Miriam and a Harris's Hawk

     On Wednesday evening a pot luck supper was held for the volunteers of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus fledge watch. Chris and Karen von Knobloch kindly hosted this event and it was attended by many of the regular falcon monitors.
    Rudy Kruppa, the falconer involved with our team, brought a couple of his birds with him, and everyone was able to have close and intimate encounters with a Harris's Hawk Parabuteos unicinctus and a Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis.
     

Harris's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

     Harris's Hawk seems to be the most universally used species by falconers and those seeking to control other birds, such as at airports and of all places, far from its habitat in the southwestern desert of North America, in Trafalgar Square. When Miriam and I last visited there a falconer was walking around with a Harris's Hawk on his arm and there was nary a pigeon in sight.

     Here is a closeup of the two species.

     Given our druthers, we would prefer to see these birds in the wild, but given the fact that they are routinely and legally kept in captivity, Miriam did not let the opportunity pass her by to have an up close and personal encounter with a magnificent raptor.

     Thanks again to Chris and Karen for hosting the event and for barbecuing the most delicious, succulent chicken I have ever tasted!