Can you hunt with an Osprey?

[arctic hobo]

I have just read of a man who hunted fish on the western coast of France, with an osprey. I don't know much about the bird, nor do I know much about hunting with birds, but I have never heard of this being done before. Do any of you know whether/how it could be done? Or is this tale entirely apocryphal?

 

[match]

This page says its been done, although its quite rare.

http://users.cybercity.dk/~ccc12787/raptors/pandion.html

The link at the bottom takes you to his bibliography, which gives a book that sounds like a first-hand account of Osprey falconry - sounds interesting if you can find it!

Cormorants are another bird used for fishing - fishermen keep cormorants which they fit collars with leads to to prevent them swallowing the bigger fish. They then use them to catch fish, which they keep, and reward the birds after removing the collars by feeding them the entrails etc from gutting them.

http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/aichi/ukai.html

 

[arctic hobo]

Thanks for that Can't find the book anywhere, but I'll keep looking.
Does anyone else know anything?

 

[match]

Sorry, my mistake, its an article in a journal:

Richter, H.
Hawking fish with "Neptune"--experiences with an Osprey
Article in: Raptor Research; vol. 9 (1975); pp. 51-54.

http://www.eaglewingpublishing.com might be the people to contact about this article...

 

[Tekeeler]

If you can find a method many animals will work symbiotically with man. I remember when I was small a man up the road from us used to keep a tame fox for hunting rabbits.

Also there was that story of the orca who learnt to help whalers in return for a share of the caught whale. Will try and dig it up its facinating.

 

[Joules]

When cryogenically frozen they can be fired from a bow

sorry couldn't resist...


Joules

 

[arctic hobo]

Thanks guys
Joules were I to do that the poor thing would smash when it hit the target, so a bit of an expensive pastime

 

[Joules]

Ahhh, but this one is the dum-dum version...


Joules

 

[zackerty]

All to be shot from a compound bow:---

Beak and claws closed...armour piercing
Beak and claws open...expanding hollow point
Wings spread...crowd control

 

[Marts]

A quick google for 'osprey falconry' pulls up a few falconry schools in england and scotland who seem to say it's quite normal. I'm sure any of them would be happy to explain further if you want to pursue it. For instance
scottish falconry

 

[arctic hobo]

Thanks Marts, I'll give them a call