Hawk Trapping Has Begun
My friend Frank Taylor opened his hawk banding station this weekend. I couldn't go because of the state fair and I'm so bummed that I missed it. I just got his report and found this in the notes--for this bit to make sense, you need to know that there's a bait pigeon on a harness and there is a net in front of the pigeon and a net in back of the pigeon. There's about 10 feet of space between the nets.
Monday was the most exciting of all! We got started at 6:30 am. There was no wind at all. It was supposed to start up and shift around to the southeast by noon with a chance of showers. I figured we would not see much and be out of there by noon. Around 7:20 while we were watching some shins, kestrels and merlins chase each other around the field, a thing that looked like a small airplane came floating in from the farm. It was an immature male bald eagle! It kept coming and coming and we figured it would just pitch up and sit in the tree above us like all the rest have done. This one pitched up but then came right down in the middle of the nets! Rick was in shock but ran out and scared it into the back of the front net. That is only the third eagle we have ever caught up at the blind in 38 years!
Here's a photo Frank took of Rick holding the eagle after they banded it. Frank's blind isn't aimed at attracting eagles but they are opportunists and will for anything. For those worried, the eagle didn't get the pigeon (I think Frank has only lost two pigeons to hawks in all his years banding--that's pretty good).
I'm not sure how much I can go banding, I need to save money for Cape May. Guess I'll be sleeping in the car when I go up.
Monday was the most exciting of all! We got started at 6:30 am. There was no wind at all. It was supposed to start up and shift around to the southeast by noon with a chance of showers. I figured we would not see much and be out of there by noon. Around 7:20 while we were watching some shins, kestrels and merlins chase each other around the field, a thing that looked like a small airplane came floating in from the farm. It was an immature male bald eagle! It kept coming and coming and we figured it would just pitch up and sit in the tree above us like all the rest have done. This one pitched up but then came right down in the middle of the nets! Rick was in shock but ran out and scared it into the back of the front net. That is only the third eagle we have ever caught up at the blind in 38 years!
Here's a photo Frank took of Rick holding the eagle after they banded it. Frank's blind isn't aimed at attracting eagles but they are opportunists and will for anything. For those worried, the eagle didn't get the pigeon (I think Frank has only lost two pigeons to hawks in all his years banding--that's pretty good).I'm not sure how much I can go banding, I need to save money for Cape May. Guess I'll be sleeping in the car when I go up.
Labels: banding
posted by birdchick at 6:40 AM
11 Comments:
Jesus, Mary, and holy St. Joseph, that's one beautiful bird!
Jacci in S.P.ME
How is it that Frank is holding that young eagle, cool as a clam, without gloves or a hockey helmet? There are very sharp beaks and bits that could mean business near his innards.
Amazing.
Kabuki has a pretty song too in the post below.
That's actually Rick in the photo, Frank took the picture.
You'll note the eagle is facing away from Rick. He's keeping the dangerous bits--the talons away from his body and he's hold the feet with his hand. If you have hold of a raptor's feet, you are fairly safe. They don't like to attack with their beaks--unless you stick your finger in their face. But the beak is close to their eyes, they don't want to risk damaging their eyes. Their beaks aren't nearly as formidable as their talons.
It's much easier and safer for the birds if you take them out of the nets without wearing gloves. When I go up to go banding later this month, I'll cover how we get the raptors out of the nets and how we hold them. I think it's ten times easier to take hawks out of the nets as opposed to songbirds--those songbirds are so tiny, you feel like you're gonna break them.
Wow, that is one gorgeous eagle!
Ditto what Jacci said!
Unbelievable!
Thanks for the info Birdchick.
It's interesting for me to know how these techniques are done. Frank (I mean, Rick...I'm no good with names) does look like a pro displaying the magnificent wing.
I look forward to hearing about your adventures later this month.
Wow, I'd be scared out of my gourd to even approach a huge eagle or raptor with no gloves or protection! Birdchick, you rock!
P.S. - I might be sleeping in my car too!
That is such a magnificent bird! Respect!
A big, bad WHOOT !
Totally awesome.
If you wanted to split the cost of a room I would gladly tag along with you some weekend. I'm guessing that we could talk Hasty Brook into it too. :)
~other Sharon
Hasty Brook says yep! I also have a comfy camper set up at Hasty Brook, a bit west of Cloquet.
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