Tethered Vs Free Loft | Why I'm free lofting all my Birds, and why you should too
Vložit
- čas přidán 2. 10. 2023
- In this video I explore why tethering has been used in falconry for so long and what it would like like if we didnt tether our hawks to perches. There are many reasons we have been tethering hawks to perches, ease of access and training, portability, the natural laziness of birds. But is it really the best practice in terms of welfare? What practice stands up better in a head to head, tethered vs free loft. I have recently free lofted all of my birds, and having done so, i dont think i will be going back. this is why im free lofting all my birds, and why you should too.
I'm free lofting my juvenile harris hawk he loves it and comes to me easy every day to come out and for training
Great, I think you will have a better relationship for it!
I think tethering done badly (wrong perches, wrong leashes etc) can do as much damage as a bad free lofting design, it depends on the specific bird and the way the aviary is constructed I guess. I volunteer at a display centre and we only freeloft, and never had problems with traditionally tethered species like long wings if well manned (actually the one that broke feathers is an owl but that comes down to the perching we got wrong for him specifically). But still it’s good that the birds are used to be tethered when necessary (such as static displays)
Free lofting might not be the best for all birds but I think if free lofting is the intention from day 1 with a young hawk it should reduce problems
a very well thought through presentation.
I worked in a zoo where we had a very territorial harris hawk. She was tie to a perch, every day when coming to get her she would scream like crazy and grab the glove very hard, also tried to get your hands when taking jesses.
One day she learned to remove her jesses so we decided to move her to an aviaty with some branches.. her behavior changed completely, not aggresive anymore. Now everytime you go there and call her she will just fly from the branches to the glove with no problem. She's much more relax, doesn't grab the glove anymore when being around the aviary etc. First we thought it was because she was just being defensive about her territory and she would be same after some time in the aviary but she's been in her new home for more than a year now and her behavior is sill great
That’s great news, as soon as she was given the choice to work with you a better relationship formed, I think this is what a lot of people are not understanding
Another very informative and open discussion given Dan, thanks for posting and educating. A very fair and balanced view you take.
Hi.
Thank you for the material, I was talking with a friend about this today. The law regarding falconry has recently changed in our country. falconry "yes", but without attaching the bird. After a dozen years of getting used to it, maybe it's time for a change. I'm not 100% convinced but we'll see. Greet
I don’t think anybody truly knows how it will all pan out in the future, better to just be ahead of everyone else I think
Great video
I'm very new to Falconry...... but from what I've seen, some birds get stressed out in an open loft ....... some do very well.... were do we stop?...... one of my dogs is caged trained and he loves the safety of his cage..... so do we allow them to live free range in the house and garden??...... I believe if the animal is captive bred then we work to what's healthy for a captive born animal..... its a difficult one but also a very slippy path too..... thank you for the video
I'm in Germany and free loft my Harris (1.5 yrs old) because that's how my mentor keeps hers. She needs to call her Harris down with a tidbit, but I have not started that yet. I'm taller and can reach her more easily. 🙂 Most times I go to the perch she's sitting on, hold my glove up, and she steps onto it. Occasionally I need to grasp the jesses to be more persuasive, but I actually have the feeling she likes hanging out with us and therefore comes willingly.
Defra after studying the tethering/freelofting issue have now acknowledged that for some birds and species that tethering is the best solution.
I think Defra deserves ALOT of credit for being honest enough to let the science and observation by their teams to guide this decision. This doesn't mean that tethering is better. It just means it suits some birds better than freelofting.
Many thanks to Dan for his honest video and opinions. Many have used this subject for their own ends. So it is refreshing to get honest opinions from someone that clearly cares for his birds a great deal.
What should be more concerning to falconry UK at the minute is the new laws prohibiting the use of imprints in zoos and falconry centres in Europe. The denial of natural behaviour is the reason for the bans. Which are slowly spreading across Europe. That should give many a great deal to think about.
I think about a lot on the subject but why not call the bird to you initially if it's free loft? Maybe a small reward? I've been training a bird to come to me twice before rewarding it, no idea if that's wrong, Also trying to switch them to the lure alternating days. It's a kite I rehabbed, _elanus leucurus_. He's tethered on a ten foot lead because he's a wall seeker, being so skittish and has a leash extender, which coincidentally keeps his furniture much cleaner and is way safer with the swivel.
Ministry'of environment B C Canada - looked at my Mews and Raptors 1990 and set a minimum standard size Mew s - I never had Problems with keeping my pupil s in fair size mews , the Raptors loved it ,and even flew back into there Mews by them selfs after daily lure exercising. I got a ear full from ""Falconers "" that staked Raptors on shelf perches in a garden shed 😊 I seen things by ""Falconer s ""? Pet keepers ! Pet Breeders ! 😂 Shame for the art of falconry.- True Austringers & Falconer s want the best for there Raptors.
I tethered my first bird a kestrel, 5 years ago. In her second year she broke her two Deck feathers due to excessive bating one day. Something obviously spooked her that hadn't effected her for the 18 months previously. I flew her to the lure but didn't hunt with her.
A female falconer convinced me to consider how they behave in the wild, when in doubt about anything.
A male falconer encouraged me to try either hunting or breeding with my Harris as they are the two most natural things for a bird to do.
Jordan Peterson said for humans love and adventure are at the core of everyone's contentment.
Since that I acquired a Male Harris and decided to build an Aviary and free loft him all year round. I hunt during the winter and free loft with a friend's female during the molt.
They hav produced four healthy chicks over the past two years (2 each year) He hunts rabbits for the 3 months before Xmas and Crows the 3 months after Xmas. He seems content to me.
For a Hawk free lofting isn't always possible but when it is I believe it's best.
Love & adventure.
Although this is used even in zoos and bird shows, it also used with fighting birds like roosters, but to keep a bird tethered for most of its life is cruel I don’t care how many ages man has been doing it purely for human entertainment is wrong.
All I have to say is I hope this doesn't take off in the USA because I believe blanket regulations without the wiggle room for the discretion of the person that spends their time caring for the bird most to make the decisions for the bird's wellbeing. These regulations are counterproductive and irresponsible. Quite frankly we are over-regulated enough as it is by agencies they don't have a clue to as to care for these birds. I have known plenty of birds that have killed themselves freelofting by slamming themselves into the walls. I have never known a bird that killed itself tethered properly...injured yes but not killed. Also, not every bird can be safely handled without being under control during hawking season or during moulting depending on the temperment. I have 2-3 birds that there is NO WAY I would free loft while at hunting weight. And those that fly eagles? What then; you all are talking about Harris Hawks and owls that go no further than a demo field. Not everyone is under those conditions.
Does tethering have issues? It can, but that is usually due to lack of education and application on the falconer's part. I have tethered my birds during the flying season for 20 years, and in all that time I have never had a bird with even so much as have a rash. It's about how you do it not the tethering itself. In that 20 years, I have seen some seriously dangerous tethering setups and tying techniques so of course there will be issues. The Raptor Center in Minnesota, tethers their owls and USFWS uses them as the regulation standards. What this is; is extreme animal rights groups and public that has not been properly educated pushing for these standards and telling us how to care for our birds. In theory, not tethering is a warm fuzzy feeling but in reality they are pushing for the management of birds they have no experience in caring for whatsoever. And I will say right now, there is a BIG difference between a zoo keeper that handles raptors and an actual falconer that hunts their birds 6 months out of the year. I understand that it doesn't cover falconers, but that could be next. And here; it would be any educator that has a permit but uses falconry techniques for educational falconry experiences with free flying raptors.
And some of your examples are not realistic for people that don't have the funding or resources to carrying around portable mews everywhere they go. That's absurd, the UK is the size of some of our states here; and we travel hours and days traveling to meets. There IS NO WAY, I'm hauling a trailer for 5-10 birds to have portable mews instead of weathering in the yard; it's just ludicrous. I already feel like a traveling circus.
Your example with the falcon being taken off the scale and mews jesses taken off while still hooded is dangerous practice. I have a Saker Falcon that will launch off the glove while hooded. (and kill herself in the mews if allowed to be flighted at weight) And if I had to do that every time I wanted to fly this beast I would get stapled, it would be a total shitshow and the whole experience would be negative for the bird. And that goes for my Ferruginous Hawk and a very dangerous Harris Hawk. I understand you have flying jesses but those are permanent; which illegal here in the US. There are ways around every situation but it needs to be at the decision of the falconer that knows the birds. Different situations for every bird's different temperament and the falconer's situation. This is why blanket regulations don't work as intended.
I think everyone needs to be very careful before jumping on any bandwagon or push/support for absolute blanket regulations without any critical thinking allowed by those that know the birds best. Be very careful what you wish for; I see this not ending well and limiting the ability for the public to see raptors up close or even having raptors in captivity all together. We are experiencing the same heat here but they have gone as far as (trying) ban and push that weight management isn't necessary or equipment at all. I won't get into what I think of the numpties that believe a raptor will hunt, fly or come to the glove if you say pretty please and good bird. Never mind the safety issues of a raptor in front of the public without equipment.
It is my understanding that DEFRA admitted to not citing or knowing of any studies showing the benefits or greater wellbeing of birds that are not tethered. And if there are, I'd love to see them cited from a peer-reviewed journal.
What needs to be pushed is not more regulations because that's the only way to ensure the well being of the birds; but education needs to be pushed. I don't see any evidence of pushing for more educated falconers, raptor educators, and/or zoo keepers. I see some really scary stuff being done by falconers, educators, rehabbers and especially zookeepers and it's mostly due to lack of education but yet; no push for more education? Of course not! It's not part of PETA's (and the like) agenda. And educating the public, is a must as well because with continued ignorance only blanks will be filled in any way they see fit. PETA types are pushing their agendas and 'educating' the public but our industry has remained silent.
I am not in the camp of either free lofting or tethering; I'm in the camp that we must do what is best for EACH INDIVIDUAL bird. And the only person that can do that, is their falconer, who is thoroughly educated in their care and management.
Thanks for the comment, I love being able to sit and read other people’s opinions in detail. I think we are all on the same team here, the team of genuine bird of prey welfare (like you say, I don’t count the silly over the top animal rights groups). Those of us that actually work with birds should be able to get together and discuss our opinions between each other. Having said that, I want to both agree and disagree with you, I absolutely agree that it should be up to the falconer who manages that bird, but only to a certain extent otherwise dodgy people will take the mick and be shit to their birds
@@MercerFalconry Oh you’re not disagreeing with me! Theres some real morons out there. That’s why I said I’ve seen some scary shit done by idiots that will get falconry banned. I’m not against regulation in general, I’m against ill thought out regulation. And education! Education solves a lot of problems and is the solution for all ignorance.
They would actually be tethered doing nothing for like 95-99% of their day. I'm guestamating 3.5 hours is 15%. Tethering at events and traveling they still wouldn't be tethered 23houste a day 365 days a year.
I imagine it would be like solitary confinement, stuck in a small darkish cell with just a bed looking out bars, getting let outside for a bit in separate cages, then hopefully getting to exercise.