My opinion... Birds of prey can't be predicted, if a red tail fancies a dog rather than a rabbit then it'll go for the dog. Personally I think a falconer always needs to be aware of the dangers in the environment: electric wires, railway lines, motorways, nasty locals and their dogs included. If the bird had gone for a bigger dog, the dog would have killed it before the owner had. You have to be careful when you're flying around people. If you can't guarantee that there's no risk of pets or children being out (what if it had taken a dislike to the children, or if one had been wearing a fluffy scarf which the bird wanted?), then don't fly there. Still, I think the guy who killed the hawk had a huge chip on his shoulder. Why the hell was he whacking it with a baseball bat? Could have killed his dog! I don't understand people who are so violent. But then again that's just my opinion, I think it's terrible that a hawk had to die because of the stupidity of two people. If a hawk is going to be put in a dangerous, unnatural situation because she is captive, that's very, very sad and it could make anti-falconry campaigners very, very happy.
both seem at fault to me, the falconer should know people would have dogs out and it could be a danger to other, he should have known that from the beginning. I also think the owner of the dog over reacted he probably could have found a way to scare the hawk off... AND if he thought it was an eagle, he should know that they are around and shouldn't let such a small dog run around in the backyard where it could be viewed as prey. Either way its a terribly sad accident
Lets say hypotehtically there was a bear trainer walking down the street and his bear got away from him.
So are you telling me.. that if a bear ran into YOUR property and started klling one of YOUR dogs.. you wouldnt of shot at the bear or tried to kill it? Would you of shooed it away with a broom while your dog is bleeding to death?
AND if he thought it was an eagle, he should know that they are around and shouldn't let such a small dog run around in the backyard where it could be viewed as prey.
Morgan, not many people are educated about raptors. Just like snakes they somtimes see them as more of a nuisance then a natural predator. Talking to your average person everyone thinks a bird with talons is a "Hawk" except for the birds with white on them.. then they're " Bald Eagles"
I had a lady aproach me one day asking where I got my " Peregrine Falcon" from.
( I was holding a Male Kestrel )
Personally my opinion is that it was the falconers fault. He knew where he was, what he was risking, knew his regulations and laws that protected him. ANd the bastard used that knowledge( for HIS MISTAKE) against some poor guy who was trying to protect his best friend.
Well in my neighborhood atleast... that isn't the mentality. We have had several generations of redtails here, and everyone LOVES them. So sorry if it doesn't match up to your area, it matches up to mine though.
Falconer should not have been flying that bird in that neighborhood. Dog owner over-reacted. I don't think he would have been cited in Idaho. Law always takes the side of protecting "property" from wildlife. My father-in-law has two miniature dachhunds. They are useless pains in the groin in my opinion. They are little darlings in his. He would attack anything looking sideways at them. He called me last winter and asked me to come and trap "a great big hawk" that was after the afore mentioned darlings. I went over to find a Sharp-shinned trimming the sparrow population at his neighbor's bird feeder. Took all I had to convince him his rat-dogs weren't in peril. Don't mean to offend lovers of dachhunds. I believe they could have been fine dogs. They were given no rules and let rule the house.
My sponser has a hard rule. One learned by grief. He never flies his bird if there is a vehicle parked anywhere near. We have that option out here in the wide open country.
Well in my neighborhood atleast... that isn't the mentality. We have had several generations of redtails here, and everyone LOVES them. So sorry if it doesn't match up to your area, it matches up to mine though.
it may be funny but it's true. The people here have no problems with the RTs and like them... RTs and BoP are a daily part of life for us here we have both a nesting owl and a nesting redtail, and they nest in the same place every year, every year there are fresh new ones... and like i said, I still maintain they were both at fault.
Post by grendlesgirl on Apr 16, 2006 11:59:31 GMT -5
I would attack anyone or anything that was attacking my dog if that is what it took - my redtail when it catches a rabbit will rip it's eyes out first thing I would hate to have her do that to someone's beloved pet. I would rather loose my bird than put someone through that - but then again I never would have flown her so close to someone's pets or in a neighborhood. Lots of people have pet rabbits and chickens in their yards and how can you rule that out if you are flying in suburbia? . . . .
It is a falconer's consideration where they live and where they will be flying their birds. This includes powerlines, pets, cars, other wild birds, etc . . . If you want to be a falconer then you need to be in places where you can go fly frequently.