hawk in a car

[Muggsy]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I'd love to join a society where enjoyment can be gained by releasing a hawk from a moving vehicle and to recapture the same to avoid investment becoming void.

I had a little chuckle about that myself

[wizzo]

Woodman, if I find the club first, you'll have to join the end of the line. These idiots usually raid the nests of BOP and raise the fledglings. I expect that mummy and daddy wouldn't buy them an Xbox. It seems that some of the younger generation have turned to the animal kingdom for their kicks. Designer dogs, Bull Terriers, with Burberry collars and raptors. What ever next? Poor deprived children

[Boddie]

I was in Doncaster one day at B&Q and there was this old boy there walking his dogs in the car park. (I was having a toastie in their restaurant) It became evident after a while that one of his dogs had gone over a ridge and not returned so I went out with my missus to help him. He was proper posh, with his Hunter Sovereign wellies, Barbour etc and the dogs were Cairn terriers. We offered to help and I went up the ridge but he said the dog would return to 'the whistle', then he started banging on about it returning to 'the bell'. By this stage I was over the ridge but could here this bell like a Squire would use to call his butler. I could not see what was going on but then heard him exclaim the dog had returned.

Imagine my surprise when I climbed back over the ridge and he had a great big bird of prey on his arm.

He told us he'd been in the car park a few weeks earlier when his bird took a puppy off its feet, to the terror of its owner, and it only dropped the puppy when he brought a live chick out of his pocket and the BOP heard the chick.

This chap was proper regal, driving a one series bimmer with a 50 grand personalised plate.

It was was of the strangest encounters I have ever had but he was a nice old boy - Big landowner type. I liked him

[rossy]

hello everyone and thanks for the replys it was in a cul de sac and i didnt know people did this sort of thing. who or where they came from ive no idea but will keep an eye out for them. to keep bop you need a licience and the norm is to train them out in fields or the moors . rossy.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by wizzo

These idiots usually raid the nests of BOP and raise the fledglings.

Do they ????? I suggest if uou have first hand evidence of it, report it to youre local wildlife officer.
Regards
Colin

[wizzo]

Yes they do Colin! It's a common practice (well it is around here) I'm surprised you haven't come across this before? Most of these people can't afford or won't pay the cost of taking up the hobby properly, so take the relativly easy and cheaper way into falconry. Like the way most things are done these days I'm afraid.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by wizzo

Yes they do Colin! It's a common practice (well it is around here) I'm surprised you haven't come across this before? Most of these people can't afford or won't pay the cost of taking up the hobby properly, so take the relativly easy and cheaper way into falconry. Like the way most things are done these days I'm afraid.

Report them then they are looking up to 5 years imprisonment. The reason I ask there has been many malious untrue claims about some falconers which in fact have vastly untrue leading to counter law suits and prosecutions. The reason I brought it up, the hung draw and quarter mob seem to join the side of the "righteous" with out a clue of the subject matter. Yes they will be some that gain BOP illegally, some people might drink and drive others may abuse their children and pets. But most falconers are law abiding members of society.
Regards
Colin

[wizzo]

Sorry Colin, I think you misunderstood what I meant. This wasn't a swipe at Falconers in general. I am freinds with lots of them. Taking young birds, namely Sparrow Hawks is a common practice - period. The police are aware of the problem, don't worry. However, do you really believe that the police are going to act on this, given that we have muggings, murders and burning cars on the streets, where I live, on a weekly basis. The answer to that one is a resounding no. Sorry but that's the reality.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by wizzo

Sorry Colin, I think you misunderstood what I meant. This wasn't a swipe at Falconers in general. I am freinds with lots of them. Taking young birds, namely Sparrow Hawks is a common practice - period. The police are aware of the problem, don't worry. However, do you really believe that the police are going to act on this, given that we have muggings, murders and burning cars on the streets, where I live, on a weekly basis. The answer to that one is a resounding no. Sorry but that's the reality.

No not misunderstood, and really not directly a response to your post though i quoted you. I thought I could see where this thread was headed by the hang um high brigade those that know little on the subject do not listen to the truth or facts leading to a downward spiral. In Derbyshire we are pretty lucky an 4 wildlife officers are on call, in fact the last BOP brought here was swiftly followed by 3 visits by 2 wildlife officers in 2 days, though i informed them it was here as soon as it arrived.
Regards
Colin

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

No not misunderstood, and really not directly a response to your post though i quoted you. I thought I could see where this thread was headed by the hang um high brigade those that know little on the subject do not listen to the truth or facts leading to a downward spiral.
Regards
Colin

Don't think anyone on this thread has come anywhere near having a 'hang um high brigade' attitude towards falconers generally. Everyone on this thread is reacting (quite rightly) to a specific situation/activity posted by Rossy, that is more than likely illegal and certainly not in the best interests of the bird being flown given the risk of it hunting it on/over roads from moving cars in a residential area . Others have expressed their distaste at falconry in general. Nothing wrong with that, everyone's entitled to their point of view, but it certainly doesn't justify your labeling those that have expressed that opinion as a 'hang um high brigade'. (anymore than I or anyone else would be justified in making negative comments about falconry in response to the frequent times you make reference to your own 'expertise/experience/' of falconry on this Wild about Britain website if it were irrelevant to the thread. )