The Sport of Falconry
Birds of Prey ... Falcon Information
Falcony Equipment / Accessories and Recommended Resources (Subscriptions, Books & DVDs)
Falconry or hawking is sport that involves taming and training a bird of prey to hunt not for itself but for its trainer, who is referred to as a falconer. This sport was first developed more than three to four thousand years ago by Chinese and Persians. During the Middle Ages falconry was brought to Europe, where it was called the "sport of kings.
In America, the sport of falconry is highly regulated - both at the federal and state levels. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, approximately 60% of all raptors taken from the wild (specifically birds under 1 year of age which are not breeding adults) for use in American falconry are Red-tailed Hawks. The second most popular raptor taken from the wild for falconry is the American Kestrel.
Two traditional terms in this used are:
- Falconer - flies a falcon
- Austringer - flies a hawk
However, in modern falconry, "falconer" and "falconry" now apply to all use of trained birds of prey to catch game.
Skill Sets Required of a Falconer:
Falconry requires extensive experience and personal commitment to this sport; as it entails long hours, constant devotion, and skill. Falconers also played a significant role in development our understanding of raptor biology and raptor conservation.
Apprentice falconers have to educate themselves in various areas, including:
- The different gaming birds typically used in this sport; their stages of life, characteristics, prey, and suitability for the falconer and the hunting environment.
- Care & Housing: Of utmost importance is the falconer's ability and knowledge to maintain a raptor in excellent condition. Falconers need to have an in-depth understanding of appropriate housing and feeding of raptors.
- Basic veterinary medicine; as they have to be able to recognize and potentially treat health problems. They also have to know of potential health problems specific to the type of bird they are caring for, and how health problems can be prevented.
Hunting Technique: The most common hunting technique Falconers use is to turn the bird loose and let it perch in a tree or other high vantage point. The falconer (sometimes aided by a dog if the bird accepts dogs as hunting partners) then attempts to get a prey animal to move by stirring up ground cover, tapping tree trunks, and shaking vines which to get squirrels to move. The well-trained bird of prey will follow the falconer and dog, realizing that their activities produce opportunities to catch game.
Contrary to popular belief, once a raptor catches game, it does not bring it back to the falconer. Instead, the falconer must locate the bird, make in, and trade the bird off of its kill in exchange for a piece of ready-to-eat meat--generally from a previous kill.
The key to catching these unusual winged quarry often lies in building the bird's confidence that it can catch this game and cooperative hunting techniques where the falconer positions the bird for a fast and stealthy approach while flushing the game to maximize the red-tailed hawk's chances of success.
Although techniques vary depending on the raptor a Falconer is working with - therefore, it is very important to learn from falconers who are experienced working with a particular species. Organized associations or groups are usually the best venue for gaining valuable knowledge about the species, their care requirements and the training method that works best for the species of raptor you are interested.- Rules & Regulations of Falconry: A falconer must know the rules and regulations that affect the sport and the laws that apply to birds of prey.
Birds typically use in falconry:
- Falcons:
When a falcon hunts, first it targets a prey, it circles high above it and, suddenly, the falcon aims and dives straight down at 200 miles per hour! After striking its prey, the falcon circles back, grabs the falling victim with hook like talons (called claws); and carries it off.
- Peregrine Falcons - widespread throughout the entire world and are found on all continents except Antarctica.
Peregrine Falcons are a popular choice for modern falconers. Even though this falcon is considered hard to train and unpredictable, it's the most popular falcon in the United States. This falcon is valued for its aggressiveness. In fact, it's said to be one of the most aggressive raptors. It's sometimes hybridized with Peregrine Falcons and Gyrfalcons. In the United States it is now illegal to take Peregrines from the wild for falconry. The Peregrine is said to be the fastest bird in the world. - Lanner Falcon is a large falcon at 43-50cm in length. Lanner Falcons are a popular choice for modern falconers. They are frequently bred in captivity for the purpose of falconry.
In falconry the male is called a lanneret. Lanner falcons are favored in falconry as an excellent 'beginner falcon'. They display a good nature that is sometimes lacking in more highly powered birds. What Lanners lack in hunting prowess they more than make up for in personality.
They are one of the few raptors to attack prey head on at times. Their tactics of ambush and surprise make them entertaining birds for crowds to enjoy.
Hybrids between Peregrines and Lanners are a popular choice for modern falconers. - Gyrfalcons: Gyrfalcons are very expensive to buy and a prized possession. They tend to fly long distances, and falconers may fit a radio-tracker to aid recovery.
In medieval times, the Gyrfalcon was considered the king's bird. Due to its rarity and the difficulties involved in obtaining it, in falconry the bird was generally reserved for kings and nobles. Very seldom was the time when a man of lesser rank could be seen with a Gyrfalcon on his fist. - Prairie Falcon: This falcon is the most popular falcon in the United States, even though it is considered hard to train and unpredictable. Falconers value this bird of prey for its aggressiveness.
- Merlin Falcon: The Merlin is endemic to North America, Europe and Asia
- Saker Falcons
- Peregrine Falcons - widespread throughout the entire world and are found on all continents except Antarctica.
- American Kestrels: The American Kestrels is the second most popular raptor used in United States falconry (second to the Red-tailed Hawks).
The American Kestrel is generally considered to be a harder bird to care for due to its small size, quick metabolism, and fragile nature (in comparison with other raptors used in falconry) and requires extensive weight management.
- Falconers typically use American Kestrels to hunt non-game species: insects, sparrows, starlings, and grackles. Male kestrels, due to their smaller size, are best suited for sparrows and starlings--though particularly skilled and competent males may occasionally tackle grackles. Female American Kestrels, due to their size, are slightly less agile than the males but slightly better at scuffling with larger prey. Females generally are very slightly less successful in taking sparrows in comparison to males, but are more capable with taking starlings, grackles, and a variety of other small birds. A few females have even been known to take doves, though this is a very rare occurrence.
Kestrels generally tame down relatively quickly - compaed to other raptors. This tameness helps considerably in day-to-day care, as kestrels used in falconry should be kept indoors in order to better control weight and protect the bird from predation. The downside of this tameness is the American Kestrel's penchant to begin "screaming" whenever the falconer appears - begging for food. Their incessant and piercing calls can be annoying.- Falconers must be wary of potential predators while out hunting with a kestrel: cats, dogs, and other raptors are common dangers. If a kestrel is taken by another raptor (Cooper's Hawks in particularly), the falconer should vigorously pursue the raptor while shouting as this often causes the raptor to release the kestrel with little or no damage.
- The mortality rate for American kestrels kept by falconers is estimated to be 7.4% per year, whereas mortality rates for wild kestrels is estimated to be well over 65%.
- Golden Eagle: The Golden Eagle is successfully flown by many falconers; although the technique differs from that applied to smaller falcons. The Golden Eagle is recommended for those who have sufficient experience with eagles. They are not a good choice for novice falconer.
- Goshawks: The Goshawk is a medium-large bird of prey. It is a geographically widespread species and inhabits the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere.
- Red-tailed Hawks: According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, approximately 60% of all raptors taken from the wild (specifically birds under 1 year of age which are not breeding adults) for use in American falconry are Red-tailed Hawks.
The mortality rate for juvenile Red-tailed Hawks in the wild is over 65%, whereas the mortality rate for juvenile Red-tailed Hawks flown by falconers is under 5%. Most falconers eventually release their wild-caught raptors back into the wild once they are of breeding age.
Captive Red-tailed Hawks are generally very easy-going and make eager and willing hunting partners in the field. They will, however, revert to a semi-wild state in 1-3 weeks without training or hunting, which makes it very easy to fatten them up and return them to the wild once the hunting season is over and just prior to the breeding season.
The Red-tailed Hawk is a powerful and sturdy falconry bird best flown at larger ground quarry such as squirrels, rabbits, and jackrabbits--though small males are generally not flown at squirrels because squirrel bites can cause serious or permanent damage to a male's smaller feet and toes.
The most common hunting technique with Red-tailed Hawks is to turn the bird loose and let it perch in a tree or other high vantage point. The falconer (sometimes aided by a dog if the bird accepts dogs as hunting partners), then attempts to get a prey animal to move by stirring up ground cover, tapping tree trunks, and shaking vines which to get squirrels to move. The well-trained Red-tailed Hawk will follow the falconer and dog, realizing that their activities produce opportunities to catch game. Contrary to popular belief, once a raptor catches game, it does not bring it back to the falconer. Instead, the falconer must locate the bird, make in, and trade the bird off of its kill in exchange for a piece of ready-to-eat meat--generally from a previous kill.
The key to catching these unusual winged quarry often lies in building the bird's confidence that it can catch this game and cooperative hunting techniques where the falconer positions the bird for a fast and stealthy approach while flushing the game to maximize the red-tailed hawk's chances of success.
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