Feathers and Fur

As inevitable with anyone that keeps animals for show to the public, you are likely to come across the “all too good doer” who feels the need to express negative opinions about issues they are not fully informed on. Sometimes this lack of knowledge leads to devastating consequences for example the release of Mink from fur farms by animal activists has now lead to a massive population drop in the bank vole and other small mammals. So for the purpose of this blog I thought I would mention some of the comments I receive and the truth behind them, that when given the opportunity I try to explain to people so that they are able to make informed opinions.

1, Why are the Falcons tied down? It’s so cruel that they cant fly around.

Falcons are commonly kept on ‘Blocks’ when they are at flying and hunting weight, This is because falcons have very brittle feathers, designed so that they can achieve maximum speed when stooping on prey. At flying weight birds are prone to ‘Bate’ when excited about feeding and flying. If the bird was kept in an aviary known as ‘free-lofting’ they may fly towards the wire and damage feathers which would then inhibit their ability to fly well. Care is taken to ensure the birds have full manoeuvrability of their legs and comfortable access their water baths.

2, Birds should not be kept in small aviaries.

I would agree that this is an issue and birds should have enough space to move from perch to perch and plenty of height. However if the bird is flown on a regular basis such as our birds are who fly daily, I don’t feel the need to build them 6 story mansions. Also if a bird is able to gather enough speed in flight within an aviary it will most certainly damage its self on perches and wire.

3, Birds of Prey do not need water as the get all their liquid from their meat.

I have come across a number of bird owners that believe this totally stupid myth. I can honestly say I don’t think there has been a day when my female Harris Hawk has killed and then taken a bath of her own choice to wash her feathers. Birds need additional liquid permanently. This should be monitored in winter though as if a bird gets wet late in the day the low temperatures in the night can cause serious health problems.

And finally ……

4, Birds should be free to fly and its cruel to keep them in cages.

I agree with this and I will never keep a bird that does not fly on a regular basis unless it is at moult or is poorly. However one must not confuse the wild birds you see with captive bred ones. Wild birds are flying for a number of reasons. The majestic soar of the Red Kite is a territorial display and a food hunt, the glide of a Sparrow Hawk above woodlands can be a show off to females and the quick hover of the Kestrel along the road side is a waiting game of bird and mouse. Now I am not disputing that birds love to fly, I just have to watch my Peregrine showing off at a show to know that he loves it but I have also sat for 6 hours under a tree because Jack my Harris Hawk is too bone idle to move anywhere. I have jumped, waved my arms and whistled like an idiot to encourage a very over weight European Eagle Owl to try and fly a few feet when she is more interested in a very green bit of grass beside her. Birds do what they want and when they want. As I fly each of my birds I am grateful that they choose to return to my fist, happy with the freedom they have and free of the territory disputes, the days of starvation as snow covers the ground and the nice covers that protect them from any bad weather.

Yer I think I’d be one of my birds!