On November 7, 2025, after six weeks of looking (minus the time I was in Costa Rica) I finally found the BIG GIRL I wanted as a falconry partner. She was trapped at 57.20 ounces. That's 3 lbs, 9 ounces!! That is a monster of a red-tailed hawk. All previous birds caught were small males, except for one female, but she was an adult and quickly released.
She was found in Rochester, just between the Northside Wal-Mart and a park that has a community garden. She came to the trap almost immediately, but was only snagged with one noose, and broke free before I made it to her. She flew to the other side of the tree line. We relocated, my trap buddy and myself, to the other side of the tree line, and dropped the trap again. She was a little more cautious, taking her time to try out the trap again, but eventually she did, and this time was snagged good. She had a full crop! This is a very greedy girl!
Greed is GOOD in a hunting bird!
My trapping buddy, Sidney. For the time being, she is one of the trainers and care providers at my friend Foxfeather's Vulture Conservancy. She too wants to get into falconry, and has already passed her test and had facilities approved, but our state agent, last I checked, just never issued her permit for this year. SUCKS!
Fox's other staff member, Brooke, showing off the new bird's backside. Fox was out of the country at the time.
Manning and weight reduction began immediately. First in low light.
And then in full daylight.
She calmed fairly quickly. A Big Girl like her "Ain't scared of nothing"!
Foot Porn (Left)
Foot Porn (Right)
Eye Close-up
It would take her three weeks to slim down enough to be motivated to make the first jump to the fist. This led to shorter jumps inside my living room, and downstairs in my basement, all tied off to a minimal tether so no crashing towards or through any windows. I try different locations to reinforce the behavior, not create a fixed reaction to one room.
In early December I took her to visit Fox, who had returned from her journeys. We then began training outside on a creance in my yard.
In later December we were going longer creance calls outside and in different locations.
Our final few weeks of October into early January I focused on wedding the bird to her lure. All our training sessions began to focus on igniting a fire in her for he lure. I could not risk free flight until she absolutely would come every time for the lure.
On January 7, two months since she was trapped, we tried a first free flight around my yard.
Two days later we walked around my pasture. She followed pretty good, returning to me every once in awhile when I called her to the fist for a tidbit. On her final lure call she was very possessive of it, and demonstrated a behavior I will have to watch out for, trying to carry the lure away from me.
January 11 dawned clear, but a bit cold, in the high 20s. Her weight was acceptable, but a bit high. She seems to hold her weight rather stubbornly. On this third free flight I wanted to take her someplace which may have a high likelihood of actually kicking a rabbit or two out under her. The brushy area just behind our fairgrounds is perfect. It is a not too long stretch, with trees all along the way. It would turn out to be a good decision.
At the second clump of trees, after calling her to me to move forward, then tossing her in front of me, a bunny bolted for a "bunny door", just enough of a hole at the bottom of the fence to squeeze through. She caught it by the leg but could not get a better grip on it, or pull bunny through. By the time I got to her and tried to ease her over just a little to grab bunny foot, she lost her grip, and it was gone. I backtracked just a little, and whacked some more brush. I didn't see the rabbit that bolted, but she did. It ran across the railroad, past the field border to the road, across the road, and into the large semi truck yard across the street. I listened as I saw her disappear across the road, and heard the bunny scream with impact. Ok, make my way across the street.
When I got there, her bunny was knocked out cold, or mostly dead. I made sure poor bun was dead, and as I reached towards my girl to secure her jess, she grabbed her bunny and dragged it UNDER the semi truck. Well Heck! I walked towards the left side of the truck, but there was no place for me to squeeze under. I moved to the right side, and I did find a place I could get down on my belly (and my complaining knees on the ice) and scooch myself towards the bird and inch one of her jesses my way. Once I had it safely looped onto the leash, I reached and grabbed her prize, and pulled them both out.
Adventures in Falconry!
I let her gorge herself, this being her first catch with me, then made our way back across the street and to my car.
I had to get home, as it was a work night for me.
Cropped up, and safe back in the box.
I gave my hunting partner this year a silly name. Because she came from the wild all slathered in butter (hog fat) I decided to call her Cinnamon Toast.
Well, today, now that she has taken her first head of game with me as a falconry bird, she's Crunched It!
