Featheredsamurai
New member
For anyone who didn't know, my friends took on a new falconry apprentice, so they went out and caught 2 red tails(so the apprentice could choose which he liked more). He ended up choosing the smaller and more docile male, not wanting Crazy because of her injury and medical needs. My friend was very happy, she LOVES crazy and wanted to train her herself.
If you find trapping these young first year birds terrible, remember that most hawks and falcons don't reach their third year. Falconers often raise the birds and teach them to hunt for several years before releasing them back to the wild when they are old enough to breed. The majority of species they keep long term are captive breed, exotic, or hybred species that were never trapped.
It's believed that crazy failed in hunting ground squirrels, her legs when trapped had large bite wounds, and her back right toes ligament was severed making the toe useless. Her toe was curled under the foot, but didn't seem to be causing any problems, BUT then she managed to stab herself with her own talon
Crazy was rushed to the vet with a massively swollen foot last week. The vet taped her toe into a normal position in hopes it will heal like that, she has no use of the toe at all. It's still very swollen, as you'll see in the video, but it's only from inflammation and the vet thoroughly checked for puss. She has to take Baytril daily, I don't remember what the other medication was.
She had been flying longer distances, but the apprentice only switched birds a week ago so she's still settling in. Plus on the medication, and her swollen foot we don't want to work her to hard. But not to fly her would be cruel, and she loves it.
Enjoy the video! Also a little mini clip of atlas the kestrel in the vid
[ame=http://youtu.be/WWx7mNVUbtw]Crazy Hawk - YouTube[/ame]
If you find trapping these young first year birds terrible, remember that most hawks and falcons don't reach their third year. Falconers often raise the birds and teach them to hunt for several years before releasing them back to the wild when they are old enough to breed. The majority of species they keep long term are captive breed, exotic, or hybred species that were never trapped.
It's believed that crazy failed in hunting ground squirrels, her legs when trapped had large bite wounds, and her back right toes ligament was severed making the toe useless. Her toe was curled under the foot, but didn't seem to be causing any problems, BUT then she managed to stab herself with her own talon

She had been flying longer distances, but the apprentice only switched birds a week ago so she's still settling in. Plus on the medication, and her swollen foot we don't want to work her to hard. But not to fly her would be cruel, and she loves it.
Enjoy the video! Also a little mini clip of atlas the kestrel in the vid
[ame=http://youtu.be/WWx7mNVUbtw]Crazy Hawk - YouTube[/ame]