Falconry:%20The%20Ancient%20Field%20Sport%20in%20The%2021st%20Century

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Falconry The Ancient Field Sport in The 21st
Century Chuck Redding
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www.chucksfalconry.com

• 1966 with my second redtail hawk, called
  Jezebel.
• First involved in 1965, then out of it until 2004

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History of Falconry The Oldest Field Sport

• Earliest record, Assyria, 700 BC
• Observed in China about 680 BC
• Japan around 300 AD
• From Middle East spread into Europe and
  flourished through the Middle Ages,
• Firearms replaced falconry, and it moved to
  fringe
• North American Falconers Association, 1961
  currently about 2500 members

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Regulations

• Begin as apprentice, two years
• Must obtain a sponsor, a licensed falconer of
  general or master level
• Pay 100 to federal government, 60 to state, for
  apprentice level
• Pass a fairly difficult test
• Obtain equipment and build facilities
• Pass inspection by TPWD game wardens
• At least two years apprentice, five years
  general, then master

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Falconry Daily Life

• Weigh once or twice daily
• Food, Fresh Water, and Cleaning
• Keep log of weights and activities
• Hunt a minimum of three days a week (redtails and
  Harriss)?
• Hunt daily (peregrines and kestrels)?
• Careful diet and weight control

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Falconers and Wildlife Conservation

• Falconers have played a role in population
  rehabilitation for peregrines and other raptors
• Falconers, as hunters, have an interest in game
  and habitat

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Hawk Facts

• Eyesight about 200/20
• Can see ultraviolet, possibly infrared
• The fastest bird in the world is a diving
  peregrine, clocked at 240 mph
• Bigger hawks are faster than smaller hawks
• Females are larger
• A redtail hawk can eat 1000 mice per year

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Major Genera of Falconry Birds

• Genus Accipiter true hawks e.g. goshawk
• Genus Falco e.g. peregrine falcon
• Genus Buteo e.g. redtail hawk
• Genus Parabuteo only Harris hawk

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Falcon Shape
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Accipiter Shape
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Parabuteo Shape
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Traditional Falconry Birds

• Birds that have been flown in falconry in Europe
  and worldwide for hundreds of years

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Peregrine Falcon (Bam Bam)?

• Falco peregrinus
• Usually good natured
• Fastest bird in world while diving
• 600 to 900 grams
• Strongly oriented to avian prey
• Natural tendency to wait on

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Gyrfalcon

• (Falco gyrfalco)?
• The most prized of all falcons
• White, Grey, and Black
• Largest, fastest in level flight and most
  powerful of the falcons
• Tame and easy to train
• 700 1500 grams

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Northern Goshawk (Vinnie)?

• (Accipter gentilis)?
• Called the cook's hawk the goshawk provided
  food for the table, taking a wide variety of
  birds and animals
• Spectacularly athletic, maneuverable and fast
• 600 to 950 grams

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Merlin

• Falco columbarius
• The Lady's Hawk
• Small falcon, but a very powerful flier
• Considered like a small gyrfalcon
• Hunts Small birds
• 150 to 300 grams

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Two Most Popular Birds

• Harriss Hawk this extremely popular and
  versatile game hawk has been well known only in
  the last 40 years. Popular in US, Europe, and
  the Far East.
• Redtail hawk powerful, abundant, hardy,
  versatile, and tolerant of extreme weather. Most
  widely flown, and is the preferred apprentice
  bird in United States.

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Harris's Hawk (Black Jack)?

• Parabuteo unicinctus
• Highly Intelligent
• Social, often flown in groups
• Versatile and quick
• Almost dog-like in personality
• Catches a variety of game
• 600 1000 grams

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Redtail Hawk (Cisco)?

• Buteo jamaicensus
• Powerful and aggressive
• Excellent hare, rabbit and squirrel hawk, but
  will also take ducks and pheasants
• 700 1400 grams

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Other Falconry Birds

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Prairie Falcon (Barbee)?

• Falco mexicanus
• Aggressive, somewhat wild and difficult sometimes
• Takes both birds and mammals
• 550 850 grams

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Cooper's Hawk (Turbo Dog)?

• Accipiter cooperi
• Smaller than goshawk, but closely related
• High strung, but a versatile falconry bird,
  taking small birds and rabbits
• 400 to 600 grams

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American Kestrel (Alex)?

• Falco sparverius
• Smallest American falcon
• Legal apprentice bird, but requires skilled
  handling
• 90 to 160 grams

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www.chucksfalconry.com

• Jim Ince in 1984 with Zulu, a peregrine falcon

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www.chucksfalconry.com

• Mark Reindel in 1992 with Sabra, hybrid
  peregrine/prairie falcon

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Cisco

• 2X Intermewed passage tiercel redtail hawk
• Trapped 12/3/2005
• Very tame and sweet
• Aggressive towards game
• Efficient rabbit and squirrel hawk

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Cisco at The Pepsi Field in Ft. Worth, TX
January, 2006
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www.chucksfalconry.com
Cisco with grey Squirrel in Houston March 8, 2008
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The Three Amigos (not!)?
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Falconry Equipment (Furniture)?

• Hawk Box
• Whistle
• Field Vest
• Trap

• Hood
• Jesses/Anklets
• Perch
• Leash
• Bells

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www.chucksfalconry.com

• Questions and Answers