Up at my camp (member photos), for the last two summers I had the camp. a P. Falcon would perch on the railing of the deck over the porch and hunt for mice, partridge, rabbits, snakes, toads, whatever on the lawn. I could sit in the screened in porch or on the railing on the lower deck in full view of it and watch for hours. It was amazing. I named it beaker. I would talk to it. Often it would glare at me as if to say, "Shut the fuck up. Can't you see I'm huntin here?"

Once, Beaker went after about ten mice in a row and missed every one. On the last attempt, Beaker lifted and tried to avoid the large satallite dish (came with the camp; I never used it) but ended up grabbing on to avoid a collision. The talons on Beaker's right leg was caught in the mesh.

I let it alone for about ten minutes but it was obvious the bird was tiring and it was getting it's tail feathers damaged. I got my leather gloves, wire clippers and pliars and went aorund the back of the dish. Beaker was freaking and thrashing until I bellowed "STOP!" as loud as I could. I started talking calmly and the bird settled.

The rear and middle talons were hooked in the mesh such that they could not be stretched enough to gain release. I deftly cut the mesh until I could use the pliers to open it and WHOOSH! Back to the railing.

I got a hunk of my steak that I was to BBQ that day and threw it on the deck. He took it! I always thought they wouldn't. The last few times I saw beaker, I was allowed to sit on the deack while it hunted from the railing... at the opposite end, with lots of furtive glances, of course. Wish I had a camcorder back then.