Prolly a dumb question...

[Phairestofthemall]

Hey fellas, I was just wondering why most bowperches and blocks tend to be real low to the ground? All the bowperches I've seen put the bird just above ground level, and the blocks put em waist-high at the most. I imagine it's a pain for a handler to stoop for his bird, and I can't imagine the hawks like being so low either, so why are they all like that? Is it to get them used to being approached with quarry on the ground perhaps, or what?

[roadkill]

It gets teh hawk used to you towering over it, so you don't startle it when you make in after it subdues some game.

Also, it's not very economical to make them higher

Stapling it into the ground makes it more secure against a bating bird.

Various other reasons.

[alex2]

Mostly its where you leave them most of the day. Somtimes they jump off to take a bath and having the perch 50 feet up in the air would make quite a plunge lol.

[Chris]

Well the answer i got when I ask the question myself many years ago( and it's not that dumb of a question) was that a bird on a higher perch would require a longer leash to reach the water, this longer leash and higher perch will also increase the force with which your bird will hit the ground when it bates. Now I know we can what if this statement all day but those birds that are kept on higher perches also have only 6" leashes (usually) and are steadier birds plus when put out to wheather it is usually on a short perch.
How was that for an answer was it on the test or was it to long.

[Phairestofthemall]

All valid reasons, thanks for clearing that up :]

[Chris]

Thanks for a new question gives us all something to compare notes on.

[PiousDesperado]

I'd never thought about this until you mentioned it, Phairest. Roadkill's point about keeping the bird accustomed to a tall approacher makes lots of sense.
Medieval perches were all depicted as being about waist- or chest-high. I imagine that this was more for admiration than for any practical purpose. By the time falconry was adopted by European nobility, it was more of a symbol of status than a means of feeding oneself.
I always pictured the ideal indoor perch as being nice and high like the old ones.

[Weasel]

Well, Nice and high=Nice and long leash=nice long bates=excess stress on the Tarsus.....Unless of course you have a falcon style block perch with a short clip for the jesses on top...This method is OK unless your bird bates often as it can result in damage to the feathers. If the bird gets hung up it can die. Then there is the question of how your wife, girlfriend or significant other reacts to slices traveling great distances from the perch to coat things in a nice chalky white. Trust me, I tried the whole perch indoors thing and it is a very messy situation. My perch only sat about 18" off the ground and she could still shoot well over 5' away. Accidents DO happen and when the wife is involved.......best just to find a happy place cause it's not gonna be pleasant there for awhile.
Cheers,
Noel
JMHO

[Bob Dale]

...thus, the unfinished room in my basement

[SkyRider]

Some perches are high though. If you decided to forego the weathering area (I don't recommend this!) you need a high perch to keep the bird away from predators.

[John Atchison]

I have read about weathering enclosures. How big would one make one? I'm just trying to picture one and all I've seen are the ones at zoos where they have the raptors.

[Minca]

SkyRider said:

Some perches are high though. If you decided to forego the weathering area (I don't recommend this!) you need a high perch to keep the bird away from predators.

there is a high perch that falcons and sometimes accipiters are tethered to and it's called either a wall perch or shelf perch, and it's purpose is for birds that are kept inside the house. It's a half circle, about the size of a usual block perch, that has a larger "shelf"like area underneith for the bird to land on should it bate so it doesn't need a long leash. My understanding is that since there are always higher perches in the house to bate for (ie - curio cabinets, top of frindge, etc..) that these wall perches will cut down on the bating in general. I just finished one that I intend to use for the kestrel I plan to trap this Fall.
Some people will perch a bird up high that is hooded for short periods because they're less likely to bate when hooded.

[SkyRider]

I have read about weathering enclosures. How big would one make one? I'm just trying to picture one and all I've seen are the ones at zoos where they have the raptors.

I'm going to try and make my 10'x10'x6' ;D

[Falcon Boy]

mincabird said:

there is a high perch that falcons and sometimes accipiters are tethered to and it's called either a wall perch or shelf perch, and it's purpose is for birds that are kept inside the house. It's a half circle, about the size of a usual block perch, that has a larger "shelf"like area underneith for the bird to land on should it bate so it doesn't need a long leash. My understanding is that since there are always higher perches in the house to bate for (ie - curio cabinets, top of frindge, etc..) that these wall perches will cut down on the bating in general. I just finished one that I intend to use for the kestrel I plan to trap this Fall.
Some people will perch a bird up high that is hooded for short periods because they're less likely to bate when hooded.

I also was planning on using a wall perch, but i recently heard that it can cause carrying in kestrels. The theory being that they are used to being approached at eye level, when you try to approach them from above, they get spooked. ANy thoughts?

[Ooby]

I know im bumping old threads sorry

As for thoughts on wall perches casuing carrying... i doubt it.

All wild caught birds are going to want to carry what they catch. They have had to keep thier kills away from rivals and predators the whole of thier life.

The kestral is not going to be any different i would assume. You will have to be carefull on your first make ins, and train the bird that you are not going to steal from it.

While i think having birds on low bow perches may HELP in this case, i don't think its the driving factor. I think, training the bird you aren't going to steal from it is. In fact quite a few books i have read say to approach the bird teathered to a bow perch from a low position if the bird gets upset. Then you gradually work towards approaching on foot. Again, kestrals shouldn't be any different, and i don't think a wall perch would be a deciding factor...

Any of the more experienced guys have any thoughts on this?