SUCCESS!!
Finally, I have "entered" Nina!
That is how we describe a falconry bird that has caught wild quarry. In this case, she is entered to cottontails.
I went to the field in Oakdale today. A very difficult one . . . in fact one of the hardest ones I work, so far. There is fresh snow on the ground, and I could tell there were rabbits in the field because I could see rabbit sign everywhere. Tracks. Pellets. And, watching Nina.
She moved from tree to tree, and frequently would dive into the brush, but to my mind, did not appear to be doing so too very intently. Perhaps I can drop her weight just a hair more. She was flown at 2 lbs. 12.6 oz today. But, it was a very cold day.
I worked the thick brush and briars for about an hour and a half. In fact, I was almost ready to give up and call it a day, as I had a meeting to get to. But finally, I flushed a bunny that ran out into the open, and Nina stooped from a high tree that she was in, and nailed it. There was no question as I ran to her . . . she had a deathgrip on the rabbit, and it was going nowhere.
I dispatched the bunny by separating it's head from the body. Nina immediately began to focus on the head, so I was able to bag up the bunny easily. I then secured her with the leash, and then traded her off onto her lure. She got to eat all that was on the lure.
I was quite happy at this final success. I had begun to feel a bit discouraged. It has been pretty hard for me to find game. But, I must keep trying. I'm to meet up with a friend tomorrow outside of La Crosse and see if we can find some bunnies. I hope we do. Or squirrels!
Falconry: The sport of taking wild quarry with a trained raptor.
Yes . . . today . . . finally I was practicing Falconry!
That is how we describe a falconry bird that has caught wild quarry. In this case, she is entered to cottontails.
I went to the field in Oakdale today. A very difficult one . . . in fact one of the hardest ones I work, so far. There is fresh snow on the ground, and I could tell there were rabbits in the field because I could see rabbit sign everywhere. Tracks. Pellets. And, watching Nina.
She moved from tree to tree, and frequently would dive into the brush, but to my mind, did not appear to be doing so too very intently. Perhaps I can drop her weight just a hair more. She was flown at 2 lbs. 12.6 oz today. But, it was a very cold day.
I worked the thick brush and briars for about an hour and a half. In fact, I was almost ready to give up and call it a day, as I had a meeting to get to. But finally, I flushed a bunny that ran out into the open, and Nina stooped from a high tree that she was in, and nailed it. There was no question as I ran to her . . . she had a deathgrip on the rabbit, and it was going nowhere.
I dispatched the bunny by separating it's head from the body. Nina immediately began to focus on the head, so I was able to bag up the bunny easily. I then secured her with the leash, and then traded her off onto her lure. She got to eat all that was on the lure.
I was quite happy at this final success. I had begun to feel a bit discouraged. It has been pretty hard for me to find game. But, I must keep trying. I'm to meet up with a friend tomorrow outside of La Crosse and see if we can find some bunnies. I hope we do. Or squirrels!
Falconry: The sport of taking wild quarry with a trained raptor.
Yes . . . today . . . finally I was practicing Falconry!
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