Post by tmanson on Oct 18, 2008 9:40:17 GMT -8
Hi all: It looks like the consensus, so far, is that Murray's White-morph Gyrfalcon is a falconer's escapee.
I know nothing about falconry, but here is a couple of things to think about. The white appendage on the bird's right leg. Assuming it is man-made, looks more like a ring than a band. Could it be a device used to tether the bird?
While I was waiting for Murray in the p.m. yesterday, at the brussel sprout field, where Murray found the bird for the second time, I observed the bird hunting. It flew from the ground, which, I understand is what gyrfalcons mostly do, because of the largely perchless environment many of the wild birds come from. It returned to the same location on the ground, after its sortie.
Is flying/hunting from the ground a learned behaviour, or are they hard-wired to do so?
Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
I know nothing about falconry, but here is a couple of things to think about. The white appendage on the bird's right leg. Assuming it is man-made, looks more like a ring than a band. Could it be a device used to tether the bird?
While I was waiting for Murray in the p.m. yesterday, at the brussel sprout field, where Murray found the bird for the second time, I observed the bird hunting. It flew from the ground, which, I understand is what gyrfalcons mostly do, because of the largely perchless environment many of the wild birds come from. It returned to the same location on the ground, after its sortie.
Is flying/hunting from the ground a learned behaviour, or are they hard-wired to do so?
Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
