An Overview of Falconry
I. Introduction
Falconry is the ancient practice of taking wild quarry with a trained raptor. The origins of falconry are hard to trace, but most agree that it evolved from near and middle eastern cultures approximately 4,000 years ago. Birds of prey were admired for their beauty, independence, and mastery of the sky, and often were afforded symbolic, even religious significance. Hunting with raptors seems to have flourished in the far east and spread to Europe. The golden age of falconry followed the Crusades, when Europeans returned with a greater appreciation for the practice. In England, falconry became integrated into the culture, with social status reflected in the type of bird one held. References to falconry and hawking can be recognized in the works of Shakespeare. However, the popularity of falconry declined with the advent of firearms and remains to this day an endeavor for a few enthusiastic and persistent individuals. The rebirth of falconry in the United States is often attributed to an article describing the sport by Louis Fuertes in National Geographic in 1920. During the past 75 years, a number of very dedicated and colorful individuals have fostered the develop of falconry in this country. Currently, falconry is a legal practice in all but 4 states. It is the most highly regulated of all field sports. There are approximately 3,000 licensed falconers in the United States, and this number has not increased significantly for a variety of reasons, the most important being the tremendous demand on time. As with most pastimes, a community of falconers has developed with organizations at the state and national level. Falconers are among the most active group involved in raptor conservation efforts, and are largely responsible for the success of captive raptor propagation and reintroduction programs. The techniques and equipment developed for use in falconry are the basis for many rehabilitation and captive breeding procedures. The essence of falconry and its appeal are difficult to define, in part because it is different things to different people. Certainly the special insight into the lifestyle of the bird and the unique rapport that develops between man and hawk are major factors in the allure of falconry. This handout is designed to provide an overview of falconry and the use of information derived from falconry in raptor conservation, not to promote it is as a recreational activity.
II. Falconry - hunting and taking quarry with a trained raptor.
A. Falconer - an individual who hunts with a trained raptor. For the purist, one who hunts with a long-winged hawk (falcon).
B. Austringer - one who hunts with a broadwinged (buteo, eagle, parabuteo) or shortwinged hawk (accipiter).
C. Classic flights with a falcon are stoops on avian prey from a high pitch. Shortwings and buteos are typically hunted off the fist or out of trees on quarry flushed from the ground.
III. Laws and regulations
A. Federal regulations address requirements (facilities, equipment, etc.) and qualifications (knowledge of natural history, training methods, etc.). State regulations are based on federal guidelines, often adopted almost verbatim but usually more restrictive.
B. Apprentice, General, and Masters class permits with specific conditions. In New York, joint state/federal permit.
C. All regular hunting laws apply, hunting license required.
IV. The birds of falconry - a broad range of species, depending on distribution and availability of prey.
A. Buteos - redtailed hawk, Harris hawk (parabuteo).
B. Shortwings - all North American and some exotic accipiters.
C. Longwings - all indigenous falcons; kestrel, peregrine, prairie most common, also gyrfalcon. Peregrines are captive-bred.
D. Prey ranges from small birds to large mammals. Many species are very opportunistic (redtails, Harris hawks, goshawks). Others more specialized (falcons on large birds, sharpshins on small birds, etc.).
E. Male (tiercel) versus female - size difference dictates type of quarry taken.
F. Nestling (eyass) versus juvenile (passage) - tameness versus experience. Adults (haggards) are impractical (and illegal).
V. Equipment.
A. Jesses (traditional, Aylmeri), glove, leash, creance, lure, bells, hoods (Dutch, Anglo-Indian), transmitter, field bag (for equipment and game).
B. Facilities - mews (aviary), weathering area, bath/water pan. Comfort and protection are the principal concerns. Birds may be free-lofted (untethered) or tethered. Size must be adequate to prevent damage to feathers, feet, etc. Flooring - drainage, protection of feet and talons. Vertical barring in windows and secondary containment.
C. Perches (ring, bow, shelf or block (falcons), screen. Size, surface very important.
D. Scale - weight within 5-10 grams for small species, 15-20 grams for larger.
VI. Nutrition and health.
A. Most progress toward taming and training is made using food as an incentive. The caloric and nutritive value of the food is critical. A fresh, whole animal diet appropriate to the raptor species is a must. Commercial diets are available.
B. Supplementation. Vitamins can be added to the diet and calcium is important in the diet of growing birds, but these probably are obtained through the natural prey diet.
C. Water. Raptors obtain moisture from their food but often drink and bathe.
D. Health and disease - covered previously.
VII. Taming, training and hunting.
A. Manning - time spent carrying a bird as well as exposing it to everyday distractions. Most birds adapt very well to human contact and activity, pets, etc. but varies with individuals and species. Time spent in manning is just as important, probably more important than feeding for a tame, well-adjusted bird.
B. Feeding on the fist or lure. Basis for additional progress in training and ultimately for controlling a bird when flying free in the field. Traditionally, the lure is used for training, exercising, and calling down falcons, but use with shortwings is common and advantageous. Birds should be weighed daily, especially during early training, to insure that weight loss is minimized.
C. Creance flying - training to return to the fist or lure, should be kept to a minimum time.
D. Flying free and live prey training - raptors hunt instinctively, they are not trained to hunt. Progress is directly related to the availability of prey. Live prey training is not necessary and should be kept to a minimum if used at all.
E. Hunting. If birds are flown regularly and consistently in the proper habitat for prey species, they will learn very quickly that the trainer is a hunting partner. Most will become conditioned to follow the falconer in anticipation of prey being spotted or flushed. Birds should be rewarded with food when successful. As with most endeavors, success breeds success, and a hunting hawk improves continually with experience.
VIII. Care and maintenance.
The care of a hawk outside the hunting season is essentially the same as the procedures we use for birds in the Cornell Raptor Program. Proper facilities, diet, and access to water help to insure the health and proper molt of the bird in the off-season. If a bird is retained, the taming and training process is similar but much shorter and simpler at the beginning of the next season.