Falconry: Respecting raptor intelligence

Just wasted to say thank you for all your videos. I Took my falconery exam on 9/30 and passed it the first time and found a sponsor today. Thanks again for all your hard work and passing on your knowledge and wisdom

Good stuff Ben. I always tell other falconers, understand how the bird hunts naturally in the wild. Don't expect an owl will chase game the way a hawk does. Hawks/Eagles - Chase prey Falcon - Stoop and chase Owls - Ambush prey when they feel safe and stealthy

Really happy to see more videos uploading these days and even more excited to hear more coming! Love you and your channel!

I live in Utah as well pretty close to the Salt Flats. Been looking into Falconry religiously lately and your videos are gems man!

Very inspiring

I worked at the aquarium you’re talking about for 2 1/2 years. There are always a lot of people anthropomorphizing the animals

"Your head weighs more than your bird"..."HOLLOO BORD!". Exactly. That is a fantastic analogy and I need to remember to use it when applicable. Just the same with the audience and photographers who make kissy sounds and wave at the bird trying to get them to look and pose.... People forget they're people and animals are different/not people sometimes. Maybe the (owl) doesn't want to look at you. Eye contact is threatening to many animals. I also have a (theory) that camera lenses to most animals in their perspective look like "eyes" staring back at them. So yeah let me shove this giant unblinking eye in your face and oh isn't this wonderful. Although there are some raptors I've seen at programs that do seem to actually like the attention. Oh but wait that suggests that birds are individuals and intelligent....Ruh roh!

Really like your perspective on things. Looking forward to more videos. Especially can't wait for more on Accipiters, specifically passage Cooper's

Hi Ben, you are making great videos for the falconry community. Despite the fact that I have many years of falconry experience, I like to watch your videos.

Lovely..mr Ben always teaches something new!! Thank you!

Really enjoy your yt vids. Very informative and entertaining content.🎭 Thanks for posting!👍✌☺

nice... you made me *laugh*! Hard to do... a good overview of something to think about. Always! We tend to adore beautiful creatures, and forget, as you have so clearly elucidated, that they are a different creature from us, and, in many ways, at 'the top of the heap' in the avian food chain, and have all of these instincts, and training from egg to freedom, that one needs to admire, respect, and work *with*... I hope that I got the message? I hope you, and your raptor partners, have a fun and successful season!

Hi Ben, great video. I'd like to also hear more about getting into a hunting mindset, as in, dealing with taking an animal, especially cute ones... for instance there are a ton of Quail around here and i just love them they're so cute and funny but I'm probably going to have to deal with ending their adorable little lives when i finally move to where i can build a mew and obtain a hawk

It's all about the BRT, baby. Then, invite your bird to commit... to the quarry. It feels like I've heard these principles somewhere before...good to know it applies to raptors too.

Brilliant. And the English accent was not bad . Good bit of reasoning and advice cheers .

Ben - you are brilliant - I learn so much from your videos ...you remind me of temple grandin- ( I imagine you are familiar with her ) you know your stuff! However I think the smartest birds I have ever encountered are owls. I passed my masters in intensive falconry course with kitty Carroll January 2020

Would you consider making a video of how to rid off your birds fear of you in the first week of getting that bird I'm new to falconry

Great video!

You made some interesting comments about the mindsets and temperaments of raptors. Do you plan on doing a video comparing and contrasting the differences in mindset and temperament of some of the falcon, hawk, and buteo species that you have worked with in the past? There does not seem to be very much detailed literature about this that I can find. How do most hawks compare to falcons in temperament etc.?

Good stuff Ben! Would you consider making video about screaming hawks? Especially Harris Hawks. Im getting back to falconry after a few years pause and in 1month from now Im getting female harris hawk ( raised under parents ) and i really want to avoid making some mistakes that could lead to her screaming at me for food. Thanks a lot a keep it up.