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Crazy Bat
Sport climber
Birmingham, AL & Seweanee, TN
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Biologist speaking here. The reason falconers collect chicks rather than eggs is because birds, with their bird brains, become sexually attracted to the type of animal that feeds them. This is why parrot owners want hand fed birds. They litterally fall in love with their people and are not likely to succesfully mate when released to the wild.
Falconers leave the chicks in the nest long enough that they will succeed in breeding when released to the wild and releasing them is a requirement of their licences. They also collect early in the season so that the parents have time to rear a second clutch. A lot of birds only suceed in rearing one chick at a time because the stronger chick will actually push its siblimgs out of the nest. Falconry actually improves the breeding sucess in these birds.
Falconry is very important at airports where birds are used to deter nesting of other species near airports. The New York area airports had slacked off on the use of falconers and many think that resulted in the plane that landed in the Hudson.
If I lived anywhere nearby I would be all about helping.
Cavers might be a better bet. Thier approach would be from the top and single rope techniques are far less prone to falls that could injure the birds.
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Near Boise, get in touch with the Intermountain Bird Observatory people. They run the migrant traps on Lucky Peak, and I know there were falconers among them who save and train chicks, and band them, so it is on record when the chicks successfully breed in released adulthood. And I know at least two of the people who came up to Lucky Peak were climbers. I think one guy may still be in the antarctic though. Last I heard the other guy was in Italy, but check with them.
The IBO group has a stellar record of working with birds of prey. The ornithologists there would be happy to hear from you. And they will know climbers around there, so if you want someone in Idaho, they are a good bet to know people in the climbing community as well.
https://ibo.boisestate.edu/home/
Good Luck!
feralfae
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Ben Harland
Gym climber
Kenora, ON
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Very interesting Crazy Bat - thanks!
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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The thing I find most amazing is how few nesting pairs of falcons there were in the US in 1970 and how hard raptor biologists worked for forty years (and are still working) to restore them back to their historic ranges and numbers. It was a lot of frigging work one hackbox and eyrie at a time and climbers should be aware that ever steadily productive eyrie to those guys is just like our first ascents - those eyries are their history and legacy just like our climbs are ours.
My hats off to them as some of the most dedicated people I've met, some of whom are climbers as well.
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sandstone conglomerate
climber
sharon conglomerate central
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Good falconry is hard work. It's a lifestyle for sure. You eat and breathe the obsession like climbers do. Weather doesn't deter your flying, work and family sometimes come second, and if you're making excuses for why you're not getting out enough, then you're doing it wrong. Falcons, accipiters and buteos want to do one thing:hunt. It's a blood "sport", and it gives you an appreciation for how hard things struggle to stay alive. Raptors are merciless animals. They'll eat their quarry while it's still breathing and not think twice about it. As a falconer,you don't let their prey suffer.
Falconers worked hand in hand with raptor biologists to bring back the peregrine from the brink of extinction due to the prevalent use of ddt, which is making a comeback, unfortunately. I helped out a rehabilitation facility for awhile, and saw all manner of injuries for birds of prey: electrocution from power poles (probably the #1 killer of birds of prey), burns from methane gas burners, gunshots from ignorant as#@&%es, collisions with cars, starvation, fights with great horned owls etc. They live very difficult lives. To live like that requires a species to be "savage", but it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever undertaken.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Good falconry is hard work
It's my understanding that it's way beyond that. It's 24/7/365! They can't even go on vacay
unless another falconer will look after their bird and fly it.
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sandstone conglomerate
climber
sharon conglomerate central
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Reilly, that is true. I've "babysat" for a couple of birds when their handlers have left for a few days. Often, falconers will go on falconry vacations, which is just an excuse to hunt hard for a few days without work getting in the way. Ive been privileged to see northern goshawks hunt, peregrines fly down ducks, coopershawks chase sparrows, merlins and kestrels chase starlings. Ive handled great horned owls as well. The red-tailed hawk is close to my heart though. They're like training a dog, which I also use in the field. Very smart bird. They'll train you, if you're not careful. It's all about positive reinforcement. There is no disciplining a bird of prey. Any fool that tries will end up with a hand full of talons. Move too quick on a kill and you'll end up with that anyways. The hawk is ultimately the boss. You're just there to provide an opportunity to chase game.
Cosmic, I'm sure some as#@&%e somewhere has tried to end a raptor's life that way. The Amish love to shoot them, which is extremely unfortunate.
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little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
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With the Peregrine Fund world headquatres in Boise (on Flying Hawk Lane no less) I think Boise has more falconers per capita than anywhere else. It's like climbers in Boulder. But I guess the OP wants a climber and not another falconer. Probably has a "secret" nesting site in Idaho. Falconers are worse than climbers with their "secret" crags.
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sandstone conglomerate
climber
sharon conglomerate central
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Prairies are a pretty successful species. They're really unique animals, comparable to the saker falcons that are indigenous to parts of the Middle East. Prairies can be as good as peregrines on waterfowl, if trained properly, and can take desert hares as well, which is rather unique for a longwing raptor, although gyrfalcons and sakers will take them as well. As far as finding nesting sites, yes it can be difficult and I'm sure the OP has his reasons. In actuality, there are so few falconers that fear of others taking multiples from a single nesting site is almost nil. Prairies can be very difficult to work with, as their temperament can vary wildly. The OP probably doesn't have the rope skills to successfully take a chick without endangering himself and his charge. He/she probably just wants help.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Didn't Yvon C start climbing when he was interested in falconing?
Though I'd rather see the birds left alone.
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sandstone conglomerate
climber
sharon conglomerate central
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Steve w. See above posts for raptor mortality rates. I can provide links if you need them.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Social climber
SLO, Ca
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I used to bag eagle chicks when I worked for the USFS. I would climb up huge Norcal firs to get them. The pic of my feet is me chilling in a nest while waiting for the biologists to do their thing. After they were done I'd haul them back up, wish them a good day and get out of there. When I mantled up into the nest with two chicks one of them slashed my face with its talon while I was grabbing the other. I had three long scratches down my entire mug. The nests smelled like dead fish. The real benefit of that gig was getting out of the smokejumper base and hanging with cute biologist college students!!
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sandstone conglomerate
climber
sharon conglomerate central
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Bald eagles are cool animals,like a giant osprey. I've only handled one of those, and she was a sweetheart. Up around Lake Erie, they've made a huge comeback. They're nesting in trees in people's front yards, etc. I'll bet the nest didn't smell the best, as they love those fish.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Social climber
SLO, Ca
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Yep, pretty stinky! I also built osprey platforms in areas they were trying to rehab. we'd climb up a big tree next to a river, top it (wild rides when the top cut loose!!), and then build a frame for nest building. I think they simulated a snag with the top blasted off by lightning- which presumably gives ospreys a birds eye view to monitor the fish.
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chill
climber
The fat part of the bell-curve
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I'm your man.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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I'm pretty sure Owelette is going to get Catboy and Geccko in the Catcar on you.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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[]As the Tami, cartoonist of rats, flipperer of yoots, said
the rabbit hole led to facts, I learned
Somethings . . .
I love the saturation that topics are given here; the turns and twist the snark.
There is a sad and constant that happens more and more. The days weeks and years roll on and people pass on .
There might be a few here who knew or had heard of the Falcon Man.
(I'm as always sitting in a funk of memories with tears and smiles that go along with my grief.)
Dr Heinz Meng was one of a kind !
https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2016/09/memorial-pays-homage-to-beloved-professor-heinz-
Just some info on northeaster birds*
http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/themes/falcon.html
I m not anti -bird but I've come to have strong feelings from a unique perspective.
I think the pet ownership is devastatingly sad. They, birds deserve so much better.
I own a bird , a being in a cage that has searched for love , spontaneously laid eggs and has a strong attachment to the Coffee machine, it may cause a smirk, but we love her and have tried everything. She is terrified of her own kind! Every match has left one or both birds very agitated.
We try to 'be with' ( out of cage ) our Nandy Conure,
all green with a black head and red hi-lights.
she has, well we all have, chosen to cling to, our own pussy cat grabber and priest , nun in the habbit of rescuing creatures ! The Gnomette Chief.
Anyway thanx as always there is a definition of passion I've always liked
Passion is the result of conflicting emotions the conflict, resolved by the greatest emotion, love.
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sandstone conglomerate
climber
sharon conglomerate central
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Chill, are those skuas? I've heard they're pretty nasty. Looks like a handful lol
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Not skuas, Black-headed Gulls. You are right with yer anthropomorphic assessment though:
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