Book on flying passage Merlins?

[GONEHAWKN]

I am by no means an authority on Merlin's having only flown 2 to date(more are definitely in my future). But, aside from some old Hawk Chalks and other limited reading, there isn't much out there on the subject. Has anyone ever given any thought on doing such a book? Or is someone got one brewing? Seems like it would be a good read if the right person would do it.....Maybe a compilation on different folks and the experiences they have had over the years with them......?

[tumble]

Bill, you posted this 8 minutes ago and I've been looking for the same thing for about 20. Thanks.

[GONEHAWKN]

I aim to please....I see I am not the only one then who thinks this is a good idea...

[FredFogg]

Bill, have you read A Merlin For Me? Not quite a how to on merlins but the insight from one falconer on an eyas he flew.

http://www.falconryheritage.com/2227

[GONEHAWKN]

Yes sir.

[frootdog]

I believe Eric Edwards was or is working on one.

[Pedioecetes]

In "Gamehawking at its very Best" there is an excellent chapter by Herb Sparkes, of Colorado, on flying passage merlins.

[GONEHAWKN]

Thanks Bob.....yes, it's a great write up.....

[gratefool1]

Is Matt Mullenix on here? I read a couple of articles about Merlins by him somewhere and thought he might be writing one for some reason. Might just be that I was wishing he would....
I pm'd someone about this very subject a couple of weeks ago and can't find much more than articles. Thanks for the other leads =)

[tumble]

In "Gamehawking at its very Best" there is an excellent chapter by Herb Sparkes, of Colorado, on flying passage merlins.

Yeah, thanks Bob. I forgot I had that so I've just pulled it from the shelf.

[coopershawk]

Desert Hawking has a good chapter by the Coulsons on the passage Merlin.

[tumble]

The Sparks article on training seemed pretty straight forward. Anyone doing something quite different?

[tumble]

Desert Hawking has a good chapter by the Coulsons on the passage Merlin.

Actually reading this one right now and it's answering my previous question. Looks like they prefer faster early exposure.

[BigJerHoods]

Desert Hawking has a good chapter by the Coulsons on the passage Merlin.

No offense, but that is some of the worst written advise on merlins ever.

[BigJerHoods]

Tom,

Herb's article us full of super usefull information. It outlines a rather long training program that isn't really necessary, but in bits and pieces it is golden. David Frank's/Eric Edwards book is supposed to be a compilation and will probably be out sometime soon. it has.been in the works for a long while. I know of one or two other projects brewing but am sworn to secrecy...besides I am too busy catching pigeons in Montana with my Richardson's right now to be on here. lol My advice on "A Merlin for Me" is to skip it if looking for practical information regarding passage merlins.

[JDHODGE]

No offense, but that is some of the worst written advise on merlins ever.

Why?

[BigJerHoods]

The advice is basically drop their weight...well beyond what is needed in my opinion...and chuck them out the window. Carhawking is no more useful to flying merlins than it would be to flying gyr/peregrines. There is sometimes a tendency to think that merlins are a bigger faster version of a kestrel and because of that fit into similar hawking applications. That couldn't be further from the truth and would be a gross misuse/misunderstanding of what a merlin has to offer. That is my opinion based on practical experience asking more from my merlins.

[Pedioecetes]

Hi Jeremy,

Where I live there are wild Merlins all year round, see a lot more of them than Kestrels. Wintering Merlins make phenomenal flights on Longspurs, Horned Larks and Snow Buntings out on the open plains, even in 30 below or worse temperatures. Seems to me that if they are capable of doing that in the wild, they are capable of doing spectacular stuff in falconry, as you suggest. My impression of Kestrels, in the wild, is cool birds, but, sort of a longwinged, more aerial, short range "accipiter". I know lots of falconers do terrific falconry with Kestrels, but, they are not even close to Merlins. Herb's experiences with trapped Merlins are vast, and he knows how to get the goods out of them. The real problem with Merlins for me and why I don't fly them, is a lack of legal quarry for them that would test them as the wild does. Starlings are not very available, blackbirds are legal, but not here in the world of fall/winter hawking. Perhaps, as Ben Campbell has been demonstrating, feral pigeons could be the best answer, though where I live pigeons are not really common except in towns/cities, not in open rural areas. Merlins are, though, incredible little falcons. We get all 3 of the main subspecies here in the winter. I just watch them and marvel.

[tumble]

No offense, but that [article] is some of the worst written advise on merlins ever.

I did read the Coulson's article and found almost all of it to be the polar opposite of how I've managed my other hawks so far, though I know little about merlins at the moment. Sparks' article mirrored my approach to manning my passage gos and redtails pretty closely- slowly but steadily forward, and with as much meat on the hawk as possible. The Coulson's approach would at best feel awkward to me, I think.

[BigJerHoods]

Bob,

You are absolutely right on in your observations. It is difficult to find viable quarry in many areas of the north that will really challenge a falconer and their merlin. I am a big fan of what Ben has been writing about and have in fact been flying pigeons myself with my passage female Richardson's in Montana the past few weeks. I am amazed at the flights and the pure power of a merlins ability to chase a pigeon into the sky in a 20 mph wind out of sight gaining all the way. There is some real potential in pigeons for those lacking other more readily accepted quarry. There is a wide world of potential in merlins if we all keep our minds open and don't underestimate them.

[tumble]

Bob,

You are absolutely right on in your observations. It is difficult to find viable quarry in many areas of the north that will really challenge a falconer and their merlin. I am a big fan of what Ben has been writing about and have in fact been flying pigeons myself with my passage female Richardson's in Montana the past few weeks. I am amazed at the flights and the pure power of a merlins ability to chase a pigeon into the sky in a 20 mph wind out of sight gaining all the way. There is some real potential in pigeons for those lacking other more readily accepted quarry. There is a wide world of potential in merlins if we all keep our minds open and don't underestimate them.

To be honest, that's one of my interests so far. I've seen a passage tiercel peregrine flown on farm pigeons and I don't think I've ever smiled and laughed so much during a hunt.

[BigJerHoods]

It's one of the best parts Tom. Yesterday's successful hunt had four falconers "oohing" and "aahing" non stop!

[coopershawk]

No offense taken. Having never flown a merlin, I will keep that in mind if the opportunity ever presents itself. Glad I have the Sparks article too then.

[Tanner]

No offense, but that is some of the worst written advise on merlins ever.

I agree with that wholeheartedly. Weight reduction of the magnitude suggested is not only unnecessary but is sufficient to kill a merlin depending on how healthy the bird was to begin with and the temperatures at which it is being flown and housed. I recall a statement there which reads to the effect that the merlin should be flown at a weight where decreased power is just noticable in their wingbeat. That comment made in print is extremely irresponsible. Even if the bird can be flown with a heavy hand like that, you'll not see the best out of your merlin under those circumstances.

[passagejack]

The information in Jen's article is simply outdated. With todays training methods and the knowledge of guys like Tanner, Big Jer and others, it is possible to fly merlins in top form and condition. Like they said the guide line for weight reduction is way out of bounds in the article mentioned. Its. Nice to see how far merlin hawking has come here in the states!

[passagejack]

I should clarify that my last statement was not a dig at Jen. I was merly trying to convey that merlin hawking, like many other aspects of falconry, have changed for the better since the writing of that book

[continentalanatum]

Guys,

I`m fan of the micro hawking and especially the merlins...I`m still learning about`em and have a huge collection of books and articles from magazines, www, etc. (Sparkes, Ross, Gleason etc) but I guess that books like "A merlin for me" and other similar doesn`t work for us american merlin hawkers because of the different kind of quarry especially.
Herb Sparkes still hawking with his merlins in Colorado and for many of us, he was our first read and guide to try merlin hawking. His article on "Game hawking at it`s very best" it`s simply our micro hawking bible and it`s a shame not to read more from him, but it`s great to know he`s still pursuing sparrows with merlins. That`s my best background in merlin hawking, BUT...I know about a new incredible work that is cooking right now...I guess will be one of the best merlin hawking books EVER! Just wait...and believe me...this wait is killing me.
Best regards for all of you merlin hawkers! See you soon!

[GONEHAWKN]

Well, i think what Ricard has just done there boys is set the hook on us Merlin junkies.....now that we have taken the bait, we now have to wait while we get reeled in.......and Ricard, yes, i agree, the reading that's out there, while informative in some ways, it's not applicable in some regards to how we fly Merlins and WHAT we fly them on, here in the States.......

[passagejack]

Guys,

I`m fan of the micro hawking and especially the merlins...I`m still learning about`em and have a huge collection of books and articles from magazines, www, etc. (Sparkes, Ross, Gleason etc) but I guess that books like "A merlin for me" and other similar doesn`t work for us american merlin hawkers because of the different kind of quarry especially.
Herb Sparkes still hawking with his merlins in Colorado and for many of us, he was our first read and guide to try merlin hawking. His article on "Game hawking at it`s very best" it`s simply our micro hawking bible and it`s a shame not to read more from him, but it`s great to know he`s still pursuing sparrows with merlins. That`s my best background in merlin hawking, BUT...I know about a new incredible work that is cooking right now...I guess will be one of the best merlin hawking books EVER! Just wait...and believe me...this wait is killing me.
Best regards for all of you merlin hawkers! See you soon!

I'll second that Ricardo! It WILL be a good one! No compilation in this one great to see all of this passion for small bird hawking, esp merlins!

[Tanner]

Guys,

.. I guess that books like "A merlin for me" and other similar doesn`t work for us american merlin hawkers because of the different kind of quarry especially.

That's very true Ricardo. You mention Tom Gleason's articles and those are terrific discussion about what flying a merlin can be and the benefit of an open approach to interacting with merlins in the field. Pete's 1980's articles about imprint Richardson's (and pigeons) are also in that vein of creativity. The southern CA merlin mafia falconers have been doing things their way for a long time (jacks!) and certainly have a unique insight. The ubiquitous distribution of the merlin has produced master merlin falconers in all corners of the Americas and I think while similar, not everyone is flying their birds exactly "the same", not even close - and that's a great tribute to the species.

[Tanner]

With todays training methods and the knowledge of guys like Tanner, Big Jer and others, it is possible to fly merlins in top form and condition.

I appreciate the vote of confidence Roselle! But the truth is that I'm just getting started compared to a lot of guys!

[GONEHAWKN]

Hell yeah!!! Merlin Mafia!!!! Love it! Lol...what's it take for one to become a "made man" lol....seriously, I am truely hooked on the little rockets and I know that I have only barely scratched the surface with only having flown 2 of them. Is there a rough ETA for this book in the works?

[Fawkes]

Been contemplating a merlin for this year - seems like pigeons, sparrows, magpies and crows are the only thing that stays the winter up here. Current plans are for a gos on ducks (untill they all leave) but with teaching full time not sure I will be doing the bird justice outside of the duck season.

Now flying a passage merlin its first fall, moulting it in the house, then tackling summer starlings, pigeons, sparrows, and fall snipe when I am not teaching could be a real blast.

Has any one tried the smaller teals with merlins, or are they too big?

Looking forward to the book!

[Tanner]

A female merlin could take a green wing teal but the tough part is going to be convincing her to grab it. I almost got that lucky with an imprint female a few years ago who took off after a teal we flushed off a pond, she ran out and turned it back to the pond and just as she was getting close the teal clipped a fence, went to the ground and shuffled back into the pond. She pulled off when it went to the ground. I think if I could have grabbed that one for her, we would have been rockin! I think the passage birds would be even harder to convince, but I've not really tried it.

[Joshsbantams]

[QUOTE=continentalanatum;233367]huge collection of books and articles from magazines, www, etc. (Sparkes, Ross, Gleason etc)QUOTE]

Does anyone have any of this info that they could possibly share with me or at least lead me in the direction to finding it. I'm just beginning with my girl and want to do the best I can with her. From what I've heard, you folks are all the big Merlin guys.