Their visual acuity is due to the large size of their eyes, both in absolute and relative terms. This is the difference of about 25 frames per second, as humans process a movie at a theater, to frames per second.
The importance of raptor eyes as it relates to their ethology cannot be understated. And what it means is that a bird of prey is constantly aware of the next opportunity as well as the next threat. As raptor trainers, this is one of the many features of working with birds of prey a challenge for the last three to four thousand years. Coupled with their relative lack of social reinforcers, this puts a raptor trainer in a position to carefully monitor their value and the reinforcers they have available to them when influencing the behavior of a bird of prey.
Positive reinforcement training methods for just about any animal are based on the delivery of food among other types of reinforcers, and raptors in particular being extremely food motivated excel with a food based training methodology. Food is not the only reinforcer and certainly not without its drawbacks. Space, comfort, water, exercise, visual stimulation, hunting opportunities, and enrichment are all among a comprehensive toolkit of effective reinforcement strategies.
Because the prey drive is so strong, there are times when the pairing of food with the trainer or the delivery of food itself can cause problems. There is also the added issue of satiation, which can be a particular problem when the bird of prey trainer is far from a travel carrier or mews and must somehow transport the bird back to safety on the glove in mutual comfort. This is where a properly fitted, well trained falconry hood comes into play. A falconry hood can be a critical tool in preventing problems because it can be so hard, if not impossible, to train a raptor to be calm in all circumstances.
This means when unpredictably scary stimuli arise and we have a raptor with us, it can associate us with the fearful situation, whether we choose to restrain it on the glove or it flies off, leaving us in a lose-lose scenario. The same can also be said for changing and unpredictable circumstances when we can no longer rely on food motivation to help us work the bird through in a calm manner.
It cannot be understated that the manner in which a raptor is trained to wear the hood has a huge impact in the comfort that it exhibits. Footage, taken by the male passenger, shows the falcon's owner warning that as the airliner takes off, the bird will also prepare to fly. Seconds later, the falcon was seen bending its head toward its owner's body with its long, pointed wings sticking out behind it. However, its safety restraints meant it could do nothing more than stick its head into its owner's chest.
Remarkable: Footage, taken by a male American passenger, shows the falcon's owner warning that as the plane takes off, the bird will also prepare to fly. Preparing for flight: Seconds later, the falcon was seen bending its head toward its owner's body with its long wings sticking out behind it. But its safety restraints meant it could only stick its head into its owner's chest. Although both the passenger and another man seemed to take to the unusual flyer, a female passenger appeared to be frightened by it.
The bird's owner could be heard saying: 'Causing a scene, causing a scene,' while the cameraman remarked: 'I think she said she was scared of birds.
The remarkable footage was later uploaded to Liveleak by the passenger. The airline or flight on which it was taken remains unknown. Strange scene: Although both the passenger and another man seemed to take to the unusual flyer, a female passenger appeared to be frightened by it. Above, the falcon's owner strokes it as the plane takes off. The video was accompanied by the words: 'Had an interesting seat mate on my last flight.
You can see him crouching getting ready to take off. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Argos AO. Privacy Policy Feedback. Ready for take off? A falcon wearing an eye mask is captured traveling economy on a flight alongside ordinary passengers With eyes covered by mask, bird of prey spotted resting on owner's knee As plane took off, it was seen moving restlessly and bending head forward American passenger said: 'Had an interesting seat mate on my last flight' By Sophie Jane Evans for MailOnline Published: GMT, 30 September Updated: GMT, 30 September e-mail 3 View comments.
Share this article Share. Comments 3 Share what you think. Each regional group, and each individual hood maker, puts his own stamp on the hoods with original innovations and changes.
Hoods are called "burqa" in Arabic falconry. The purpose of a hood is to calm the bird. These birds are so visually oriented that they are not fearful of what they cannot see. If they cannot see it, then it must not be there. A freshly trapped bird with a hood on will eat on the fist within minutes or hours of trapping, even if it is standing on the fist of a person. Simply because she cannot see anything alarming, there is nothing to be alarmed about.
Hoods protect the bird and allow ease of control of situations that otherwise could be startling to the bird. A bird should hood calmly note the large crop on this bird Bird being hooded - Kb Hoods are made of leather, either calf skin or more preferably kangaroo hide. Thinner and more stiff for certain styles is preferred. Braces are traditionally made of leather, but more recently made of GoreTex strips.
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