Rocky Post, master falconer of On the Wing Falconry Service, is still nursing his injured Harris falcon back to health. “The bird’s actually holding his own,” Post said. The bird is eating well. However, Post now thinks the bird’s injury may have been an accident.
Last week, the bird swallowed a fishing hook at the end of a pole. A veterinarian gave the bird a 50-50 chance.
Rocky Post, master falconer of On the Wing Falconry Service, is still nursing his injured Harris falcon back to health. “The bird’s actually holding his own,” Post said. The bird is eating well. However, Post now thinks the bird’s injury may have been an accident.
Last week, the bird swallowed a fishing hook at the end of a pole. A veterinarian gave the bird a 50-50 chance.
“It’s alive. So that’s good, I guess,” said Rocky Post, who has been on Catalina Island since October using predatory birds to encourage pest birds to relocate. The city hired On The Wing last year to provide the service in hopes of reducing both the unwanted bird population and the birds’ waste in Avalon Bay.
Post said he would take the bird back to the mainland as soon as he’s sure it can survive the trip.
Post said he would retire the bird for at least a year. “If there’s a way to bring him back, I’ll do it,” Post said. He said he would bring the bird back just on principal.
In the meantime, when Post returns the injured bird to the mainland, he will bring back another bird to take the injured falcon’s place. Post will train the bird to work in what Post called the challenging environment in Avalon.
“Avalon is, by far and away, the most challenging environment to fly these birds in,” Post said.
The falcon master described the injured bird as the best bird for this type of work. “You couldn’t shake him,” Post said. “You could shoot a shotgun in front of him, he wouldn’t budge.”
Post attributed the bird’s success on the Island to something in his individual personality.
