MomoHawk
Member

Monica, I am leaving NAFEX, hope to see you around.

You got a prairie ? You amaze me Momo. See you at our meet in Middleton?

Sorry to have missed you these mornings, I know how busy family can be. Its just as well, Pokie has gone off on long migrations. Thanksgiving morning I picked him up at the Hastings on Overland after loosing him out on Locust grove and amity. Today was nice, he forced ythousands of starlings up for awhile then soared to a thousand feet, then came back to the car.

Where are you now, Monica? Are you out there with the falcons? watching them develop. Do you have access to the internet?

Momo, Missed you Sunday, don't you know something cool happened. Pokie went up out of sight for 30 minutes, then suddenly he returned to the car(expected)with an adult female peregrine right on his tail. She almost landed next to him on my car, then flew around close for awhile as I fed him on the fist, calling softly to him. Pretty girl, she had a full dark cap, but not as rosy as Pokie on the breast. Wonder where she is going.

I've started to work so its less often, but Sundays is regular, at least until April. Its really spring flying now with crazy interactions and seductive weather. Could you come out south of Kuna next Sunday, around 3 pm? You know where the Morley Nelson interpretive pullover is on Swan Falls Road? I'll be there at 3 on Sunday, waiting for you. Pokie would like to have you along to encourage him. Me too.

Will you be around for awhile ? Pokie and I will keep flying for another month or so. I would love to have you along. I am seeing stuff that I wish I could share with others.
Eric

On a side note, Did you get any good shots of Pokie at the meet? If so could you post. Thanks, Eric

A merlin is just going to carry no matter how comfortable she is with you. If they don't they die. It is just a skill to find them where they settle(telemetry?) I just found that light lure stooping was a lot of fun and a good way to condition and show off what a merlin can do. Dare I say, almost more rewarding than flying wild birds in that it is more relaxing and less dangerous. It is cool to be able to just walk out into any field and let the little falcon put in 10-20 quick stoops(Do they know any other way ?) If she touches it at all, let her take it in the air on the next pass. It takes some practice to get the lure swinging in rythum. I wish you could have seen Morley Nelson lure fly. Almost a lost art.

Hey you,
It was good to see you this weekend. Wish we could have talked together about these birds, questions about what the heck they want from us. Your merlin looked great. Have you done any stooping to the lure with her? They are a blast to do that with and it builds the bond with you. The first time your merlin drags a sparrow back to you after a flight (instead of away) you feel special. Pokie wanted to eat that pigeon for awhile Saturday, didn't he? He knows the car way to well lately, but I still see some great flights.
I feel that you get this stuff more than most Monica, I like observing you practicing falconry.