Hi from Montreal

[HelenG]

Just thought I would introduce myself, you all seem like quite a friendly bunch, I haven't seen any griping or nasty comments so far!!!
My name is Helen and I'm in Montreal, Canada.
I've been working with raptors for about 7 years now, mostly in an education/display setting, but now I've got a job doing wildlife control and falconry. I'm working with a peregrine, and two male gyr/peregrines as well as a really nasty female harris/harlans redtail hybrid. It's early days yet, and I'm just learning "real" falconry, but raptors have taken over my life for the last well...7 years, so I don't see an end in sight!
That's about it for me!
Helen

[everetkhorton]

Helen:
(welc) aboard! You have to watch those bird, they will take over your life very easily. How about posting a picture of the RT/Harris hybrid.

[kimmerar]

(welc) Helen. This is a nice group here. Lot's of great info too. We love pictures and videos.

[outhawkn]

(welc) , as already mentioned we like pictures.............:D

[Lunaries]

Hi, Helen!

Welcome.../I'm/ certainly sane (really! Promise! toungeout) but I dunno about this lot. crazyy :D Everybody's pretty friendly, though, yes. ;)

[HelenG]

OK, lets give this a try, never uploaded pictures before, but Chris's "how to" post seems pretty straightforward!
They're both of the HarlansXHarris, the first one is pretty garbage because it was from my phone, but I like that it shows her tail. The second one was her "mohawk" moment, surprised we actually got a picture of her with her mouth shut!
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg164/HelenMontreal/Arthemis.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg164/HelenMontreal/P1030450.jpg

[HelenG]

Yay it worked! well then I suppose I'll have to find some more to post!
Our female peregrine last week, and our gyr/peregrine male on the lure in the summer
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg164/HelenMontreal/P1030530.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg164/HelenMontreal/mustanglure.jpg

[HelenG]

Last but not least (you asked for pictures...get me going on my birds and look what happens!), my proudest accomplishment to date,
Taking this:
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg164/HelenMontreal/P1000587.jpg
And ending up with this:
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg164/HelenMontreal/100_4061.jpg

[everetkhorton]

Helen
Thanks for the picture, those baby barn owls, well only a mother could love one.

[Rudd]

Welcome and great pictures, thanks for posting.

[sakerjack]

Hello Helen,
I posted pictures of my Harlan harris a few weeks back in the Broadwing section,, they look very similar,, what weight are you flying yours at?
Good to see you aboard.

[HelenG]

Ken,
I'd have to check because we were playing around with her weight since last season was her first (with us), but I seem to remember you're girl is bigger than ours. I think ours was flying something like 1090-1110?
Were they originally trained by men these birds? Ever since we got her she's preferred the guys, and now she hates me and chitters away lovingly to my boss!!! And when they've decided they don't like you well...she's too big for me to argue with! lol, he can have her!

[sakerjack]

Ken,
I'd have to check because we were playing around with her weight since last season was her first (with us), but I seem to remember you're girl is bigger than ours. I think ours was flying something like 1090-1110?
Were they originally trained by men these birds? Ever since we got her she's preferred the guys, and now she hates me and chitters away lovingly to my boss!!! And when they've decided they don't like you well...she's too big for me to argue with! lol, he can have her!

Yes Helen they were both trained or at least cared for by Jon, mine went to Dennis for a short time and yours to another male falconer. Before I stopped flying her due to the cold she flew @1270 and now fat she is almost 1700 grms.. but our temps are much colder.. I am slowly lowering her weight to start her hunting again in March and will fly her staight thru the molt..
They are powerful birds,, if you are looking for a home for your bird I know several who would like to have her..

[HelenG]

I'll keep it in mind, but my boss has taken a shine to her, and her to him, so I doubt he'll be getting rid of her any time soon. I haven't weighed her lately, she's being freelofted at my boss' place, but I'm sure she's a monster now!
What precautions (feeding, vitamins, flying etc) do you take when flying her through the moult? Due to our job our birds will all be flying through the moult.

[chamokane]

Welcome, Helen. Great pictures.