Traditional tethering vs. Clip Swivel tethering

[davidfrank]

This is a better picture of the swivel and clip arrangement.

[wingnut]

An old falconer in my area (who is now deceased) showed me how to put together that type of system over 30 years ago. He claimed to have invented it. It's all I've ever used. Never had the system fail completely. As has been previously mentioned though, it is the falconer's job to inspect and test equipment before failure. I've always purchased the componets separately and put together my own but by the time you purchase the mechanical parts and factor in some labor, I would say this product is reasonably priced.

[goshawkr]

This is a better picture of the swivel and clip arrangement.

I have fooled around with this exact type of a clip in a hardware store, and didn't like it. I have never used one of these. My impression was that the metal did not feel strong enough to me, like it would easily deform. The ones I have messed with in a store could be easily torqued so that there was an opening for the jesses to pop out of. I also was left with the impression that they clips would be tough to operate with cold fingers.

I have seen the coastlock style, and I know some falconers use them, but I didn't like how they felt on my fingers operating them, and there is a little sharp stub at the end of where they clip that bothered me, probably because I think too much.

The clips that I use have been used by many falconers in the pacific north west region since the late 80's or so. This is exactly the kind of clip I use:

(this is an image hosted on a website I have no control over, so I hope the link dosnt break....) The metal hook is quite a bit more robust, and the spring-snap portion is held in so that it cannot shift side to side and leave a gap. The setup I use is to attach two of these clips to a sampo swivel with small split rings. I have seen this described in several books as a "Y" system.

The spring will eventually fatigue and fail, and will do so without warning, but I keep several on hand so that I am ready to replace them. I buy them a few dozen at a time, and each one typically lasts me for a few years. It would be wise for me to rotate them out before they fail, but I have so many of these (7+) setups in use I would need a spreadsheet to keep track of the rotation schedule.

In response to those who expressed concern over the lack of security (not that I am trying to convince you, but this is a discussion and I am offering the other point of view....) Tasha was correct about the redundancy of using two clips. When one gives, the other should hold. They should also be used only when and where it is not critical that they hold.

I wanted to elaborate at a bit more length on my reply from yesterday about when I use these. During the time I am actively working with a hawk, I use these several times a day, every day.

As I mentioned, I use these on a glove leash because its quick to apply and offers more security than my fingers alone. My field jesses have a hole small enough for the clip to just barely pass through, and they are made of paracord and designed so the whole will close up. Some folks use a regular leash, but my leash is semi-permanantely attached to my glove and I can have my goshawk clipped up with this leash faster than you can thread a jess through a swivel. Not that its a race, usually, but I am not relaxed until those jesses are secured especially with a hawk that has food. On the way to/from the field, the glove is left in the giant hood clipped to the jesses (and the only time I have ever had both jesses come unclipped at the same time was in the giant hood - I think my current goshawk does it just to bug me.)

Another time when these clips come in handy is on my indoor perches that I frequently use. One is a screen perch, and the leash is always left tied to the perch with one of these "Y" systems tied flush to the perch. This is only used indoors, so even if the hawk gets off she isn't going anywhere. The other indoor perch I commonly use has a leash tied to it, but I need the length just right to keep the mess from mutes contained. Using clips, I only have to set the leash up once. Several good friends of mine use a rundrick (pole perch to American's) using the same clips I have in the photo as a quick on/off method. In all of these setups, even if both clips came undone the hawk would be more confused than anything else and sit calmly where she belongs because she has done so many times before. As an amusing side note, once I actually had both leather anklets fail at the same time just after I brought my old goshawk Angel in to hang out on the screen perch. She was so surprised that she fell out of the air and landed on her belly on the ground.

Similarly, the mew setup I have at the moment is very touchy as to how much leash is given. I keep my goshawk tied down because otherwise she will wear her wing tips pacing when she gets antsy. If I have too much leash, this setup could tangle or snag. Too little and she would not be comfortable on the high perch. I use a jesse extender when she is in here, and pass the two clips through the extender clipping opposite of each other. In a season of use, I have never had her get even one clip off. I could of course make a modified fox leash that was sized such that it was always the right length, but the clips do just fine and are much quicker to apply when I am in a hurry (which always seems to be the case). I have used modified fox leashes for just shy of 20 years, and can do it drunk with one hand tied behind my back. Attaching clips is much much faster. This is the setup:


And the last example that comes to mind of when I use these clips are when I am doing tidbit games. I usually do these on my back deck, and use a 2 meter leash. Its long enough to get in the way, but gives me all the room I need for restrained pursuits and for nice high jump ups. I do these in the open, which is a small risk, but I am right there attached to the other end of the leash and paying attention to if the hawk is eager or not. I am also watching the clips with an eagle eye. When doing these sessions, as a classic OC training regimine dictates, they are done in 3-4+ ~15 minute blocks with breaks in between. The time it would take to tie and untie a "real" leash for these is very precious time to me that I can spend other places, like doing the dishes or some laundry or even cranking out an email for work.

I used to weather my hawks in my yard on the lawn while I was keeping an eye on them. Not always under direct supervision, sometimes while I was within earshot in the house. For this, I NEVER EVER used a clip setup, but instead used what Steve Layman termed a "modified" or "reverse" fox knot which I think is identical to what others on the thread have been calling a fox knot (Nick Fox suggested putting the button at the leash ring and using a loop for the knot, Steve's modification to Nick's idea is a little simpler because the perch does not need to be modified). Over the last 3 years I have had to squash that practice because my free range chickens have drawn in too many coyotes and eagles for this to be done safely.

However, the rule still stands with me - clips are only to be used in enclosed spaces where it is relatively safe for a hawk to be completely free, as a backup to just holding the jesses, or when I want just a touch of extra control where a free flight would be ok. In any other situation, I use a modified fox loop leash.

I do have some friends that use clips even in open situations. I smile and give them my advice when appropriate, and let them take their own risks (although I will not commit to keeping the "told ya so" to myself when/if they have a problem related to failed clip).

[DtRooster]

This is a better picture of the swivel and clip arrangement.

Can't vouch for those exact clips but if they're as good as the ones I've got, they aren't close to junk.