Hunting with the Aplomado Falcon in the U.S

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Ig 'S'n aql ut uoJIeJ opeuoldy aqt qll^{ Surlung 32 Hunting with the Aplomado falcon in the U.S prey such as bobrvhites. Aplomado Falcons are social to the extent that mated pairs hunt together and catr be found together throughout the year and they hunt cooperativeli' r,vhen chasing avian prey. Siblings remain together for some time after becoming independent and hunt together. In Hector's study, birds account for an estirnated 97% of the prey biomass. Most birds are sized witl-r the smallest .J dove to robin being a hummingbird. The most ,-.€' commonly taken birds rvere lvhitc- '* winged doves, great tailed grackles. *.. * groove billed anis and yellorv billed cuckoos. Y had heard and read about I aolomado falcons bul ner er' I to have the op- portunity"lp".,"d to fly one. When I sarl that.|im Nelson, a falconer in Ken- newick, Washington, was breeding them, I thought long and hard about obtaining one. I currentl)' fly a f'emale peregrinc on ducks, pheasants and prairie chickens in Nebraska and I recentll' lost mv I'emale barbary'x merlin to a mptor. I love the stoop but I realll,missed thc pursuit flights at snrall avian quarry/. The advantage o1'{l,ving a "; pursuit falcon is that slips :rt small at,iau quar r)1 are plentifirl through- : r :E:= out the year and it is fiil-r to rvatch. I -.:13'.:::# knerv that purchasine an aplomado rvas going to be expensivc and thel' ilttthor ancl Sgt. Peltpa: Apknnudo lcrrue tlu: n in a hun1. 'I'heir ar celn'ati.on Jnlcons f are at risk of being killed b1' other n standing'slat't ntust lte scen lo be nppredrtted. Pltoto l\ Rolt Pulnter' fion raptors. I decicled to procccd because thcrc are so f'en' bleedcrs. he fbllorving information 3. Fa l co fbnt orulis pir:h irt ch ac Thc and it rnal'bc the only'opportunitr, is from Dean Hector's darkest and largest o1'thc subspe- I lvould ever have to expelience this chapter in llrtndbook o.f cies, distributcd in the higher tvpe o{'bird ancl flight. North Atnericon Bird.sVtlume 5, pages elevations in the Andes. Cauca I spoke toJinr Nelson at lengtl-r 317-322. \ralley of Columbia south to f ierra and decidecl on a n-rale aplomado. Thcre are ?, sr-tbspecics of Aplo- del Fuego. Higher elevation in Tlris bird tyas a I-ak:o Jernoralis pich- mado falcons. northnest Argcntina to sea level inthctt:, and verl' capablc of taking l. Fulco fem oral i.s selttentriort alis'. along the Chilean coast. small birds up to the size of bob- The bird that fonnerl;'nested in Te x- ffllrc avcrag(' rvc'ights ftrr u,hite quail, u'hich is all I rvauted. as, Ne\\,NIexico and Arizona rvhich I rnales ale 208-i105 gram\ In addition. the male rvas qrlite a bit is being introduced in Brorvusr,ille , I (2{'r0 grams) and fe'"males lcss expensivc than the I'emale.Jin-r Texas. Its distribution rvas {r-om tlie are 310-500 grams (407 grams). and I decided that I rvould get thc southern US to Nicaraeua. Aplornados have long accipiter like young fhlcor-r at 32 days of ase. Hc 2. Fuk'o fenornli.s Jbnoralis: The tarsi and lonser tails and rvings than arrived in a czrrrier and I took him smallest and most pale subspe- a peregrine . In ler,el flight the aplo- into the rneu'and opened the door. cies, distributed fiom Costa Rica mado is extremely srvift, capable of Hc camc running out of the crate to Tierra del Fuego (rvhich is thc out flying such species as mourn- and ran all around the men'. His southern tip of Argentina, and ing doves, rock doves and killdeer. legs rve re long and I could see rvhy thus South America) primarily the In addition, it is agile afoot and peoplc compare them to accipiters lowlands. often runs dorvn ground oriented on foot. I named him Sgt. Pepper pue pallDl L11en1ua,ra aH :requeqr umop (e1 tsnfplno^r serxoaruos puz lsoru aqt Suraq .{o-r1gry41 d;:eg'aur eql ur lunb aqt peq (yuo {1en1uana sraplnoqs pue s8al dur uo punor" dlaq ppo,n tuqt sopzrrroldz Eur(g puu ssulreJ ar{t Sur,rual paddors 1 unr 'pzaq ,(ur ot dn ,{g ppon eH eJeM oqM sJeuolleJ Jeqlo o] eur 'ruaq] Jo IIe uaql puz pzd Sururns 'pJrq aql qlnt ,,.{u1d,, puz puoq ol pJJJaJer osle eH'suoJIeJ opeuoydz -uor pu" s,no:"reds aqr Surlpl pauzls Jequuqf, eq] ur aurl puads pue IzJaAes palunq pue pasreJ 'pa;q szq aq tsrg ty'apr,rord ot eru uo 3ur11a-r u^/\{op lrs puu pooJ plo aql aôrrraJ eq asnu)aq ef,Jnosel snopuaruaJl u3q1 reql€J pooJ a^rl aqt arunsuo:) pue .\l.eru arll Jelua plno,{r 1 'nod e se^r uoslap unf 'aurz8 o1 p-rrq aqr puu ilII o] petelrlour aureraq (11e qlr^{ pooJ aturlosse lou plno,,!t pJrq Surralua ro Surpooq'Surpaa; sz:e3 -nluaâ aH 'tulq qll^r uollf€Jalur aql os Jequreqr aqt otur 1r Surrq se lradxa o1 luq^r Mou{ tou prp I ssel eAEq pu? raqu€qr eql ul pooJ no.( uaq.tr pooJ eql relotr ot tseq ll os 'a8e srq] l€:oldzr E pasr"J Janau ssel e^sal ol pauBls osF I elun uI rq8noqr rurf 'paluer* aq s€ qJnru se puq I 'llnp? u3 seuroreq eq uerlM '&:znb rellzrus dq parzpruuur ssal lee o1 ,(Iep urq o1 sszlrel eqt apl^ {1z-rnluu a}zur Ilrr\r eq os sprrq Jaqto aq tqSnu aq teq] Sur4urqr taqur€qf, -o-rd ol penunuof, 1 'sserrzr lenb uo luudrur o] urlq ,\rolle o1 szn Jeu aql ur srnro:-rzds qsrlSug e,rq 1nd osle dn-1ne dypq-rzd e uro4 Surtu e sel* aq -ueru srql ul urlq Sursrergo asodrnd I os 'tuaq] peqrlem lsnf aq ipznb s1,rzp Zgtu prrq aqr pe^rerer I uarl!\ aql'paddrqs Suraq aroJaq s8urlqrs 'aseq:) 'r8g aqt as€qr t,uplp aq'.(11zr1ru1 'ill,ufz:adda4 paag o] s.4\oluds srq qlrl{ pasruJ 'lur:durr 1unp se,r (ueru " o1 Surqlauros eleq plnom aq ul qsq8ug paddal 1 'tuarudolar, prlq sIqI 'rq311dlauartxa szm 8ur (qrlzaq pa{lH lrlttqn prrsdqd puu lf,ultsul -ap e roJ srseq:eln8ar e uo -peo1-Sum srH 'leal euru Jo lq8raq d-rolepa;d s,prlq aql uaq^r teql os .tro;rzds pl$ peal ol sa{rl eq prES Sutlar qtrm looJ ual x taeJ tq8ra sr ,+4.aru aq] ur 1rcnb arul Sunod arreq ,fu:211'rca[o:d Surpaa:q opzuroldz maur d6 'rlreru eql eprsur alDI uele ot aru plo] osle urrf 'tno 1r arn8g srq roJ sasn uoslaN iulfy plnom pue sarur1 Iurales Eurddots o1 q8noua uurus a-re,,(aql esne)aq qrlq^ 'opeuolde Eur,no-# | lnoqll\r Meur eqt punoJ€ Sul{g se,n 'prrq aql tuo:; pooJ aqt aprq o1ft1 aqt pral or lrznb p,(og pzq I aq $lae^r eJou Jo aldnor reUV ueâ l.useop aq 13ql eul plol ,fureg iû[vH SXNVHJ'o1{tE] 'teal ualas lnoqeJo qr:ad q8rq" aqr 'pooJ eqt 8ur-ra.ror Ia,rol eql enorrr ol r{sza pu€ af,JnosoJ snopueruaJl z ot dn SudU se.\\ eq s(ep aa:ql ulqtlv\ -er plno./!r I ,tteru aqi Uel I uaqlA 'uzru lea:8 e sr .(r-re11 'sanads srql 1nq'panure aq ueqmpunorS aqt;go 'daa1s pu€ raplnoqs de1 {ru uo qlr.,* .{J}unof, Jno ur paruar:adxa o^rt plnof, aq pue "ro taa; lnoq€,(g '(1uo

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gg 'S'n aql ul uoJIeJ operuoldy eqt q1^\ EupunH rilt 34 Hunting with the Aplomado falcon in the U.S.

Sgt. Pepper a,rul his.first flight at bobuhite quail. Photo by A. Johnson consumed the quail, so I decided the mew, he rvas quiet all day and and kite arvhile and then if I didn't to leave several in there for him to when he heard me or saw me he produce it he n'ould fly around and have at lvill. One day I rvent in to started to call. I introduced the lure back to the perch. I noticed that check on Sgt. Pepper and he had to him while in the mew. I stopped the wind did not bother him. He killed all the quail and consumed puttirlg live quail into the chamber, handled high wind easily and if he just the heads, so I stopped that pro- and substituted a lure rvith a whole flewby me he rvould back up in the gram because it rvas too expensive. quail on it. Within a felv days time, I air using the rvind to accomplish his I gradually increased the size of the could throrv the garnished lure into goal. Sgt. Pepper's flight skills rvere quail to a fully grown bobrvhite. He the chamber and he rvent right to amazing at such a young age. could easily catch and kill the quail it and consumed the fbod. I then never hooded him consrs- and rvould control it by grasping it took Sgt. Pepper up, hooded him, tently, n'hich r'r'as a mistake. by the head. jessed him and put a backpack and I needed to hood him to uring this "isolation" transmitter on. I did not sedate the jess him and put the backpack on period from me, where bird, or cast him to put the back- and change batteries. He didn't like he had to survive by pack on, I just kept him hooded the hood so I used a giant hood to killing game, he started to scream and tethered on a perch and took take him into and out of the field. lvhenever he salv me. This was not my time and it all wennvell. I used a He r,vould jr-p from my fist into because he rvas hungry, and not Marshall Micro, but I knorv he could the giant hood as soon as I opened a food begging call. He was as fat carry the Polr,ermax. He wore it for the door because he knerv we were as ever and had as much quail as the entire season without problems. going to the field. When I picked he wanted. In my opinion it was Next, I brought him outside on the him up at the mew he would screarr, because of isolation, and Harry creance and put him on a perch. I but once in the giant hood he was said the same thing. These birds rvalked a few steps and threw the quiet. He could see out of the giant are social animals and they like lure down. He flelv to it and ate. He hood because I had a barred win- the company. When I took him up progressed very quickly and within dorv in it. I used the Forest Harvk and had him tethered in the house a few days was coming immediately box made byJim Heptinstall. I took where he could see people and dogs to the lure across the yard. Some- him into the field for the first time and lots of activities, his screaming times he rvould fly to me before I and wanted success immediately. I stopped. \Alhen I returned him to produced the lure in anticipation set up a game throrver with a quail qll^\ sPlag (ssu:S 3rc1 qll^l plau eq] olul ]no pade:sa (aqt uaq,n PuE Jalol oltlr --reds ;o $oI o] 0I lnoqs o} peplf,ap 'atue8 8ut1ttur1 ']eal^tr sreuof,IEd E{suJqaN uaqt Surqsnd sa.Lop uo sJSuq) allrl {l€^\ 1 Irre.\r I pauels uaql'pa.Lo-rdtur popuallE eql uI elET JIEq ot :alrenb leleAas ur lnd all I aql I IIEJ pes€eleJ aql uo 'uI ]q8u durnIPPo'n 'ur paqfJad a;a,lr saôP aql ]€q] aq lenb ut 8ut :adda4 13g,nag 1 etuu rlre aq pue pooq tuer8 aql uado Pue ,"".i o].tt Suqsnq pue 'a1oq^\ol fiuuale,n 'Ser\\ ]Lttsp rlqpp e qlm u^\op urlq [Ier plno^\ I -ruof, portt aq'lxa1q olull -Io se.tr lq8ta,t sltl lerl-\\ 'r-oq oF ot :ur eql uI >1:eq raS.or e ]e punou lrlp E pulqeq seôpJo +o 1€q^\ (ur E otul 8ur1ea:q uI -relleul ou otuus aqr papuodse-I JH Sunue,t tou 'puno:e ,(g Pue 1sg dno"r8 Pu€ ^\oI (qlpars E palJl 3q aql uo rq8r: s.11,, ',{es plno-rr rroJJJJo aIu} pu€ paqsluq oJe^\ a^\ Surtuor qreordde ,,'Lauolu prn 'szm 1t13ra,n ]qFIU slq leti-\\ JTtu8orar plno.f\ -radda4 'r35 lsJrl'seAop qJlef, o] sfllfEl lusJeJJIp i ruqr" plno^\ a1doa4 'dtqsttonela-r aql c)l pe{lB^l ueql\ peut eq -rea.{ aqt uI Ja}el 'Je'ta.llo11 aru {sE 'rEr {Jeq I pu€'lur:durr e Futaq qlru 'lunq aql enulluof o1 lsg aql ol 'puno:8 aql lJo Surtuo: seôp aq] Jno IEnP -(g (11enrua,rg 'uq8rg 3uo1 op ol Sutqlaruos eleq ls^nlu slrll peq ,(lrrntPt*,ttt Pue ssa8 3o pa-rouFr aq eIo-Iq lolêqaq uI sfuarsJJlp alqt d*rl1, n ur ,nor:eds pzaP aqr lnd IeJeAas Jelf€ asEqf aqr .]Jo {ulql I ou punoJ stuer8 OOtl aqt uo eq -elrtou I PuE pu€ punor8 Pu€l PIno^\ slq lsal ol :"-go utt1llnd:renb ot dn ua.ta tq8ra,n rq8rg spre,( gg tnoqz iTT.i:'f,'l:,1"ry;H penulluof 'eru ol asuodsa: aures aqt peqf,uf, aq,(Puanba-Id ']unq ol Surseqr tno pal,Iel I ',(enre olut aqt pBtI puz ltrsuatul stlIES aql q:ll\\ potu€^\ aq tnq.{.rl3unq lzql lou se'\\ 1aa-; [PlJAas 'sPaa,tr eql qlm\ aq isure-r8 092 lP' PIP aq sE iq dlsnor,tqo 'aqf,ef, ol arzld z :o.; tno 8urleq Sr\oJJ€ds uoqs ^\eg etu€s eql {1]rexa PeruloJ ' -:ad all 'pauaddeq leq,rr $:iiffffi?r;### aes pu€ ,{eml.ue etil eq PIaU teqt ,ttor:eds tstu olur llllq elul ol psplJap plno^{ aq saurl}eluos 'sruz-r8 sew aq PUP -:eds aatqt ol o,\\1 aqJ€J o1 alrs qaM rno ]e alqelreê sarlrluenb-1euo11;ppy 1 ZLZ 65 turq paq8ra.lr. eaJq] lo ol\u llPnb 001' ltenb 1'Paqr-r:sa:d peuels aq pu€ prlq aql SurPaaS prno^ 9Ls I ]uq^\ arunsuor "ru';;;; ^-:f,lt t'"t uaeq p€q ,ratq8neP (ur ;; ;t s.no:-rzds p"J "t": "rlil,T,roN 6u,dd qs o;::o' "^,.: puu IasA\ E JoJ uoIlElEA uo earqluaaMlaqqrl"f,plno^\ illeno loD a^,anl Sureq tuo"t; eruoq atuef aq s'{ep lsolu puE 'T:I ::l ,,"n0 oo ooo rrenb 0z :sr)rq) 002 I 'oôq€ pue surz:F 993 =o'u, ttllq elxll aql tu ^\au I ffi':';'.t:i3":x:Tixi: ;g1fi;"" ]soIAI 'raqFrq lqEra.,u 3ql O1 lqdlJ papnpul 6urddrq5 punore","0,1t; Jo Of ]SIJ {lEq srq rdal os 'utza:ls ol ,(g uaqr puu snorreds aqr 1 1e;tad5 s,ta6u!1ll-6uo'l ,(ya41 a-rou aq ol Pauaas as€ql o1 ]su ,{ru uro-rJ 'ltag arrtr s6eq , :s}er 8 a:rur s6eq z:sp) v aq rel\ol se,n lq8ta,l srq Jq pUE plJU aqt paIlPM aA\ :lrpnb 8 tsl)rrl) 009 :trenb-t sl)!q) O0€ uaqlA'sure:S 0?A Punore ,(ep-rarge ,,{eq 'ot pelu€M aq 5 5 L s 09 Zs unq 8ur.(g sem 1 '$q8tan se 3uo1 se lunr{ pJIq eq} asef aloq6 ase) }leH pepnPul 6utddtq5 punorg -raqFrq te .{1tra;:ad 3ur o] penulluol Jal€l lal T' -puodsa: ser'r radda4 'r35 euo reu€ lunq lAlO Pallen lnq 'IIII ',,tt,t ta.tamo11 :o3 Sttuooqs sen aql pepue .{11enru1 'tunq a}rs qam rno }P alqelreê sa!}l}uenb leuorlrppv 1 aqt sI sIqJ 'srue:S aq] anurluol ol lsg Lut or slarel)o) 008 slara)ro) 00t I rq8rart qzz llr.oqu ]E sleul rqll.r .\\eu aq ;;;qri gqf t 0 L [s ^\al} 1:eq ase)- alffir,,, srq aru plot uosleN urlf -ug aq ueqla 'qrrni 6urddrq5 "qi ouno",to"' ''"t ',{11erlru1 'al}}ll e lq8ra,u aurnsuof urrq tal puE IIIIS es4)lt{) }og s,prlq pools lsnf 'aJolu ua,ta tqSIIJ I rol Jauo)le+ e fq padolenap slql ssnfsrp Lr:ur ol 1u€1r\ trrrq ep€lu isJauo)lel qrzord;;-; sa!e->r-red lualuaûo) 6uua;49 ol lue,r\ I ']xa qllq^\ '..,rq '1aa3,(ur punoJe ruo4 lno SurL-rt pealsul L"rd spoaN Arela;q s'loldeU Jo Suqsnq o1 urlq Pa^\ d:".rerô1 .rô.r1 ,rn rno1 ro1l 6u;ddoqs dols auo lenb :raqt ol pelu€^\ lnq 'llDlraô suollsJ esJq] esnBJ I II€us 3uo1 se.n (1qeqo:d tlql 'splau snolrel uI -eq snoareu se,\\ 'tlf,]Ef srq dn a.tr8 '{:a't ara'tr auos pue saszq: I 'lunq penb qtml ulerSord srql plno^\ tnq eJn[ eql ol Llprlrur a:a'tt sdtls aruos eql anul]uo:) 91 ]noqz lou plno^\ penlllluol 'peluElr aq sP qfnlu sP .{\eU aH 'ernl peqslu-rn-F ot ol lsu aql or peqlq8lr aulol I "qr -fq aulnsllol tulq tel ',(e,,lte sP:2,( 6E pue rulq qreor\ aq 'pade:sa ueq^\ 'puz sp:tq 1 JeJsuert T '(aqr tr Sulqrter aql ssoJlz -de or pelrl I.no::uds $ rqlas€qf,puelsuaqturorl'(gplnot lnoqe PIaU ipeg 'sdr1s gg rnoqe 1aS penb aqt Sutszqe 'qsug e ur 1sg.{ru rr-rg tqi rq8nir aq reu V 'lenb pu€ 'spleg,(ssa8 aql uI puE'q "-ti Jnoq uE lnoqE -IoJ {l€^\ plno^\ JJo su^\ all eql pasealsr- uo -radda4 '135 qtln punb aql sprlq Lp.t'- p3l€rluaruôl I 's1p1s SupooJ puz tq8rg-do1a'rap r.rg,{trr IIEtus,ro or dn pa>11e,lt ;il {ur uo'pu€l ot peq rq8r: o}a:uar'radxeJoslolpuesdrls'{ueul .;o spre,(,naq e ulqtrlr 1 'tuaql s^\oJ 'p1ar1 uado apl^\ E elPPItu aql ur "rl,rorrr€f, puz punol€ rq8r: pau:nt aq turq a'Lr8 plno'\\ sIqJ LII Jo gg 's'n aql ul uorleJ opeLuoldy eql qllM Sultung 36 Hunting with the Aplomado falcon in the U.S. 15 other falconers. We were going to find a wild covey of quail to fly. Sgt. Pepper's time line is as follows: hunt- During the hunt Sgt. Pepper 1,4,2006 - Received him at 32 days. ed from several people, flying from June 3, 2006 - Hard penned at 51 days. fist to head to shoulder to fist. He July Aug 1, 2006 - First free flight, on a baggy quail at 79 days. didn't care how many people rvere - on sparrows at 87 days. in the field and he didn't care who Aug 9, 2006 First hunt, he hunted from. We found a covey Dec 15, 2006 - Returned to.]im Nelson for breeding. of wild bobwhites and he shot off He caught all his game in 133 days. the fist, picked one out of the covey and chased it into cover, catching the quail as it went into a yucca plant. It was the first time he had His flights initially started out The mistakes I made seen quail since the baggies, and he short, but by the end of the season with SE. Pepper: caught awild adult male bobwhite. they were long and complicated, 1) I never hooded him unless Every quail slip after that he Put but every time the prey escaped he I needed to change the backpack in maximum effort and caught immediately flew back and ended battery. three during his short season. The up on my fist. Later in the season 2) I didn't have a dog to intro- last one was at the NAFA meet in Sgt. Pepper would see birds flying duce him to, so he wasn't keen on Kearney after about a 500-yard tail overhead about 100 to 200 feet dogs in the field. I do believe rvith chase. We walked along a ditch that high and he would take off from time lie rvould accept a dog in the was full of dead tall weeds. We saw the fist, go up and push them out field. the covey running ahead ofus and of the air and into cover. J had mixed emodons when I had Sgt. Pepper on my fist. We ne of the risks of flying I .li- Nelson asked me if I continued to push the quail and a small falcon is that Irvould send Sgt. Pepper then they broke. He was all over every raptor wants to back for breeding. I loved that bird. them and they immediately bailed kill it. Some people say that non- Some of the best times I've had in out into the cover. This procedure native species are more likely to be my falconry career have been in the continued several times; itwas obvi- attacked and potentially killed by a field with this aplomado. He was ous that Sgt. Pepper had the quail native raptor. The following birds well-trained and intelligent enough intimidated. We came to the end tried to catch my aplomado: redtail to know lvhat the game was and of the ditch and the quail broke hawk, harrier, male peregrine, how to play it. I will miss Sgt. Pep- and the majority of the covey flew kestrel, merlin, prairie falcon and per, but I have decided from this around us back into the cover but finally a male Cooper's hawk caught experience that as long as I have one bird tried to make a break for him when he was down on game. the means, I will fly an aplomado it across a wide open field. Sgt. Pep- Luckily, I was close by and scared falcon. I love the flight style and per picked him out and was right on the Cooper's hawk away. I know of the performance. This bird is now his tail. The next cover was more other falconers who have had their with Jim Nelson's female, Cuvee. than 500 yards away and the chase aplomado falcons killed by redtails They are getting along well and proceeded down along a fence line when down on game. Sgt. Pepper courting at this time. It appears and over bails of hay and finally the chased many different species of they will be a pair and breed. I'm quail was overcome by the power birds, mostly small birds, but he sure their offspring rvill be some of the aplomado. We all watched did chase several hen pheasants awesome hawks. I hope to have the flight in awe with binoculars. and a teal. He also chased a few one of the offspring to fly someday. \A4ren we finally got to him he was rabbits believe it or not. He caught I am replacing Sgt. Pepper with consuming his catch. This flight B0 sparrows, four quail, and four another one ofJim Nelson's birds was truly remarkable and once you miscellaneous. and look forward to starting it all experience ityouwill be hooked on The things I loved most over again this summer in 2007. I aplomado falcons. about Sgt. Pepper: can only hope that the nerv bird rvill A s the winter progressed 1) No need for weight control, bring me the same excitement and / I the numbers of small he flew the same at^ny weight. enjoyment. L \irdr diminished and 2) He flew from the fist and A olomado falcons are Sgt. Pepper started chasing the came right back to the fist if he A ; very intelligent and only birds we could find. The most didn't catch something. l- \capable falco"n with a amazing thing about this bird was 3) In the field he flew with all unique flight style. I highly recom- that he flew from the fist, chased kinds of people and would perch mend them to any falconer who is game and immediately came back on anyone to hunt from. One excited by the branch of falconry to the fist to continue. Everything day at the NAFA meet in Kearney, that involves the direct pur- he caught started out from the fist. Nebraska we had 55 people in the suit of avian prey. I never usedjesses to restrict him. field.