How to Hold a Bird of Prey for Non-Falconers.

Introduction

For the day-to-day handling of a hawk that, due to local circumstances, is being kept in an unsuitably small cage and needs to be handled regularly just so that the cage can be cleaned, here is some information to help the handler (veterinary nurse in a developing country).  You don’t need a glove.  You need a big piece of thick cloth. Put one hand under the cloth and open the door of the cage with the other hand. Note we are talking about small hawks here. Specifically, American Kestrels and Roadside Hawks that weigh in the region of 70 to 300 grammes. If the hawk is on a small perch, she will be easier to handle, being reluctant to leave the perch. If she is on bare substrate in the cage, she will be harder to handle.  Note, these are far from ideal conditions but do happen.

With a Cloth

Hawks are visual animals, so you should try to cover the hawk’s head so that it cannot see you or anything else.  I advise people to open the cage door and throw a cloth genty over the hawk. It will grapple with the cloth and you need to grab it as gently yet as firmly as possible. Secure the bird by putting both hands around it and pinning its wings comfortably into their natural positions by the hawk’s sides. Lift the bird out of the cage to the side of your body – just above your hip. Then manoeuvre your hands such that you are able to put an index finger between the legs (tarsi) , with your middle finger on the outside of the outer leg and your thumb on the outside of the other leg. You should aim to keep the bird’s head covered at all times during such handling. That way it will keep calm.

Falconer’s Methods.

This is really the bare minimum.  You can facilitate handling by using falconers’ methods to make and attach anklets and hunting jesses to the bird’s legs.   But this article is meant for people who have no interest or do not yet need to employ falconers’ methods.

Any doubts, post them below and I will be pleased to try and help.