80. South African Game Hawker with Kyle Perrin (Part II)
Kyle Perrin returns to the show to update us on how his season has progressed with his black spar. After briefly reminding listeners of Kyle's falconry situation, he and I discuss the africanus breed - a dog that has originated in Southern Africa. We then talk about Kyle's experience working at a falcon hospital in the middle east. I then query Kyle about Callie's previously unexpected desire to chase fur, and whether that behavior has persisted. We then turn our attention to Kyle's objective to catch a guinea fowl on the rise aided by his two dogs. Kyle then explains his rationale for adjusting his planned approach to catching guinea in the way he prefers to hunt, including the influence of a local HPAI outbreak. We conclude the episode talking about Kyle's final outing of the season. Thanks for listening to Fat Bird, Ugly Dog - I hope you enjoy this episode with Kyle.
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21:47
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21:47
79. South African Game Hawker with Anton Muller (Part II)
In this episode I welcome Anton Muller back to the show. After briefly reminding listeners of Anton's background and learning a little about his lanneret's name, we discuss how a captive bred lanner could be developed to bring about the traits that Anton so appreciates in the passage birds he flies. We then turn our attention to what has transpired in Anton's falconry since we last spoke. We briefly talk about the propensity for passage lanners to come with a set of preferences related to prey type. I then ask Anton what is next in his falconry. Before concluding the episode, Anton tell us about his last day afield with "Little Oke". Thanks for listening to the Fat Bird, Ugly Dog Podcast, I hope you enjoy this episode.
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35:26
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35:26
78. South African Game Hawker with Francois Breedt (Part II)
In this episode I am joined by Francois Breedt. After briefly reminding listeners of Francois' background, he describes how the "Falconry Gods" intervened and brought was he anticipated would be a very good season with his four-times inter-mewed female Peale's Scottish peregrine cross to an end. Francois explains what he anticipates he will do in response to the setback, and he talks about his dog work plus his most memorable day in the field.
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29:11
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29:11
77. South African Game Hawker with Cam Coley (Part II)
Cam Coley returns to the show for his first update. After briefly reminding listeners of Cam's falconry situation, he and I talk about the progress that he has made with his new English setter pup. Cam then tells us which one of the two options he was considering when we last spoke - going strait to flying wild quarry or opting to transition to Phase II of the Perfect Pigeon approach. We then discuss the use of bagged quarry in South African falconry. Cam had indicated that it was his intent to release his peregrine at the end of August and I ask Cam if he intends to follow through with that plan, and why he believes that doing so is in the best interests of the hawk. If, in fact, Cam does release his falcon, then it was his intent to replace it with either a passage lanneret or a musket black spar - he tells us which of the two options he has settled on. We then focus on some highlights of his season thus far. We conclude the episode with a description of Cam's most recent flight. Thanks for listening to the Fat Bird, Ugly Dog Podcast - I hope you enjoy the episode.
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31:13
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31:13
76. South African Game Hawker with Andre Cilliers (Part II)
Andre Cilliers returns to the show with another update of his season. After giving the listeners a brief reminder of Andre's situation. We then talk about what changes the rainy season have brought about and how more water on the landscape has affected his falconry. Andre then clarifies what South Africans mean when they talk about a "vlei system". We then turn our attention to Andre's update beginning with his passage lanner that he had acquired when we last spoke. We then talk about the foils of hawking Cape francolin, and a focus that Andre specifically outlined as a goal for this season - a "waiting on" flight over grey francolin with his dog solidly on point. Andre describes the downside of a falcon confident that it can catch and kill whatever is flushed beneath it regardless of whether the quarry flushed was intentional. With July half over, I ask Andre if he intends to extend his hawking season or put his birds up as he typically does when the days get hotter and his work days get busier. We conclude the episode with Andre offering two some personal insight into the value that falconry can bring to a game hawker with good perspective.
The goal of this podcast is to present alternate viewpoints on falconry. Topics covered range from training philosophy, husbandry, and health of birds and bird dogs to conservation and management of raptors, their main prey species, and the respective habitat that they rely on. In addition, I’ll cover-off themes related to hunter ethics, fair chase, and access to public and private land. I’ll outline efforts that falconers can make to contribute to all of these topics of conversation.
South Africa