Harris Hawks

mrs fish · #1 (**permalink**) 15-03-2008, 03:04 PM

They are a polular bird with falconers and I would like to know are they a danger to native bop's or anything else when they escape ?

There have been sightings of one at Landguard Common Felixstowe where there are peregrines

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 15-03-2008, 05:22 PM

You're right they are popular bird with falconers + are regularly used in pest control. If one escapes then it will catch birds/smallish mammals (certainly up to Rabbit size) to survive. One escaped bird is unlikely to impact on native species unless it's somewhere like a breeding tern colony.

Larger raptors do sometimes take smaller ones, eg Goshawks are one of the main predators of Sparrowhawk where the 2 species occur together.

mrs fish · #3 (**permalink**) 15-03-2008, 05:45 PM

Thanks aeshna, sadly terns do breed at Landguard

Are escaped falcons allowed to be shot if they are not native ?

LoveT · #4 (**permalink**) 15-03-2008, 05:59 PM

Perhaps Willing to Learn may be able to answer your questions?

I'd be interested to know.

Thea

willing to learn · #5 (**permalink**) 15-03-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveT

Perhaps Willing to Learn may be able to answer your questions?

I'd be interested to know.

Thea

Harris Hawks
Are cheap to buy, I would say 75% of them end up in the wrong hands.
They are very clever and very easily trained, though it takes a dedicated falconer to show them at their best. They hunt ground quarry best. Anything from a mouse to a hare some odd females have even taken Fox. They can and do take feathered quarry usually from a high vantage point in a tree, dropping down, and taking the birds by suprise on the ground, or as the bird risers if flushed. Rarely can they take feathered quarry in a pursuit flight. They do not have the turn of speed as our native Goshawk. So the adult terns should be safe, but the young would be a easy target. I noticed a thread with another apparent lost Harris screaming in a tree. I did not comment but I guess the screaming (noise) had become a problem, and had been released iresponsible. It might be worth trying to find a local falconer to try and catch it up. Harris hawks find the cold wet winters hard in the wild. And suffer from wing tip ademia (a form of frostbite) so getting a breeding foot hold would not be easy, also If you have Peregrines near by they will drive it out or even kill it out right.
Regards
Colin

Captive bred peregrine

Ps if the Harris hawk does become a problem to the native wild life, a license will be issued and it will be culled.

LoveT · #6 (**permalink**) 15-03-2008, 08:00 PM

The number of irresponsible people around really makes me mad

.

I've had the pleasure of one of these flying to my fist (strictly controlled circumstances at a falconry centre of course!): they are gorgeous birds, and the bit that really makes my blood boil is the fact that these poor creatures are left to their fate and probably end up paying the ultimate price for other peoples' stupidity

!

'Nuff said I think - don't want to get frozen!

Thanks for answering that one Willing to Learn.

Thea

mrs fish · #7 (**permalink**) 15-03-2008, 08:56 PM

Thanks for your info Willing-to-learn

Have sent you pm

bounce · #8 (**permalink**) 25-03-2008, 09:42 PM

We have a local Harris Hawk still with his jessie on must have been around for 3/4 years at least
Moore Nature Reserve

mrs fish · #9 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 06:15 AM

There was a falconry display at the football ground a few years back and a H hawk shot off over the river, they must go missing all the time.

The one I was worried about because of the terns hasn't been sighted anymore, not that I know of anyway

Bounce, 3/4 years sounds like he has made the reserve his home

GerryNick2 · #10 (**permalink**) 28-03-2008, 11:37 PM

Very nice birds.

Gerry

Kayleigh · #11 (**permalink**) 28-03-2008, 11:52 PM

I watched a display of these fantastic birds. It kept going for the sparrows lined up on the roof..The people got its attention and the display carried on. They said the birds are lazy and will not chase other birds as they don't have the staminer.(don't look that word up on google)

I only wanted to spell it..
It was a wonderful experience the hawk was flying low over peoples heads. Great in the right hands as with everything, disaster in the wrong.

pressld2 · #12 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 12:22 AM

I've heard that there is an escaped (or deliberately released) one in Kent but can't remember exactly where. I don't think they'll be a major problem to native wildlife unless they become established and the numbers start to increase. From what willing to learn says that seems unlikely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

staminer.(don't look that word up on google)

I only wanted to spell it..

Red rag to a bull, Kayleigh, but I see what you mean!

Dave P.

John · #13 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 05:45 AM

If my memory serves me right they are an unusual BOP in as much as they are capable of a few of them coming together and ambushing their prey.

John

mrs fish · #14 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 07:33 AM

Your right John, some good info on them here The Raptor Foundation - Harris Hawk

Andy_B · #15 (**permalink**) 24-09-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Rarely can they take feathered quarry in a pursuit flight.
. . .
So the adult terns should be safe,

..... Harris hawks find the cold wet winters hard in the wild. And suffer from wing tip ademia (a form of frostbite) so getting a breeding foot hold would not be easy,
. . . . . .
Regards
Colin
. . . .

Hi Colin
Harris hawks in the hands of falconers rarely take avian species in flight. Feral Harris hawks have a far greater level of fitness and different opportunities and do take avian species in flight. Terns however should be pretty safe.

Wing tip oedema is a problem for captive harris hawks and while no one seems to be able to say XXX is the cause it mainly occurs in birds that have been out hunting followed by a cold night and exposure to that cold. Possibly blood sugars etc are depleted and have an effect on blood flow to the wing tips.

It is not one factor alone that causes it. I have had a Harris hawk brought in of an evening with hoar frost on her shoulders with no problem (this was in 1970 when wing tip oedema was not recognised as a problem).

Breeding pairs at fat weight in aviaries seem to survive the cold.

I suspect the current winter temperatures would cause little problem for feral harris hawks that can take refuge in the trees.

Given the number of HH losses I can only assume that where a HH is present in an area for any period of time without an owner prowling round making inquiries, they are shot by gamekeepers or land owners. Otherwise we would have a healthy and visible feral population.

Andy

ellen h · #16 (**permalink**) 24-09-2008, 04:24 PM

There is a harris hawk that has apparently made its home locally.It has been seen for nearly a year flying around and hunting.It regularly takes Rabbit(witnessed by a local birdwatcher)which are abundant almost all year round.It gets a lot of hastle from the crows and magpies as I have seen on quite a few occasions too.
Have managed to photograph it,still has jessies on,so was an escapee or let loose deliberately.
Lovely bird!
ellen

Andy_B · #17 (**permalink**) 25-09-2008, 08:04 AM

Hi Ellen

I suspect you are in a locality where the ground is not seriously used for shooting. If some one was releasing pheasants and managing a shoot the Harris hawk would be helping itself to too many pheasants.

I know of one that was loose round the city here in leicester for 5 months catching mainly feral pigeons.

ellen h · #18 (**permalink**) 25-09-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_B

Hi Ellen

I suspect you are in a locality where the ground is not seriously used for shooting. If some one was releasing pheasants and managing a shoot the Harris hawk would be helping itself to too many pheasants.

I know of one that was loose round the city here in leicester for 5 months catching mainly feral pigeons.

Hi Andy, yes there are no shoots on the land the hawk frequents.There was a time that pheasants were bred and also the local wildfowlers had permission to shoot on the land,but that was ended some years ago.
The only shooting that goes on now is the farmer,who shoots pigeons and Rabbits-pest control!
ellen

hammock monkey · #19 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 09:54 PM

I was informed at a falconry centre once that a harris hawk was put in a cage with a kestrel accidentaly by a new employee, and the hawk unfortunately attacked and killed the kestrel within seconds. such a shame.
I dont think this means it will prey on kestrel especially, but it indicates they have instincts to kill any neighbouring predator

aeshna5 · #20 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammock monkey

I was informed at a falconry centre once that a harris hawk was put in a cage with a kestrel accidentaly by a new employee, and the hawk unfortunately attacked and killed the kestrel within seconds. such a shame.
I dont think this means it will prey on kestrel especially, but it indicates they have instincts to kill any neighbouring predator

This is obviously a totally unnatural situation so doesn't really reflect what would happen in the field.

A Harris Hawk I know that is brought in to scare off birds (mainly pigeons) from some buildings attracts every Crow in the vicinity who then give the hawk a hard time!

RobSutton · #21 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 06:39 AM

We've had a Harris Hawk feral here (Malham Tarn) for about six months now. It seems to be surviving quite happily on our abundant Rabbit population and in fact we could probably do with a few more more to take out what has become a quite damaging population of Rabbits on the reserve! I did hear our local falconer say that they have been known to hybridize with buzzards - does anyone know if this is true?

It will be interesting to see if it hangs around once the weather turns really cold but it certainly seems to be thriving at the moment and look in much better condition than when it first escaped.

willing to learn · #22 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 11:05 AM

No the have not been known to hybridize with buzzards. Though other (be it rare) species of none native hawks have.
Regards
Colin

willing to learn · #23 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willing to learn

No the have not been known to hybridize with buzzards. Though other (be it rare) species of none native hawks have.
Regards
Colin

I fear one case has been reported this breeding season on the welsh borders.
Regards
Colin

K9photo · #24 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 08:48 PM

There is video footage on youtube of a harris hawk taking down a deer!!

I have been told that harris hawks are very easy to train which is great for people who wish to develop their falconry skills and care for the birds properly but like many things in life, there is a flip side - it makes them the ideal buy for someone with only a fleeting interest in falconry. Many of them can be seen on the Independent Bird Register's for sale pages with comments like "work commitments forces sale" etc. I would assume that this is how many birds end up being released inappropriately. Obviously it is no fault of the birds and they only do what comes naturally to them. If you are concerned about the bird and the impact on your local wildlife, it may be worth dropping the IBR a line. There will be someone in your area who may be able to recapture the bird. It would be a shame to see it die in the wild.