Fantastic video. Never got into falconry, but have had the immense pleasure to have rescued a few wild kestrels and sparrowhawks found whilst out enjoying various fieldsports. Much of what you have said here about the difficulties with sparrowhawks I take as a huge boost given the success I’ve had getting them tip-top for release back into the wild. But, by God do I miss them when they’ve gone! Subscribed - absolutely.
Lovely insight, thank you, fortunately my mate, you met him Merlin lad, has had them and been successful, offered to help with the process. He is a 7day a week lad like my self, that said lm still reading a book he gave me for my birthday, Sparrowhawks A Falconers Guide ,Ben Crane. I’m so cautious i probably won’t do it but it’s been an interesting read for sure (:
As always super informative, I hope people realise and appreciate how lucky they are that you share your vast knowledge warts and all, FOC on this channel.
Here in the states, I've flown numerous sharp-shins--all wild taken from nests. Nearly all have been female imprints taken at 10-12 days of age. Our imprint females usually fly at 140-150 grams. Your observations are accurate and consistent with mine. Some of the sweetest imprints will turn irreversibly wild regardless of what you do, leaving you feeling betrayed. Most imprints become a little nervous after they've become accomplished hunters, but are still manageable and rewarding to work with. The current female I'm working with was taken from a nest at 19 days of age--definitely not an imprint! She will fly frantically about her mew in fear if I enter when she is not down to weight. But if I wait and come back in a few hours she's ready to go! I have to weigh her twice a day to manage her weight properly. She has taken 20 head and is becoming increasingly tame. Her flying weight has increased from 138 to 145 grams over the last month. She pays me no attention when I stroke her breast. She tolerates my petting of her wings. But, she will not allow me to touch her back. I can live with that. She has, in fact, become very much like an imprint.
Takes alot to be that honest in public these days, so many thanks for that. Sparrowhawks are probably the best and worst bird in falconry. Anything that can go wrong, always seems to with a Spar. But they are truely awesome birds.
If I can say, they seem like the 'Race Horse' of hawks, set up for speed, ut easily 'broken', too... As you said, maybe compared to a tiny Goshawk, but even less 'personable'... thanks, Dave!
Thyre eminently suited and have been hunted with for centuries ; they just need truly skilled falconers to o talon them and work with them , not those who feel like dabbling so to speak : supremely exciting and capable birds in the correct Hands
