Hi! Were you at the picnic in Chattanooga in 2012-2013? If so, i may have met you there! I don't live in TN anymore, though. Do you know any other falconers in your area? I may know of a few of them as well.
Inspired by the 'My Side of the Mountain' books by Jean Craighead George. Obsessed with falconry ever since.
"I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that don't work."
-Thomas Edison
Post by chattflier on May 17, 2015 14:13:30 GMT -5
Greetings from Chattanooga. I'm totally new to all of this, but I'm incredibly eager to get started. I'm prepping to get my permit, and in the meantime I'm looking for anyone near my area who would be interested in letting me go out with them, and especially anyone who would be willing to sponsor me. Any and all advice, and information is really welcome. Thanks in advance!
Greetings Mike, There are quite a few falconers near and in Chattanooga but right now, Season is over and birds are up for the molt.
look around on here in the TN sections for pertinent links to our website TN Falconers Assoc. and Facebook page. Don't be in a rush to blindly find a sponsor. Most of us here in TN want to see you on a few hunts long before considering a sponsorship. I am in Nashville and there are about 50 active falconers state wide with the majority of those being in the east or middle TN.
Look around on this site for books to read and get ready for passing the test . Then think about finding falconers to go on hunts with.
Good luck
It is good to have an end to Journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the End. - Ernest Hemingway
I appreciate the advice and the reply. I can assure you that I'm not planning on rushing into this at all. I would also want to accompany someone or a few on several hunts before going any further. Anyone near my area willing to do so would be a grest help. As far as reading, I've order a copy of the CHC Apprentice Study Guide to start with. I plan on making this a full commitment, not just some casual hobby.I look forward to hearing from more people here!
If you make it up to Nashville sometime soon , I'll be glad to show you my mews and my hawk if I am free. If you are around during season (sept-March ) feel free to tag along on hunts- extra flushers are always welcome as long as you're willing to dive in the thickets.
It is good to have an end to Journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the End. - Ernest Hemingway
Hi, everyone! I feel so out of depth to be posting here and honestly, a bit nervous about it. I am not a falconer, though I have considered it in the past. However, I am well aware of the time and financial commitment required and unfortunately my life has never allowed for it and my passions have taken me elsewhere. Years ago I started writing a fantasy novel that involves telepathy with a hawk. I did a lot of research on the Red-Shouldered Hawk for this novel, including working with the closest bird I could find to it, a Red-Tailed Hawk at the American Eagle Foundation. The novel got pushed aside and I just recently found the file and am finishing it up. However, common sense has shown me that for certain situations (obviously I don't want to go into plot points in a forum), the Red-Shouldered Hawk is far too big. I am hoping to find someone within at least 4 hours drive-time of Knoxville with some smaller birds of prey that I could learn about and meet. They would need to be native to the area as the story starts out in the Smoky Mountains. Three in particular I would like to see are the Peregrine Falcon, the Merlin, and the American Kestrel. I am not asking to interact with animal (though obviously I would never turn down the opportunity were it offered). I just want to learn about the birds and their behaviors and find out which would best fit the story. I contacted a couple people personally, but have not yet heard back from them. Then I found this forum and realized it was a much easier way to contact many to see if anyone may be interested in imparting a little education. So hoping this is okay to post here. My apologies if it is not.
Just FYI peregrines are about the same size as a redshoulder (males around 1lb females around 2lbs). In my experience Merlins aren't really common in falconry in general in the US (meaning not many people fly them), and fewer fly them this far east. Kestrels however are super common in the wild and I would imagine that you could find them at any rehabilitation/education facility. Some of them are open to the public.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
I was thinking that a Kestrel would probably be closer to an appropriate size. I will start watching some videos about them. Thank you for the link to CRESO. I will contact them, as well.
Hey, everyone. I am back. I came across some pics and I wanted your all's insight. The reason I started considering a smaller bird was because of the hawk sitting on the character's shoulders. I thought the size might cause injury. However, I came across a link with photos of birds doing just that. So my question is, would a Red-Shouldered Hawk cause pain if sitting on a shoulder? Also, I would assume there is a difference between a bird stepping up onto something versus landing on something. Landing on a human without the leather gauntlet for instance, would be more likely to cause injury due to speed of the bird. Does that seem correct? Here is the link: subeta.net/forums.php/read/823601/More-birbsfalconry-things-please-Image-heavy/1
The bird shouldn't be landing on someone's shoulder. Some, especially imprints, do it from time to time but it is not a desirable behavior. Any bird can cause injury regardless of it's size. Kestrels have immensely strong beaks and feat for their size. So while you can handle a kestrel without a glove, it is not advised. If they clinch down for some reason it does it hurt substantially. Any trained bird can be gentle, but they are wild animals. If they get excited, they might clinch down.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
I can understand that being an undesirable trait. I worked with large parrots and we worked to make sure the bird did not learn to perch on the shoulder for dominance reasons. I don't think the potential for unexpected clinching is something that would have to be worried about in a fictional book with a bird that can communicate via human language. My change of heart came from my most recent visit to Dollywood where several birds of prey are on display. Their Red-Shouldered Hawk was quite small in comparison to what I had written. So I think I will make the fictional hawk smaller and keep it as a Red-Shoulder. There are very few scenes where he is on her shoulder so they can easily be altered to be either on her arm or simply near her. Thank you very much for your help, Falcon Boy!
HATe to bump an old thread but it's the most relevant. Any falconers in the East Tennessee, tri-cities area? Searching for someone to tag along with. Not actively looking for a sponsor, just wanting to get a taste for the sport!
Our state meet will be held at the Mongomery Bell State Park feb 17-19 in White Bluff TN.
Rooms available at the Montgomery bell state park Inn. That would be a great weekend to meet 25-50 falconers from around the US , go out on multiple hunts, and really et a feel for the sport.
Last Edit: Jan 12, 2017 21:19:50 GMT -5 by echotadog
It is good to have an end to Journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the End. - Ernest Hemingway
Post by kellerbomb on Jan 12, 2017 21:20:45 GMT -5
I am flying out of Elizabethton. Had the most success hunting rabbits so far but still looking for that elusive first squirrel kill. I'd be willing to take you once I find better land with more success.