Post by Eddie on Feb 29, 2008 19:15:54 GMT -5
When: March 8, 2008
Where: LDS Church
1465 W BRISTOL RIDGE DR (8420 S.)
WEST JORDAN, UT
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Comments: Specifically for all Utah falconers! It is a falconry event that
is fun for the entire family, friends, and for those interested in
learning more about falconry. There will be many, many species of
raptors, a pot luck lunch, a raffle, good company and contests. If
you have never been to a Winterfest you owe it to yourself to come
check it out.
Everyone is welcome to this event and is EXPECTED to bring a pot
luck item for the lunch to share with everyone. I'll estimate last
year we had at least 150 people!!!
Flight Competitions:
Every year we have 3 categories of flight competitions. Red-tail hawk,
Kestrel and Harris hawk. These are the birds that apprentices can use
(except for the harris hawk, but we include it in anticipation of the
change in Federal Regulations that will allow apprentices to fly them)
These flights are timed and are all in good fun. The falconer can
choose whether the flights are to the fist or to the lure. The win-
ners get trophies.
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO FLY YOUR BIRD! These flights are not a ser-
ious competition as much as a fun thing to do, so don't feel inadequ-
ate. Nobody will mock you if your bird doesn't do as good as you had
hoped. (Anyone who mocks will be fed to an eagle). That being said,
please do have your bird at weight for the flights.
Kestrels: some years we have many kestrels fly and other years none
at all. On some years I find out later that many kestrels were there,
but the falconers felt intimidated to fly them. So this year anyone
who flies a kestrel in the competition will get a free kestrel lure
just for flying their bird!
Exhibition Flights:
Anyone is welcome to present an exhibition flight if they have some-
thing that would be beneficial for all to see. For example in past
years we have had merlins and prairie falcons that have been stooped
to the lure for the enjoyment of all. You are welcome to share the
practice and talents of you and your bird. (For the record, if you
would like to demonstrate a cooper's hawk binding to your face, we
would all enjoy THAT too!)
Bird Yard:
One of the best part of this event is the bird yard. Once the flights
are over, we block and perch all the birds outside in a large roped
off area. This is a great opportunity to show off your bird, and see
a lot of other birds as well. In past years we have let all the small
birds be perched inside. This will still be an option, but since
Winterfest will be in March this year, it is possible that the
weather may be very nice. So you may want to perch your bird outside
even if it is small. The more birds that are their the better, so
please don't be one of those guys who thinks it's cool to NOT bring
your bird, and then stand around telling everyone about how cool your
bird is (even though you diddn't bring it). EVERYONE loves to see
birds. So let everyone benefit. This is the one event of the year
that you can do this without the fear of ruining a flight, such as at
the Sky Trials.
"Beauty Contest"
Once the birds are all perched, falconers are invited to put a small
numbered sign by their bird. The guests then vote on categories such
as - Most likely to rip your head off, most likely to have evolved
from a dinosaur, pretty-boy award, etc. Prizes are awarded and we all
have a good laugh.
Raffle:
The raffle covers the costs of trophies, ribbons, awards, utensils,
plates, etc. PLEASE bring an item to donate to the raffle, and be
willing to buy a few tickets so we can keep holding this event year
after year. Tickets will be 50 cents each.
Potluck Lunch:
After the flights we hold a potluck lunch. This will only work out if
EVERYONE brings food. Last years potluck was a HUGE success, everyone
brought great food, and we all left full. So PLEASE DO YOUR PART AND
BRING SOME FOOD WITH YOU!!! We have never charged for Winterfest and
we hope that we will never have to. The raffle and potluck are what
make that possible.
If you have any questions or have a way that you would like to help, please
contact Ben Woodruff at Skymasterswildlife@hotmail.com
Where: LDS Church
1465 W BRISTOL RIDGE DR (8420 S.)
WEST JORDAN, UT
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Comments: Specifically for all Utah falconers! It is a falconry event that
is fun for the entire family, friends, and for those interested in
learning more about falconry. There will be many, many species of
raptors, a pot luck lunch, a raffle, good company and contests. If
you have never been to a Winterfest you owe it to yourself to come
check it out.
Everyone is welcome to this event and is EXPECTED to bring a pot
luck item for the lunch to share with everyone. I'll estimate last
year we had at least 150 people!!!
Flight Competitions:
Every year we have 3 categories of flight competitions. Red-tail hawk,
Kestrel and Harris hawk. These are the birds that apprentices can use
(except for the harris hawk, but we include it in anticipation of the
change in Federal Regulations that will allow apprentices to fly them)
These flights are timed and are all in good fun. The falconer can
choose whether the flights are to the fist or to the lure. The win-
ners get trophies.
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO FLY YOUR BIRD! These flights are not a ser-
ious competition as much as a fun thing to do, so don't feel inadequ-
ate. Nobody will mock you if your bird doesn't do as good as you had
hoped. (Anyone who mocks will be fed to an eagle). That being said,
please do have your bird at weight for the flights.
Kestrels: some years we have many kestrels fly and other years none
at all. On some years I find out later that many kestrels were there,
but the falconers felt intimidated to fly them. So this year anyone
who flies a kestrel in the competition will get a free kestrel lure
just for flying their bird!
Exhibition Flights:
Anyone is welcome to present an exhibition flight if they have some-
thing that would be beneficial for all to see. For example in past
years we have had merlins and prairie falcons that have been stooped
to the lure for the enjoyment of all. You are welcome to share the
practice and talents of you and your bird. (For the record, if you
would like to demonstrate a cooper's hawk binding to your face, we
would all enjoy THAT too!)
Bird Yard:
One of the best part of this event is the bird yard. Once the flights
are over, we block and perch all the birds outside in a large roped
off area. This is a great opportunity to show off your bird, and see
a lot of other birds as well. In past years we have let all the small
birds be perched inside. This will still be an option, but since
Winterfest will be in March this year, it is possible that the
weather may be very nice. So you may want to perch your bird outside
even if it is small. The more birds that are their the better, so
please don't be one of those guys who thinks it's cool to NOT bring
your bird, and then stand around telling everyone about how cool your
bird is (even though you diddn't bring it). EVERYONE loves to see
birds. So let everyone benefit. This is the one event of the year
that you can do this without the fear of ruining a flight, such as at
the Sky Trials.
"Beauty Contest"
Once the birds are all perched, falconers are invited to put a small
numbered sign by their bird. The guests then vote on categories such
as - Most likely to rip your head off, most likely to have evolved
from a dinosaur, pretty-boy award, etc. Prizes are awarded and we all
have a good laugh.
Raffle:
The raffle covers the costs of trophies, ribbons, awards, utensils,
plates, etc. PLEASE bring an item to donate to the raffle, and be
willing to buy a few tickets so we can keep holding this event year
after year. Tickets will be 50 cents each.
Potluck Lunch:
After the flights we hold a potluck lunch. This will only work out if
EVERYONE brings food. Last years potluck was a HUGE success, everyone
brought great food, and we all left full. So PLEASE DO YOUR PART AND
BRING SOME FOOD WITH YOU!!! We have never charged for Winterfest and
we hope that we will never have to. The raffle and potluck are what
make that possible.
If you have any questions or have a way that you would like to help, please
contact Ben Woodruff at Skymasterswildlife@hotmail.com