Hi,
I'm going to be adding a new macaw to my family soon, and have an aim at free flight. I'm also a falconer, so I have several raptors, which leads to a few questions:
1. Is it a good idea to introduce the macaw to the falconry birds now to avoid any potential spooking in the future when it encounters wild birds? *there are no predator birds capable of killing a macaw here other than falconry birds, or the extremely rare goshawk or peregrine (only around certain times of the year). However, there are a lot of raptors that look impressive that might frighten or harass the bird.
2. I will be using solar-powered hacking GPS (Sim based), Marshall GPS, and a 216 hz tag on my bird (this is my SOP for all my BOP). I have some spare Marshall harnesses for eagle sized birds and tail mounts/plates that should fit. Is foot mounting or neck mounting an option (my heaviest transmitter is the marshall GPS at ~9g depending on mount method). The plan is one of three configs, but I'm worried the beak will destroy the expensive equipment and of course safety of the bird. So mounting options are:
One backpack, one tail mount, and one leg mount (using bewit or ez-twist, but I think a macaw could probably cut through the mounts like butter).
Double backpack and one tail mount.
One backpack and double tail mount.
What type of mounting equipment do you typically use? Which config do you like best?
3. Regarding mount method, with BOP, we tend to foot mount one of the transmitters, and we usually use a bewit to attach it around the leg or in an anklet grommet (not an option for a parrot). I know parrots legs are significantly weaker, is a bewit going to be okay?
4. Has anyone tried a mounting plate instead of the regular mount clip on a macaw? They are usually made of soft plastic or horn and mounted with Teflon ribbon and superglue/resin. I think I could have a custom metal plate made, but I think the thickness, even a titanium or tungsten plate couldn't survive against a macaw wanting to destroy one.
5. Finally, in falconry, we try to use dummy telemetry mounts as soon as possible (usually immediately after hard-penning or when the blood feathers have drained). Would it help to kit my bird out with dummy transmitters/mounts to avoid it from destroying the equipment?
Thank you for taking the time to read the wall of text.
David
I'm going to be adding a new macaw to my family soon, and have an aim at free flight. I'm also a falconer, so I have several raptors, which leads to a few questions:
1. Is it a good idea to introduce the macaw to the falconry birds now to avoid any potential spooking in the future when it encounters wild birds? *there are no predator birds capable of killing a macaw here other than falconry birds, or the extremely rare goshawk or peregrine (only around certain times of the year). However, there are a lot of raptors that look impressive that might frighten or harass the bird.
2. I will be using solar-powered hacking GPS (Sim based), Marshall GPS, and a 216 hz tag on my bird (this is my SOP for all my BOP). I have some spare Marshall harnesses for eagle sized birds and tail mounts/plates that should fit. Is foot mounting or neck mounting an option (my heaviest transmitter is the marshall GPS at ~9g depending on mount method). The plan is one of three configs, but I'm worried the beak will destroy the expensive equipment and of course safety of the bird. So mounting options are:
One backpack, one tail mount, and one leg mount (using bewit or ez-twist, but I think a macaw could probably cut through the mounts like butter).
Double backpack and one tail mount.
One backpack and double tail mount.
What type of mounting equipment do you typically use? Which config do you like best?
3. Regarding mount method, with BOP, we tend to foot mount one of the transmitters, and we usually use a bewit to attach it around the leg or in an anklet grommet (not an option for a parrot). I know parrots legs are significantly weaker, is a bewit going to be okay?
4. Has anyone tried a mounting plate instead of the regular mount clip on a macaw? They are usually made of soft plastic or horn and mounted with Teflon ribbon and superglue/resin. I think I could have a custom metal plate made, but I think the thickness, even a titanium or tungsten plate couldn't survive against a macaw wanting to destroy one.
5. Finally, in falconry, we try to use dummy telemetry mounts as soon as possible (usually immediately after hard-penning or when the blood feathers have drained). Would it help to kit my bird out with dummy transmitters/mounts to avoid it from destroying the equipment?
Thank you for taking the time to read the wall of text.
David