cazalea[Seiko Moderator]
17046
No Final Four, no Succession, no Vermouth - just hunting the old-fashioned way
Mar 27, 2023,17:45 PM
A friend's 70th birthday provided the occasion for a Raptor Experience.
Two hawk-loving ladies brought two Harris hawks to the party and we all got a lesson on falconry,
Unlike almost any other raptor species who are solitary hunters, the Harris Hawks hunt in pairs or family groups. Their native habitat is inhospitable desert, where everything edible lives in or near a cactus or thornbush. One terrifies the prey, who runs around seeking cover, while the second bird comes in and grabs it with claws that can exert upwards of 300 lbs per square inch.
- Range: Southwestern United States, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Western Europe.
- Migration: The Harris hawk lives in the United States and Mexico, but may migrates to South America for the winter. They migrate because their prey may not survive harsh northern winters.
- Habitat: Their habitat includes open country, deserts, chaparral, forest edges and oak savannahs.
- Diet: Large insects, small mammals such as squirrels, desert cottontail, and mice; they also feed on larger prey like great blue herons, jackrabbits, young wild turkeys, quail or doves.
Our Raptor experts told us an owl has an even stronger set of talons and can cut a rabbit or small mammal into pieces simply by clenching its "fist". In contrast, falcons do NOT kill by grip. Instead, they impact their prey at speeds upwards of 200 mph and the impact does the trick. They pick up the pieces and fly off to eat it elsewhere.
Yes, I held up my arm in a thick glove and he landed there.
These are relatively. small raptors.
Big enough to be terrifying though.
The gentlemen cowboys (car collectors, hunters, fishermen, businessmen)
Thanks for the Raptor Experience and all the great food.
Cazalea
PS - my wife did the flowers for this event.
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Lovely stuff!!
By: InHavenPro : March 27th, 2023-17:55
Excellent images Mike, it is evident that you guys enjoyed it thoroughly! Thanks for taking us along with this pictorial.... Cheers, Filip
Wow! What fun!
By: patrick_y : March 27th, 2023-18:30
What a cool party and what a cool host! That bouquet by your wife was sensational! But the piece de resistance were those raptors! The power. The focus those birds have is amazing. What a cool and amazing experience!
We'll have to get the Chopard Alpine Eagle...
By: patrick_y : March 27th, 2023-20:48
The dial is like a predatory bird iris. We'll get acclimated to bird stares soon! Your wife also chose the best shirt for the event! My best to her! They look like very well behaved birds indeed!
Thank you for reading
By: cazalea : March 27th, 2023-20:17
I will give her your compliments. I only helped with logistics, ordered the cake and took pictures. And ate/drank enough that I forgot to take pictures of the food courses 😕. Apparently I also forgot to focus on the Black Forest Chocolate cream cake... wi...
By: lefore : March 27th, 2023-22:33
It looks really nice, it seems like you had a lot of fun. Kudos!
Nice photos
By: sschew : March 27th, 2023-23:17
Awesome bird and you look good in a leather jacket.
Amazing Birds
By: hashluck : March 29th, 2023-18:35
I came across them this week whilst researching raptors and their populariy in different regions and cultures for this article on the Falcon which along with other birds of prey featured heavily in art forms from over 100 years ago www.rlaliquemascots...