Going the Distance

This last weekend I left work early on Friday to have some light outside before dark and took the Baron out to the nearby field to work with him in the daylight outdoors. It was our first time doing that. I need to boost his (and my) confidence in working outdoors. The field didn't go too well. There were too many weeds catching up the creance (training leash). But it was a start. Saturday I stayed in the back yard with him and let him soak up the sun for an hour while having him fly to me now and then. He was rather distracted but didn't do too bad. He did try to fly off a few times though. Sunday we went out to the yard after church and I had him flying about 55 feet to me rather immediately at 105 grams. Not shabby at all. I was still rewarding him after each flight or two, so he stopped flying to me after 5 successes.

I spoke with my sponsor and another falconer friend about how to keep him coming after 4-5 successes and they said to vary the reward he gets so he doesn't get rewarded each time. This will keep him from filling up and being done. So I thought about it and yesterday I just exercised him by calling him to me and gave him no food. He did wonderfully! He flew right to me immediately each time I raised my glove. And his weight was higher than normal (108.8g), so he's doing great! After thirty minutes of that I let him eat the demon mouse. He really got defensive over it at first, he knew it was his usual prey and he was keeping it away from anybody. But I just sat on the floor with him and touched his feet and wings now and then and he kept his wings folded rather than spreading them out protectively (mantling). He only spread his tail a little and now and then would turn his back to me to eat in peace. I picked him up on the glove now and then while he ate so he knew I wouldn't steal his food.

Tonight I gave him the same program. Long flights indoors to me with no food reward and I did it without the creance. So basically he was flying free but for the house containing him. Then I fed him his daily meal from the lure in 6-7 rounds. I would throw the lure within 5 feet of him and he'd fly to it and eat the food. If the meat didn't come right off the lure I would walk up and pick him up with it so he gets used to being picked up with what he catches. The last couple of bites on the lure I made him grab the lure as I swung it past him. Once he grabbed it with his foot from the perch, the other time he jumped to it as it was near the ground. I think he's coming along nicely.

I need to build his giant hood so I can take him to work with me and work outdoors with him at lunch time. I'm afraid that just going outdoors on weekends won't be enough to get him past the distractions and focus on me.

Lastly, I got video of Baron von Cuteness preening. It was the first time I saw him do it.