trljim@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (James Sonnenmeier) (11/16/90)
I'm interested in any info on the art of Falconry. I know today poeple don`t hunt with the birds but practice falconry for conservationalist purposes. I would like to know how to obtain a bird of prey, Hawk, Falcon, Owl etc ... Any info. books, addresses, first hand experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. ========================================================================== Jim Sonnenmeier ! TRLJIM@UBVMS.BITNET : BITNET ! :-) [72361,2133] : CompuServe ! I like to think that time and space University at Buffalo ! are ours to use :) ... The sky is my Department of Mechanical/ ! joy, the wind is my lift. Aerospace Engineering ! ==========================================================================
rjacobs@gara.une.oz.au ( ABRI) (11/16/90)
Subject: Re: Info on Falconry Newsgroups: rec.birds James, You are mistaken in your assumption that birds of prey are no longer used for hunting. Most serious falconers would use their birds for hunting during sometime of the year. Of course the hunting is NOT only for recreation, but helps keep the bird healthy and fit. It is very difficult to keep raptors (at least medium to large ones) fit by only exercising them with short flights to the fist. The other advantage to the bird is that hunting provides a variation in the diet which can help overcome to some extent the limitations of feeding your bird only chicks or quail etc. Falconry is not an art, but a science. There is not magic to falconry, but an understanding of some basic principles and of the nature of your bird. Raptors are very simple-minded animals and a good falconer understands their basic instincts and uses these instincts to train the bird. But I have never seen a raptor that has been tamed, like a dog or horse is tamed. Instead, you learn to understand their nature and work with that. Nevertheless, a handler does learn to love and respect his birds because of their nature and despite the fact that you never become beloved companions (like a dog can be). There are many books on falconry. Your public library is probably a good source. The best modern book that deals with traditional methods that I have read is by Philip Glasser and publ. in 1988 (I think). He was the founder of the Falconry Centre in Newmarket, UK, but now has passed that job onto his daughter. Sorry, I can't remember the name of the book (I don't have my copy with me), but it was published in the UK and was not available in North America. However, you local bookstore should be able to locate the agent and import a copy for you. Another, author I would recommend is Frank Beebe from Vancouver. He wrote several books that are good, but not as clear as Glasser for a beginner. However, Beebe talks about some of the North American birds which some of the UK books do not cover. I think you will find it helpful to go to your library and read whatever you can, but you will find many books which have large sections in them that are either rubbish or dangerous to your bird. But you will only know this by gaining experience and thinking about your birds behaviour. I'm sure there are experienced falconers in the Buffalo area and you may locate them through a club or through the North American Falconry Association (NAFA). Perry McGehee tells me NAFA can be contacted via their secretary Charlotte Freienmuth 354 County Rd 229 Durango, CO 81301 NAFA costs $25/year to join and they publish a regular newsletter and have conferences periodically. I know of a falconer who is about 3 hrs from you and who holds classes for beginners and intermediate falconers a couple of times a year. He is Wilfred Emonts and lives in Totenham, Ontario (about 45 mins north of Toronto) and can be contacted on (416) 936-5469. I attended one of his courses and was very impressed with his knowledge. However, I found him to be an egomaniac and extremely dogmatic in his views about falconry. But when I was able to see past the dislike I developed for the man, I found him to be a brilliant falconer and I learnt a great deal from him. Mind you, his courses are expensive. I paid $500 for 6 days. Most people don't like Wilf, because he rubs them the wrong way and also he has been involved in fights with govt in Canada and US. He also breeds birds and although his birds are usually more expensive than some other breeders, his birds are top quality and no imprints. He is probably the most successful commercial breeder in North America. Anyway, I hope that has been of some help. Good luck. Ross Jacobs
tirone@acsu.buffalo.edu (stephen t tirone) (11/16/90)
In article <46476@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> trljim@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu writes: > > >I'm interested in any info on the art of Falconry. I know today poeple ... >Any info. books, addresses, first hand experiences would be greatly >appreciated. > The latest issue of "The Conservationist" (magazine of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation) has an informative article on falconry entitled "The Real Sport of Kings." It was written by Rick Huff, an accomplished game-hawker who works at Buffalo General Hospital (as a health physicist, I believe). I highly recommend the article. Steve Tirone tirone@acsu.buffalo.edu
wybranie@dtrc.dt.navy.mil (Wybraniec) (11/17/90)
In article <46476@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> trljim@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (James Sonnenmeier) writes: >I'm interested in any info on the art of Falconry. ... "The Maryland Hawking Club, on Sunday, December 2 will hold its 5th annual Sky-Trials day. Local falconers will be bringing their peregrines, hybrids, other raptors for a day of events in the countryside near Frederick, Maryland. A great opportunity to see rare raptors 'up close and personal.' A $3.00 admission fee is donated to raptor research and education foundations. For more information call Paul DuBois, Maryland Hawking Club President 301-293-3962." The above info is from the latest newsletter of the Raptor Society of Metropolitan Washington (D.C.) Box 482, Annandale, Virginia 22003.
J.M.Spencer@newcastle.ac.uk (J.M. Spencer) (11/19/90)
In article <4699@gara.une.oz.au> rjacobs@gara.une.oz.au ( ABRI) writes: >Subject: Re: Info on Falconry >Newsgroups: rec.birds > >James, > [stuff deleted] >There are many books on falconry. Your public library is probably a good >source. The best modern book that deals with traditional methods that I >have read is by Philip Glasser and publ. in 1988 (I think). He was the founder >of the Falconry Centre in Newmarket, UK, but now has passed that job onto his >daughter. Sorry, I can't remember the name of the book (I don't have my copy >with me), but it was published in the UK and was not available in North >America. However, you local bookstore should be able to locate the agent and >import a copy for you. Another, author I would recommend is Frank Beebe from >Vancouver. He wrote several books that are good, but not as clear as Glasser >for a beginner. However, Beebe talks about some of the North American birds >which some of the UK books do not cover. > >I think you will find it helpful to go to your library and read whatever you >can, but you will find many books which have large sections in them that >are either rubbish or dangerous to your bird. [...] > >Ross Jacobs The book is Falconry and Hawk by Philip Glasier (not Glasser) and his daughter is Jemima Parry-Jones. Glasier's book is worth a read (I've got a copy) although he gives some seriously flawed advice. For example, he suggests training a goshawk to follow the falconer from tree to tree. This is OK for a Harris hawk or redtail, but it is a recipe to loose a goshawk. His daughter is a prolific breeder of raptors but not (to my mind) a falconer. She does lots of flying displays and talks at schools etc., and professes to be "the best falconer in Britain" (her words), but there are not many practising falconers who would agree with her. Too much ego and too little hawking. Anyway, I can post a short bibliography if anyone is interested. --- Jonathan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sender : Jonathan M Spencer Mail : Computing Lab, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK Phone : +91 222 8229 ARPA : J.M.Spencer%newcastle.ac.uk@cs.ucl.ac.uk JANET : J.M.Spencer@uk.ac.newcastle UUCP : !ukc!newcastle.ac.uk!J.M.Spencer
trljim@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (James Sonnenmeier) (11/21/90)
In article <1990Nov19.112854.5131@newcastle.ac.uk>, J.M.Spencer@newcastle.ac.uk (J.M. Spencer) writes... >> >[stuff deleted] > >Anyway, I can post a short bibliography if anyone is interested. > >--- Jonathan >----------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Sender : Jonathan M Spencer >Mail : Computing Lab, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK >Phone : +91 222 8229 >ARPA : J.M.Spencer%newcastle.ac.uk@cs.ucl.ac.uk >JANET : J.M.Spencer@uk.ac.newcastle >UUCP : !ukc!newcastle.ac.uk!J.M.Spencer Yes please do post the bibliography . It would be greatly appreciated. thanks :) ========================================================================== Jim Sonnenmeier ! TRLJIM@UBVMS.BITNET : BITNET ! :-) [72361,2133] : CompuServe ! I like to think that time and space University at Buffalo ! are ours to use :) ... The sky is my Department of Mechanical/ ! joy, the wind is my lift. Aerospace Engineering ! ==========================================================================