Hi Tweets,

I certainly intended no slight against falconers with my query about this
bird's possible provenance: I really didn't know and was curious, nothing
more. Until your collective remarks about the seeming lack of a solid reason
for crossing Red-tailed Hawk (RTHA) X Rough-legged Hawk (RLHA) I had simply
wondered about the possibility of it being the result of a captive-breeding
cross.

I wonder, also speculatively, if that possibility can be entirely ruled out:
what if a falconer was breeding for another quality or qualities than simple
foot grab-size? Whimsically, A RTHA-type bird that can nest on the ground? A
cold-resistant RTHA that can exist N of tree-line? A RLHA with a Red-tail's
catcher's-mitt instead of its own dainty nippers? A RLHA with a RTHA's
hunting techniques, its catholicity of prey? A RTHA that will hover in calm
air as well as kite in strong wind? or will sit on the telephone wires
instead of just the poles? Even the wild possibility of a RTHA with a RLHA
nape-mark? '-)

In Vancouver BC, all the hybrids that escape have been intra-falcon, and
I've seen the following crosses, all at or around Boundary Bay, which seems
to be the destination of choice for falcon fugitives: Peregrine Falcon X
Gyrfalcon; Peregrine x Prairie Falcon with jesses; Prairie X Merlin; Gyr X
Prairie; and one weird-looking mid-size critter that *could* have been a Gyr
x Merlin. That's in addition to the usual escaped RTHA's, PEFA'S, PRFA
(singular) and GYRF. Parenthetically, can someone suggest what the usual
time is between falconers flying their birds for the first time and the bird
slipping its leash?

> yup,,that's very likely..the only natural falcon hybrid I've
> heard about is a Prairie/Peregrine.

Whaddaya know? Never heard the like! Is this because they're both
cliff-eyrie species?

Just heard about John Denver. Rocky Mountain Low.


Michael Price We aren't flying...we're falling with style!
Vancouver BC Canada -Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
mprice at mindlink.net