---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <mdixon.6569@...> wrote :
I would never consider myself an expert, at least among those who really are. You are right, raptors are not *toys* or pets. There are strategies for training them. Most important, is gaining their trust. They have to trust that you will do them no harm and then, that you are a good provider.<I have two Peregrine falcons. The male was captive bred as were his parents for so many generations. He is a sweet little *gentleman* and probably depends on me more than he really needs to. Then I also have a female that was caught, by permit in 2013. Born wild on the tundra and to this day has that wild streak running through her. You can see it in her eyes.< Seventy percent of young falcons never survive there first year and forty percent die in their second year. I think my wild one probably would have been one of those first year casualties. She was thin when I caught her and actually chased my jeep down the beach as if to say "feed me and take me home with you!" Every time a fly her, from October through March, nearly every day, She has the opportunity to leave but she comes back faithfully when I call her. I think she knows a good deal when she has it. However, the day may come that she wants to strike out on her own again. If you're interested google on youtube *flying a passage Peregrine falcon in South Carolina*. That's not me but the guy is flying one that looks and flies just like mine. Nice video. I'll take a look for sure. There is a quote I saw today that I like and although it speaks about horses it could also apply to many other animals who we choose to share our lives with. But, with predatory animals or those big enough to hurt you or wild enough to want to this is an apt quote: "You can never rely on a horse that is educated by fear. There will always be something that he fears more than you. But, when he trusts you, he will ask you what to do when he is afraid." Most animals have an aspect of wildness within them which is part of what makes them so nice to be around. From: "awoelflebater@... [FairfieldLife]" <FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com> To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2015 9:54 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Jurassic Park: our feathered friends... ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <mdixon.6569@...> wrote : Yes, I've trained raptors( hawks and falcons) for years. If you've ever noticed a road runner, they chase on foot and will glide over ruff terrain, such as thorny brush or cactus, which would slow down their quarry, giving them an advantage. I've also watched a family of Caracaras hunting on foot in the field, chasing mice, using such a technique. Thank you, I love to hear "experts" speak about their field and yours is unique. Raptors are not to be toyed with and are not pets in any way. I would imagine it would take a combination of courage, insight and respect for your animals to make what you do work. It is the same with horses but your birds are wilder than horses. From: "awoelflebater@... [FairfieldLife]" <FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com> To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2015 2:27 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Jurassic Park: our feathered friends... ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <mdixon.6569@...> wrote : I think the feathers could have been functional. It looks as if they would have been able to glide short distances, an advantage in a long pursuit of quarry and a precursor to actual flight. You're the man who owns and raises raptors, aren't you? I think you're observations should, if that is true, be most likely the closest to the truth on this strange and beautiful creature. From: "awoelflebater@... [FairfieldLife]" <FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com> To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, July 17, 2015 10:23 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Jurassic Park: our feathered friends... ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <s3raphita@...> wrote : Survival of the fittest? This is what the original looked like of that fossil just found in China (the Zhenyuanlong suni - a cousin of the better known Velociraptor). But it couldn't fly so those wings are surely (as the tired old cliché has it) about as much use as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest. Let's see those neo-Darwinians explain this one! Those wings could have been aids in making that creature look bigger and fiercer or, as we are told, birds are descendants of dinosaurs and this may have evolved into some other bird species (albeit large). Very cool and very colorful. http://tinyurl.com/p8kf48h http://tinyurl.com/p8kf48h http://tinyurl.com/p8kf48h http://tinyurl.com/p8kf48h http://tinyurl.com/p8kf48h View on tinyurl.com http://tinyurl.com/p8kf48h Preview by Yahoo
