One for any beginers worried about making mistakes. I've been flying Hawks and Falcons for over 15 years now and should have learnt from all my mistakes. I took my little male Harris out yesterday for his first free flight after moulting, unfortunately i let my excitement get the better of me and flew him .5oz overweight, mistake no.1, he flew up in a tree and sat there staring at me for 3hrs!!! When i got him home i settled him on a bow in the garden while i fed his aviery mate. After throwing 4 doc into the aviery i turned my back to put my bag away but heard the sound of clambering on the aviery bars, to cut a long story short, my bowed out male had bated and snapped the button off a brand new leash. With a dive any Man Utd foreward would be proud of, i managed to grab one jess and the rests history.
Lesson 1:Never fly a bird overweight! Lesson 2:Always check furniture no matter how new!
Hi Shaun Nice one!, this is my second season with my male Harris. I thaught I could wizz through the re- training program and be back hunting in no time, just like last season. What happened was that I let him free at the same weight 1:7 as he was hunting at last season and he shot off in to the big wide world. he was gon for four days, and after many miles of searching, the IBR found him for me after someone had caught him under their laundry basket, and rang the RSPCA. My lesson learnt was don't rush a bird young or old. I must say the IBR wre brilliant and well worth joining. Now after he put on 3oz (feeding off someones garden birds) I am looking forward to flying again knowing I have done the ground work Cheers Mark
