Saturday 21 September 2013

Trip Advisor etc.

Here at North Devon Hawk Walks    (www.NorthDevonHawkWalks.co.uk )   The birds have nearly finished their moult and have only a few gaps in their wings where new feathers are not yet fully grown.  Every year they drop all their feathers ( not all at the same time), and new ones grow down.  There is a definite system, with the outer  feathers falling first, then those closer to the body.   If I find one feather on the floor on Monday, then I know that on Wednesday I'll find the mirror image feather from the other wing or side of the tail.  Regular as clockwork.


The Harris Hawks have done very well this season, with the customers really enjoying their flying displays. It's a shame that most people want to go out in the summer, because it's when there is a strong wind blowing that these birds are at their most spectacular.   I was training a new young hawk, Hero, that I've been loaned for a couple of years, the other day. I got him to fly towards me from a tree, then threw up a piece of meat about twenty feet into the air. The strong wind meant that it was easy for him to keep airborne and to travel at speed, so he  was regularly catching his "prey", getting lots of exercise, honing his flying skills and providing a spectacle for a couple of motorists who stopped to see what was going on.   My birds and I are a regular sight outside Withypool on Exmoor, and one year I put up a sign on the side of the road, because I was afraid of drivers cruising past looking at the hawks and not noticing that the road bent to the right. I had visions of them plowing straight off the road and down the valley.

Somebody recommended that North Devon Hawk Walks go on www.tripadvisor.co.uk   I was surprised to learn that a lot of people use TA to search for activities like my Hawk Walks. We've now got 19 reviews, all "Excellent", which means that the hawks are officially the best attraction in South Molton, Devon.

Hopefully I'll be taking the gang out hunting soon. It's nearly pheasant season, and the undergrowth is dying back so the rabbit holes will be visible. More exercise for the hawks, and free food too.
 
 
Look closely at the photo of Lady Macbeth above, and you'll see the photographer reflected in her eye.

1 comment:

  1. From Phil & Lillian Romford.

    We went with Nigel on the 11th of June 2014. We were very lucky in that there were only the two of us, so Nigel was able to dedicate the whole hour to us.

    What an experience, being able to participate in the flying of the two Harris Hawks; Cassius & Lady MacBeth. Beautiful birds.

    We learned a great deal about their natural history, hunting ability and aerodynamics - absolutely fascinating and potentially addictive!

    After becoming familiarised with the birds we could have them land on the glove, fly from the glove and feed from the glove. They also flew to adjacent trees where Crows perch; no trouble though.

    This was a truly superb experience, and and very grateful to Nigel for the honour. We will be going on the 3 hour experience in the not too distant future.

    It is clear why owners are so dedicated to these birds. Actually they own you and dance to their tune!

    Thank you Nigel.

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