happen in doors. I took 4 birds - Taz (Kestrel) for handling, Uist (Lugger Falcon) to talk about the hood and why we hood birds, Alba (Barn Owl) and Lobey (Turkmanian Eagle Owl) for flying. All the birds did well.
As I said earlier the other bookings have all been routine stuff but 2 do stand out and both involved Cooper (Harris Hawk). In my last blog entry I mention how I misplaced Cooper on a hawk walk at Cameron House due to me going to slow and him flying off ahead and following some other people. Well the next day I was back over at Cameron House flying Cooper and I managed to misplace him again. This time it was not because I went to slow, it was more to do with the fact that he saw something he thought he could catch - a wood pigeon. Out came the receiver for the telemetry (all my birds wear a transmitter when flying free) and I quickly tracked him down at the other end of the hotel. Once again as soon as he saw me he was straight on to the glove when called. I think it is only a matter of time before Cooper catches something. He crashed into some bushes today Cameron House trying to catch a rabbit. He also made a half hearted attempt to catch a goose but thought better of it thankfully.
A lot of what I have been doing over the last week in between bookings has been getting ready for the first big show of the year. For the last 2 years and again this year it is the Glasgow Vet School Rodeo. I have been busy flying birds getting them up to a descent level of fitness so that they will fly well on the day. Over the last 5 weeks I have been working with Brel (Harris Hawk). It has nothing to do with his ability, with Brel it is down to plain and simple fitness. After spending almost 6 months out he was really unfit so it has been just a case of flying him and building him up again. After 5 weeks of being flown for 20-30mins almost everyday for the last 5 weeks he is looking good and should be in good form for the flying displays at the rodeo. When I do these large events or any event for that matter it is not just about picking up a bird and letting it go and hopefully it will fly ok. I always try and make sure I have the birds in good form, flying well so when it comes to show time and doing the flying display I can let them go I know that they are going to fly and come back and not fly to the nearest tree and sit. It may sound hard to believe but I am thinking about and preparing for displays that are weeks ahead. Thinking what I need to get ready, looking at how the bird is flying, putting together a team, who I think will be best, which bird will be flying the strongest for that event. This all starts weeks in advance. Now the Rodeo is upon me. It is happening this weekend and the next 2 days will be spent getting things ready. Some of the birds who are flying at the Rodeo will fly tomorrow and then get Friday off. The day before a big show I always try and rest the flying team. Feed them in the morning so that they are all hungry a willing to fly the next day. Saying that while the flying team get a day off to relax I will be flat out. I will spend Friday getting things ready for the next day and I am full booked with bookings at Cameron House in the afternoon. Then on Saturday it is show time. Time to see if the preparations I have done has all been worth while and the birds fly well. Don't get me wrong it can still go wrong, things happen that can be out with my control but I will always do my best to have my birds in the best condition for a flying display.
While putting everything together for the Rodeo I have also need to go and do the food run for the birds tomorrow. Something that needs to be done every 3-4 months. Tomorrows order to feed the birds for next 3-4 months will include day old cockerel chicks, quail, rat (I am running low on squirrel and not sure when I will get some more), mice and duck neck. I always try and give my birds a good selection of food.
Time to finish up this entry. Up early and it will be a long day between getting ready for the Rodeo and collecting bird food.
919
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