ozboz
Guru
- Location
- Richmond ,Surrey
Whilst out and about yesterday I saw some Falconers they were using the birds to see off pigeons on the apartment block at the end of Kew Bridge, they travel from Cambridge regularly to London to do this work
They are actually Harris Hawks, the female was much larger than the male , the pigeons were very watchful and scarpered as soon as the large Hawk was released , the Hawk did not give chase though , very well trained
They didn't give chase because they'd have no chance....
My wife and I used to fly Harris Hawks and they are gregarious ground game hunters and whilst any bird will fly off at the sight of them, a Harris will almost never give chase unless it's an over ambitious youngster. Pigeons are the equivalent of a high speed, long distance GT car, even the manky street pigeons are quick enough.
But it's great to see them being used in a functional way, keeper and bird benefit, not forgetting the streets they are clearing of the pigeons.
Bet it was a great spectacle to see.