[redtails]

Hello I am a falconer living in va and I need some help from some people that spend alot of time in the woods and hunters like myself sure do that. I am looking for a northern goshawk nest. The reason for this is I want to take a young goshawk and train it for falconry I have all the proper permits from the state and federal government to do this so it is legal I can show you if you like. Alot of hunters run across nesting goshawks in the spring time. IF you have ever been in the woods in the spring and had a large hawk scream at you and dive bomb you trying to chase you away it is most likely a goshawk defending its nest they use the same nesting site for years so even if it happend a while ago it might still be there and I would love to hear the story. Thanks for the help Lee

 

[kenton6]

Although I know nothing about the legalities of what you want to do, I can tell you that I think you'll have a difficult time getting anyone to direct you to a nesting site for goshawks.

I'be put the word out to several of my contacts and they all say the same thing, "Oh yeah I know where there are a lot of nesting sites but I wouldn't give em up so somebody can take a chick out."

Sorry, but that's what I've found out.

 

[redtails]

That is a shame is there a reaon why they are opposed to it? It doesnt disturb the other birds in the nest or the parents plus I put up a metal dome on the nest tree to prevent predators from climbing the tree and killing the chicks that are left. I am sorry that your contacts feel that way but I can ensure you it doesnt do any harm. The state and feds have found that a wild take by falconers has no impact on the wild population. Nearly 90% of all first year raptors die there first year. This is due to starvation,predation,collisions and alot of other factors. The remaining chicks in the nest odds are increased due to less competion for food. I ensure you the raptors best interest is my first priority.

 

[kenton6]

Dunno! I am just the messenger.

 

[Ithaca37]

I know that I wouldn't give up the site of a nest if I knew where one was. It might be legal, but it doesn't sit right with me.

 

[redtails]

I dont understand?

 

[Ithaca37]

I don't really know how to explain it, but it just seems wrong to me. Not saying you shouldn't be able to, just that I don't really want anyhting to do with it.

 

[MaineWoods]

My explanation is simple. I don't want to be involved in forcing a healthy wild creature to live in captivity. Better a shorter life of freedom than a longer life of captivity.

 

[Ithaca37]

yeah, that's it. what MaineWoods said.

 

[redtails]

Falconry birds have been known to come from miles back to their keepers house when they get lost. We hunt our birds regulary I hunt almost every day if they were unhappy all they have to do is fly away, we turn them free to hunt them so they always have a choice. Some do go back to the wild and that is fine but most are very content in captivity. My redtail hawk still hangs around the farm and I turned her loose months ago I dont feed her anymore but she still allows me to approach her. I have seen Harris hawks at the end of the day of hunting fly back to the falconers truck waiting to go home. I respect your reason because you care about the birds but please keep in mind I do too.

 

[MaineWoods]

I respect your reason because you care about the birds but please keep in mind I do too.

Understood. I've never met a falconer who didn't care about the birds.

 

[redtails]

I just wanted to add some of the likely places you might encounter a nest mostly in open woods usually near some king of water source. The nest will be below the tree tops and it is big. The tell tale sign is a big greyish blue hawk diving at you screaming if that happens you are close.