Hooknswoop 19 #1 July 19, 2005 I really like the raptors, I think they are the great whites of the sky. So, today I got to check out a Peregrine Falcon. Very cool bird. Derek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 July 19, 2005 I've jumped a Falcon before...wasn't that impressed. The birds are definatly badass! It amazes me the level of training they can retain and what they can do, its simply awesome.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #3 July 19, 2005 A beautiful animal for sure! Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shell666 0 #4 July 19, 2005 QuoteA beautiful animal for sure! Walt There's a Falcon's nest on one of the buildings here at the UofA ... they have webcams on it (and they're showing the little babies right now!) http://www.falconcam.med.ualberta.ca/ Very cool. 'Shell'Shell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peregrinerose 0 #5 July 19, 2005 They are beautiful. There's a nest of them in downtown Harrisburg and a falcon cam so you can watch the babies grow up via the internet. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 1 #6 July 19, 2005 I actually got to watch a show on falconry (sp?) this past weekend. He had both Hawks and falcons, several different breeds. The hawks he used in a team, and that was neat, they just hung out waiting in the wings (pun intended) and followed him where ever he went. The Falcons waited for command. What was more amazing, they came when called!!! that was wild to watch. Though he had to remember to turn off the mic, cause it confused the hell out of them. This was very cool to watch. And yes this was LIVE not on TV! She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #7 July 19, 2005 They use falcons to keep the pest birds away from military and civilian airports as to prevent bird strikes. They found it is much more effective then noise makers. Only takes one flight of the falcon to keep the airspace clear for a much longer time. Love the idea of a falcon taking down a pigeon or seagull.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 0 #8 July 19, 2005 Derek said that the one he saw was going to get a quail to eat. My first responce was how about eating something useful like a prairie rat (I mean dog).Fly it like you stole it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,434 #9 July 19, 2005 We have a kite in our canyon. I haven't gotten a good picture of him yet; he's pretty reclusive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sangiro 4 #10 July 20, 2005 Very cool indeed. Safe swoops Sangiro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #11 July 20, 2005 I got to check out a Peregrine Falcon. *** Best with a slightly chilled white wine! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #12 July 20, 2005 I have a bald eagle that lives by the lake near me. I call him 'Freedom'. I see him at about 40 feet at least twice a week. He is absolutely breathtaking.~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LilZilla 2 #13 July 20, 2005 I don't remember where it was that I saw it but I saw this really cool picture of this jumper falling with a piece of meat in his hand and the falcon diving after it. Pretty sweet stuff!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #14 July 20, 2005 Where did you get to "check out" the bird, as you say??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #15 July 20, 2005 there was a show on the discovery channel a while back researching the speeds they can obtain and it was awesome. they basically took apart a neptune and put only the essential components on the bird and they finally found out that this bird could top 240+ mph!!! it was kind of cool because they were having it chase a toy out of a c-182 from 10k and they thought it could only go 160mph cause they thought it was having trouble staying up with the toy, but they later found out that it was having troubly slowing down for it. They had some one going head down to video and keept up with it pretty well, but then all of a sudden the bird just turned on the afterburners and there was no way he could react that fast and keep up. cool thing is the bird started to come out of that dive at like 100' and was flying straight and level by like 50' or something. now that's a swoop!Slip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PrairieDoug 0 #16 July 20, 2005 QuoteI don't remember where it was that I saw it but I saw this really cool picture of this jumper falling with a piece of meat in his hand and the falcon diving after it. Pretty sweet stuff!!! There is video of this on Norman Kent's Willing to Fly DVD. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #17 July 20, 2005 yeah! that's the vid that was on the discovery channel or whatever channel. great stuffSlip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiles 0 #18 July 21, 2005 Congratulations on your real life experience! Thanks for sharing.. "Noble".....is the only word I know to express these most highly skilled fliers. The menacing hand of man was responsible for the near extermination of the peregrine falcon through the middle of the 20th century - the introduction of DDT and indiscriminate hunting contributing to the species' demise - and now there is a 21st century problem that has the potential to be worse. We may have a situation worse than DDT in PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ether) It's in computers, wall coverings, drapes, tents. It's in the food we eat. PBDEs are commercially produced substances used as fire retardants in a variety of products: the compound is blended into computer and television casings, carpet backings, textiles and electrical insulation. Research in the United States has already found contaminated, or addled, peregrine falcon eggs. They found the highest content (PBDEs) in peregrine eggs, more than any other species. attached my favorite pic of Remington http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/index.htm Canadian Peregrine Foundation SMiles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,648 #19 July 21, 2005 We have peregrines nesting on our campus in downtown Chicago. There are several pairs in the city, apparently, they like the tall buildings and the pigeons. A remarkable comeback from the 1970's.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ahegeman 0 #20 July 21, 2005 Several falconers I know fly Peregrines. They are amazing creatures. I was out hunting with a guy who's Peregrine nailed a quail from a 1000' foot dive (aka stoop) only a few yards away from us. I sounded like someone hitting a watermelon with a baseball bat. They are amazing flyers, but even falcons go in, sometimes. Several falconers have lost their falcons to collisions with the ground. Sometimes the intended target will dive to the ground as a diving falcon gets close, and the falcon can get so focused it follows the prey all the way in. The "remarkable comback" is due to 2 factors. The DDT ban, and the captive breeding programs started by falconers. The government and various colleges tried unsuccessfully for decades to breed Peregrines in captivity. Falconers, understanding these birds better than anyone else, finally got it figured out. In fact, the recovery has been so successful that the Fish and Game is about to begin allowing falconers to take wild Peregrines for falconry again.--------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aj4218 0 #21 July 21, 2005 Check this out - [/url]http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/inCamera/jan2004/falconP.shtml F......g incredible stuff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlankSteak 0 #22 July 21, 2005 That rocks. A dream I have is to catch an American Bald Eagle. You got Mil....contacts? :)______________________________________________ "...whatever stands against freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstu 0 #23 July 21, 2005 what's falconry?Slip Stream Air Sports Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #24 July 21, 2005 http://www.mendobrew.com/brews/peregrine_golden.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites livendive 8 #25 July 21, 2005 Quote it was kind of cool because they were having it chase a toy out of a c-182 from 10k and they thought it could only go 160mph cause they thought it was having trouble staying up with the toy, but they later found out that it was having troubly slowing down for it. In the video you can see how dirty he's flying, throwing wing out to stay UP with his owner and the bait. Once he's got the cue to move in, he drops quickly, grabs the bait, dives a little low & out, and then corks unbelievably hard to go play with his food. It's hard to imagine hollow bone taking that stress. Those scenes on Willing to Fly were shot in the San Juan islands, up here in the Puget Sound (by Seattle). Overall, it's VERY cool. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
livendive 8 #25 July 21, 2005 Quote it was kind of cool because they were having it chase a toy out of a c-182 from 10k and they thought it could only go 160mph cause they thought it was having trouble staying up with the toy, but they later found out that it was having troubly slowing down for it. In the video you can see how dirty he's flying, throwing wing out to stay UP with his owner and the bait. Once he's got the cue to move in, he drops quickly, grabs the bait, dives a little low & out, and then corks unbelievably hard to go play with his food. It's hard to imagine hollow bone taking that stress. Those scenes on Willing to Fly were shot in the San Juan islands, up here in the Puget Sound (by Seattle). Overall, it's VERY cool. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
