A Harris Hawk photographed at Calke Abbey, sitting on its handler’s arm. We stopped to photograph the bird (obviously) but it wasn’t keen on the presence of Tia, who was sitting calmly next to me, as the bird glared at her, flapping its wings menacingly. I had to return after putting Tia in the car. We met a Harris Hawk while out dog walking a year or so ago. It was being used to hunt rabbits, although it seemed to me to be a bit small to catch a rabbit and bring it back to its owner. I’m not sure how the owner would ensure that he got his rabbit for pie purposes before the hawk dined on the prey. The owner did admit that they hadn’t actually caught any rabbits that day., at which point the hawk launched itself from the owner’s gauntleted hand – not to hunt, but merely for a better view from a tree. We left the owner trying to coax it down with a portion of chicken.
