Jessie's second day

Jessie is such a funny bird. I suppose that along with what she has been taught (sometimes inadvertently) along with the age she was taken from her mother, her behavior is a bit different from all the other Raptors that I have worked with. Most Raptors do not seem to have quite the personality that this one has. I can watch her as I approach her block and know that she is going to mess with my mind.

Above is the proof that she can be a serious and fierce hunter, but she has an independent streak in her a mile wide. She just can't help herself. This is our 10th year together, one would think that she would know the parameters by now.

Her serious flying weight is 870 grams. That translates to 30.5 oz. Big for a Tundra Peregrine. Most will hunt in the 26 oz range. When she killed the Goose above she weighed 32.5 oz. The weight range that raptors will still cooperate with their handlers is generally less than 1/2 oz. More than that and they have a tendency to not be serious and screw around rather than hunt. Attitude is the only thing that seems to work with Jessie.

This morning I went to get her and the routine go's like this. I wear my hawking vest that has all the stuff that I need, and she has seen it enough to know what it means. This morning she acted as though I was an intruder. I knew that she was hungry, since I did not feed her yesterday. She has been fed every morning for the last year, and she always meets me at the end of her leash to get her food. This morning she flew the other way when I began to reach down to pick her up. I let her go to the end of her perch, and gave her the opportunity to get on the fist and get fed. Nope! nothing doing. So I stand up and hang my glove back on the wall. Now she realizes that once again as has happened for 9 years, I am leaving and with me, goes her chance to eat, perhaps for the entire day. Now she wants me to pick her up, but of course that isn't going to happen. Like I said, she just can't help herself.

I came out later, no vest, no glove, but now she is begging forgiveness. Fat chance. I continue on to my exercise routine. I will feed her later in the day. Evenings are better anyway.

Finally around 4:30 PM I put on my vest and go into the weathering area. She is pumping her wings in anticipation. This time when I offer her my fist she steps up like a lady. I weigh her and find that she has dropped to 800 grams. She can go as low as 730, but I prefer not to. Weight is strength and calories is muscle. She needs all she can get, but we need to go through this dance every so often for some reason.

This time I am introducing our new dog, Brick, to the equation. We got him this spring and he is new to hawking. He is very obedient, and will learn very quickly what this is all about and how much fun it can be. Jessie has accepted him as ours, but being careful is warranted.

Its quite hot and it doesn't take Jessie long to decide that the lure is the place to be.

I call Brick to me, and give him the praise that he deserves. We watch together while Jessie eats her food on the lure.

A little praise and his enjoyment of the situation is quite obvious.

All Betsy wants is for Jessie to hurry up and leave the scraps to her.

This is her natural place to be when Jessie is on the ground. She is her protection until I can get there. Very necessary in a land of Eagles and Coyotes. Don't be fooled by Jessie's nonchalant attitude. She is better than a watch dog. Anything strange and she will voice her alarm and war cry. Her trust of Betsy has been earned and deserved.

As soon as Jessie abandons the Lure, Betsy is checking for the leftovers. Guts might not be what Jessie likes, but Betsy is not so picky.

After she is secured a trip to the shade is the next order of business. Frank the cat isn't about to be left out either, so soon the fam damily is gathered around the source of tidbits.