Tag Archives: Cedar

Winter Squirrel Hawking

Winter Squirrel Hawking

The Christmas Holiday provided some additional field time this past weekend and on Saturday, Cedar was successful at catching her first fox squirrel this season. Be hunting in the afternoon started like any other as we traveled to one of our favorite hunting grounds near the house. I was doing my job dashing through the woods and shaking trees for squirrels. Cedar did her part and came over to a stand of trees where I noticed a squirrel jumped out of a nest. Cedar rang up in the tree and the Hawk versus squirrel chess match began. Cedar corner the squirrel in the crook of a tree and sat and waited until the squirrel made it’s next move. After about three minutes Cedar decided the game was over and took a swipe at the squirrel in the crook of the tree. Cedar made an aerial maneuver, locked her talons on the squirrel in combat as they tumbled down to the forest floor from canopy. I arrived at the crash site just-in-time to pry the squirrel off of Cedar in order to prevent injury to my hawk. I quickly dispatch the squirrel and Cedar earned her food reward.

 

Thanksgiving Falconry

Thanksgiving Falconry

Cedar, a morning profile

Cedar, a morning profile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Thanksgiving Holiday provided for some extra time out in the field this weekend with Cedar.  With the extra couple of days of family time, I was able to get Cedar out for some well-deserved field time. On Friday we went out for an hour in the morning for a good walk around the park. Cedar took a good couple of dives after some rabbits but came up empty.  Cedar was successful in catching a couple of mice and the hunt was cut short, as the hunger subsided and the desire to hunt seemed to fade a few minutes after the second mouse was caught.  This is typical for most red-tails that end up catching a few snacks out in the field.

On Saturday, we went back to the same field in the afternoon.  A little less exciting as we missed the first rabbit that bounded out of the shrub I kicked while Cedar scouted for the wily squirrels. An hour later, we were both done and the darkness was fast approaching.

Friday and Saturday hunts were unremarkable, but Sunday’s hunt was amazing. On Sunday afternoon, I went to another location slightly further away.  Before I had parked the car, I had spotted three fox squirrels in the grassy area next to the road.  This was going to be good, I thought to myself.  Cedar alighted into the trees next to the car and took off in the opposite direction I wanted to go.  Squirrel hunting style for Cedar changes as a ‘Hawk-led’ activity, rather than a ‘Falconer-led’ activity (those falconers know what I’m talking about). So she swooped and flapped and dove and crashed brush for over an hour after those squirrels, never landing one in the bag.  A rabbit kicked out of the low, thin cover in the most unexpected place in this field. Cedar barreled out of the trees after the rabbit but was unable to connect.

Our afternoon ended up with an empty game pouch, a tired hawk, and an amazed falconer.  I’ve never seen her work so hard during hunting.  She did catch a good size mouse as a snack and I rewarded her at home with a good meal when we returned from the field.

 

 

Squirrel Hawking with Cedar

Squirrel Hawking with Cedar

Three days ago, Cedar had yet to catch a squirrel while out hunting in the woods.  In the last two days, she’s caught two squirrels and has the fine makings of an excellent squirrel hawk. I could not be happier with her performance in the last couple of days, as we’ve had opportunity to go out each day after Christmas to go hunting.  Cooperation from both the weather and vacation days, we are trying to fit in as much Hunting as we can before the weather turns colder this weekend.

On this day, we had some additional brush beaters in the field able to help with flushing rabbits and Terry provided some additional footage of our hunting excursion.  You can view the full set of pictures over on flickr.

* Photography courtesy of Terrance Robb

August Moult

August Moult

Cedar’s moult is progressing nicely this summer as the warm months continue to bless us with great summer weather.  Cedar is doing very well, enjoying her mews and attention that she gets when we are out working in the yard.  I got this picture the other day to show off her “Big-Girl” feathers.

June Moult Update

June Moult Update for Cedar

Summer is usually the quiet season for Red-Tailed hawks in Falconry.  The main focus during the warm season is to stay fat and happy, and to grow new feathers for the fall.  This is especially important for young juvenile Red-Tailed Hawks that are gaining their namesake feathers for the first time.  Keeping a hawk well fed through the summer months ensures that the feathers grow full and healthy in preparation for the next hunting season.  Cedar continues to enjoy her time out on the perch and has a couple of red-tail feathers just starting to come in.  More updates as the summer months progress.