|
The Harris Hawk, out of choice, is
a beginner's and an experienced hawker's bird alike in Mexico. They are used
to hunt a wide variety of quarry. The quarry list of the Harris includes
hare, rabbit, duck on the rise, a wide variety of waterfowl, "Fence
jumpers" such as sparrows, pigeons on the rise, road runners, quail, and
so the list goes on. They are flown in open country, deserts and
forests. My hen Harris has caught rabbits, pigeons, boat tailed grackles, big
grackles and my favourite quarry duck. We creep up to a ditch or canal
and fly my Harris from the fist, often binding to a duck in mid air she will
try to carry it to the bank. If she catches the duck in the water she would
then swim to the bank with the duck in her talons. |
|
that she wouldn't loose momentum. I recommend this
technique, which works with small buteos as well, to the point that they will
wait until you lay your hand on their back for the push. Of course, it
only works when you know where the prey is situated, otherwise you don't have
enough time to prepare yourself. When launching the bird in this style
I wear a silk glove on my right hand to protect the Hawk's feathers. For big grackles it's not necessary to
"push" the Hawk, but it is essential that they don't see you well
enough to recognise you |
|
next time you are out hunting or they take off
before you reach the field. There is always the screamer that will alert the
rest of the flock, although they are not very fast, they can easily
out-manoeuvre the inexperienced Hawk. For these intelligent birds I've gone
to some extremes of disguising myself with hat and glasses, and even used an
umbrella or overcoat to cover the Hawk. Hunting in and around the
suburbs of Mexico with these cunning methods will always put food on the
table for me and my Hawk, but I do get some funny looks, even in
Mexico……..end |
