Falconry? Thoughts on it?

[mom'sfolly]

Check out the links I gave you....

Two years as an apprentice. The only birds allowed for an apprentice in your state are the Kestrel, red-shouldered hawk and red-tailed hawk. You must pass the test with 80% correct before you can get a bird and the only birds you are allowed are wild caught, young birds, before their first molt, i.e. passagers. You are only allowed one bird a year as an apprentice.

This is all very interesting stuff. But none of the falconer's I've known have flown injured birds. Some are also rehabbers, and may have "rehab" birds that they fly for exercise; but those are extras and are permitted differently.

Start with finding out what the basic regulations and options are. I quickly realized that I didn't have enough time or space; but I did do a lot of research. The housing requirements are a lot bigger than you would expect, and they need protected indoor and outdoor areas.

Golden eagles are also not allowed for falconry in the US.

You should also get good at leather work and wood work. Most falconers make their own materials.

 

[Akane]

I've seriously looked in to it before and found local clubs around here. However I don't have the funds, facilities (best to keep them, and if possible the freezer with their food, in a building separate from everything else), or time right now.

Falconry actually increases the number of birds in an area. The birds are captured before leaving the nest and taught how to hunt. They have to be exercised and fed in the right amounts to keep them healthy. After they are old enough and experienced enough to be self sufficient they are usually released with much better odds of survival than they had growing up in the wild. Personally I think it has a positive impact on the birds and the environment.

 

[lilwhispers]

Idaho permissable species are :
Accipitridae; All exept Bald Eagles
Falconidae
Strigidae; Great horned owl only

As per Idaho state department of fish and game administration code. As an apprentice we are allowed a kestrel or a redtail.

In my packet that I got from the state there is a list of "recommended reading material" the list is as follows:
Falconry

A manual of Falconry, Woodford, M.H. A. and C. Black Ltd. London
Falconry Equipment, Aguide to making and using falconry gear, Kimsey,B and J. Hodge, 1992, privetly printed, 7815 Encinita, Houston, TX 77083
Falconry And Hawking Phillip Glasier, 1984,B.T. Batsford Ltd., London
North American Falconry And Hunting Hawks, Beebe F.L. and Webster H.M., Privatly printed, NAF&HH, Box 1484, Denver, CO,80201
The Hunting Falcon, Haak,B. 1992, Hancock House Publishers, Blaine,WA
Falconry for You, ap Evans,H. 1960, John Gifford, London

Raptor Ecology and Biology

Birds of Prey of the World, Grossman,M.L. and Hamlet J.,1974, Bonanza Books, New York
Falcons of the World,Cade T.,1982 Cornell University Press, Ithica NY
Feild Guide to Western Birds, Peterson,R.T. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston
Hawk, Owls, and Wildlife, Craighead, J. and Craighead, F., 1969, Dover Publications, New York
Hawks,Eagles, and Falcons of the World, 2 vol, Amadon d. and Brown L., McGraw Hill, New York
Handbook of North American Birds, vol 4, Diurnal Raptors Part 1, and vol 5 Diurnal Raptors Part 2, Palmer R., 1988, Yale University Press

I have the first 2 under the falconry heading They are really good I have also found other books on Ebay and Amazon Just search for falconry on both sites.

Here is a link to the Apprentice forum http://apfalconry.proboards.com/index.cgi

 

[lilwhispers]

Here is a sign to put on a mew. I found on a website.

 

[ShrekDawg]

cool, great info everyone thanks

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
I think it'd be great if everyone had a falcon/hawk if they'd train it to kill every European starling and English house "sparrow" (actually a weaver finch) that it sees.

 

[welsummerchicks]

Really interesting information!

 

[Daisygirl]

Falconry! sounds cool!!!
Im pretty sure they wouldnt allow it here in nz---I spose they would target all the kereru, tuis and piwakawakas...
(but would be a great way to get rid of the rabbits in the paddock

)
I have to agree with you on the sparrow front...we have so many of them, and they have started crossbreeding with the aussie birds

Good luck!!! hope you can get into it!!!

 

[matthewschickens]

Quote:
I think they would let you

And yes, that is a problem!