Tag Archives: mews

Summer 2018 Update

Summer 2018 Update

It has been a long time since an update and a post of any significance to this blog, or for that matter, to any other social media outlet.  With the propensity for articles, pictures, sound-bytes, and posts to go viral, I never know when these adventures will get singled out by someone who has a polarizing opinion on the subject of Falconry. You just never know what is going to set someone off that will forward the post throughout the interwebs and have some warped opinion come out on the other end of it. With my experience with other falconry forums, NAFA Directors, and facebook trolls, I’m leery of posting anything remotely attackable. So, I’ll provide an update to a few choice projects and leave this here as a historical record of this summer. 

Birds

The moult for the summer is in full swing for both Sabre and Vesper.  Daily chores continue to include keeping the mews clean and getting the birds some perch / air time out of the mews.  Feathers continue to drop steadily and new feathers are growing steadily.  Both birds are going through a wonderful transformation into their adult plumage and it is a privilege to witness up close. 

Mews Update

Kelly and I continue to build a new mews for the birds with Vesper as the eventual habitant.  In addition, we expect to install a second chamber onto the first. It’s not an ideal setup, but we are making it work as best we can with the space and materials available. By the end of the summer, there will be room for 3 birds and the deck will be clear of the current mews. 

Club Activities

As a continued participating member of the MHC, the spring Apprentice Workshop was a huge success, pulling in folks from around the state.  With the help of other falconers, the instructional team that puts on the workshop is top-notch with great stories and informative slide shows.   The Summer picnic is coming up at the end of July, so we’ll all meet again for another day of falconry fun in Lansing this year. Later on in the summer, we’ll go back down to Lake Erie Metropark for HawkFest. Then the trapping gets going and all of the fall falconry and hunting events is in full swing.  

 

-C

The Second Mews

The Second Mews

I was lucky enough to capitalize on an opportunity that came my way a couple of days ago to assist another falconer (a-hem) in moving.  The biggest challenge in putting this shed-kit mews up was making the platform for it.  So, after 8 yards of dirt, some leveling time, and 100 12-inch brick pavers, the platform was ready.  The mews itself went up in just over an hour.

The next natural question that most folks ask, is:  “What kind of hawk is going to go in there?”  That is yet an un-answered question at this particular time, but there is now an extra raptor housing facility for when the opportunity comes along. Stay tuned!

 

Spring Mews Update

Spring Mews Update

 

The Mews got  some much needed attention this spring with some stain on the roof and some additional trim completion. A new coat of stain on the roof shingles really brings out the color contrast between the siding and the roof.  I also finished up some additional siding trim and I was able to get most of the door covered on the back side.  With some new black paint on the bars and some fresh screening, the mews is ready once again for it’s new resident, “Hunter.”

Mews Perch Replacement

Mews Perch Replacement

With a moulting raptor bouncing around the mews, the perches get some heavy abuse.  Since Trasher has been enjoying her stay in the Hawk Mews, she’s been living up to her name, trashing the place about once a week.   The 1/2″ perches that were originally installed into the perches were not sufficient to take her high levels of activity.  Thus, the 1/2″ perches took quite a beating and required fixing, gluing or replacement about once a week.  So it came to pass that it was necessary to rework the perches with a more heavy and robust construction.

 

I used 3/4″ PVC this time and wrapped it with rubber pipe insulation instead of foam.  This gave the perch a little more springy feeling and absorbs much of the impact of the raptor landing and jumping around the mews.  The hockey tape keeps the rubber in place and keeps them relatively clean.  So far, the past two weeks have held up to Trasher’s activity and they are still holding strong.

Materials

3/4″ PVC

3/4″ 45 degree elbows

3/4″ mounting plates / flange

3/4″ Male Adapter

PVC Glue

Rubber Pipe Insulation

Hockey Tape

* old bicycle tires work *GREAT* as perch wrapping, so does neoprene.

Mews Phase V: Complete

Mews Phase V: Complete

Another weekend of mews construction passes and the results are terrific!  This was the last major effort in getting it completed: attaching the siding to the mews and finishing the look.  The vinyl siding completes the cedar shake look, and protects the wood panels underneath. Another great bonus is that the siding requires no maintenance: no painting or anything.  Perhaps I’ll power-spray it once a year to knock the dirt off, but it’s now maintenance free.  Except of course, for the inside.  😉

Big thanks to my wife for helping out with the siding installation and finishing tips.  Thanks, honey!