jrcst4@cisunx.UUCP (James R. Christman) (01/31/89)
Hello,
This is my first posting, so please bear with me. I am extremely
interested in birds of prey. I live in the Pittsburgh area, and would like
to know if there is anywhere around me that I can go to see them up close.
Also, I would like to get accurate information on owning and raising birds of
prey. If anyone has any information at all on the subject, I would really like
to hear from you.
Thanks,
Jim Christman jrcst4@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edumjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser) (02/01/89)
In article <15450@cisunx.UUCP>, jrcst4@cisunx.UUCP (James R. Christman) writes: > > Hello, > > This is my first posting, so please bear with me. I am extremely >interested in birds of prey. I live in the Pittsburgh area, and would like >to know if there is anywhere around me that I can go to see them up close. >Also, I would like to get accurate information on owning and raising birds of >prey. If anyone has any information at all on the subject, I would really like >to hear from you. I don't know about the Pittsburgh area, but owning and raising birds of prey is illegal without a license from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These licenses are generally given to bird-banding operations and wildlife rehab centers. What you could do is contact your local rehabilitation center and do volunteer work for them. If you build a decent aviary at home and become proficient at caring for birds of prey, they might let you do some of the rehab at your home under the jurisdiction of their license. Mike
slavar@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Leonard) (02/04/89)
In article <37029@oliveb.olivetti.com>, mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser) writes: > In article <15450@cisunx.UUCP>, jrcst4@cisunx.UUCP (James R. Christman) writes: > > > > Hello, > > > > This is my first posting, so please bear with me. I am extremely > >interested in birds of prey. I live in the Pittsburgh area, and would like > >to know if there is anywhere around me that I can go to see them up close. > >Also, I would like to get accurate information on owning and raising birds of > >prey. If anyone has any information at all on the subject, I would really like > >to hear from you. > > I don't know about the Pittsburgh area, but owning and raising birds of > prey is illegal without a license from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These > licenses are generally given to bird-banding operations and wildlife rehab > centers. > > What you could do is contact your local rehabilitation center and do > volunteer work for them. If you build a decent aviary at home and become > proficient at caring for birds of prey, they might let you do some of the rehab > at your home under the jurisdiction of their license. > > Mike I must disagree with Mike's statements. I am a former falconer. A former falconer because of my limited time to properly care for my birds (a family and job can do that to you). I Pennsylvania, where I lived until moving to Illinois, you must be licensed by the the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. Now this is not as easy as it seems. First, you must construct proper housing facilities for your birds as well as proper weathering area protected from other hawks, owls, cats, dogs, and other predators. These requirements are defined in regulations from the Game Commission. Second, you must be a member of any one of a number of falconer associations. The best one is the North American Falconer's Association (which to the best of my knowledge both Dr. Heinz Meng, and Tom Cade (Cornell University Peregrine Falcon Project) are or were members). The association with other falconers is more important than it may seem. I will elucidate on this in the next requirement. Third, if you become a falconer, you spend the first couple of years as an apprentice falconer with a falconer or master falconer as a mentor (note the importance of point two). This mentor is generally a personal acquaintance with the time to help you with the problems you may encounter, and his record of caring for birds is known to both the association and the Game Commission. Fourth, once your facilities have been inspected and approved, your mentor agrees and is approved, you now have to make your application. If your application is accepted, you may now take your written test (given twice yearly). This test is designed to measure your knowledge of raptor physiology, anatomy, epidemiology, nutrition, and training techniques. This knowledge is gained through the study of many texts and personal instruction (My favorite text is A Treatise on the Art of Falconry, by the Holy Roman Emperor, Friedreich Barbarossa von Hapsburg). If you pass this test, which also meets U.S. Fish and Wildlife requirements, you are issued your novice or apprentice falconer's license. Now, what type of bird are you entitled to use and, where do you acquire your bird? Well, for the first two years, you may only have an American Kestrel (Sparrow Hawk) or a Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis (sp?)). With these you must demonstrate your proficiency in caring for and training of the bird. Then your apprenticeship is completed and you become a falconer. As a falconer, you may use various other species of raptors except eagles and peregrine falcons (my favorite was a merlin). These birds are acquired though the removal of the bird from the wild at specific times regulated by law, or when you get your master rating you may be able to acquire a peregrine-gyrfalcon, peregrine-prairie falcon hybrid from a captive breeding project. At any time you posses a bird, your facilities are subject to inspection with very little or no prior notice. Records of your birds are kept by the Game Commission and if you are deficient, your license is revoked and your birds removed from your care pending a hearing. In the midwest there is the Great Lakes Falconer's Association, located in Warrenville, IL. I know this was a long article, but I do understand the concerns of conservationists as well as the motives of the falconry community. I wanted to show that falconers are regulated and dedicated to the birds. After all, if there weren't any raptors, there wouldn't be any falconry. Terry L. Leonard AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, IL 60540 312/979-3482
kan@ihlpb.ATT.COM (Casali) (02/07/89)
> > > This is my first posting, so please bear with me. I am extremely > > >interested in birds of prey. I live in the Pittsburgh area, and would like > > >to know if there is anywhere around me that I can go to see them up close. > > >Also, I would like to get accurate information on owning and raising birds of > > >prey. If anyone has any information at all on the subject, I would really like > > >to hear from you. > > > > I don't know about the Pittsburgh area, but owning and raising birds of > > prey is illegal without a license from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These > > licenses are generally given to bird-banding operations and wildlife rehab > > centers. > > > > What you could do is contact your local rehabilitation center and do > > volunteer work for them. If you build a decent aviary at home and become > > proficient at caring for birds of prey, they might let you do some of the rehab > > at your home under the jurisdiction of their license. > > > > Mike > > > I must disagree with Mike's statements. I am a former falconer. A > former falconer because of my limited time to properly care for my > birds (a family and job can do that to you). I think you are talking two different things. I kept an injured Red tail and a rough legged under the jurisdiction of the local animal control center. They did inspect the facilities and bird. They set up the medical appointments and provided some of the food. We supplemented the food with live food for the red tail since he was released (a broke wing that healed). The rough legged had a apputated wing and was blind in one eye. We supplimented their food for a more varied diet (dead rabbits, mice, etc) instead of dead chicks. We got the rough legged because some nut went into their wildlife zoo and shot or stole most of the animals. Since we were on record for keeping and releasing the red tail, they gave us the other hawk. We kept him until he died (he was very old at the time they gave him to us). There was no formal training other than working with the control officier at first. I think what Terry was talking about was a falcon license involving bird training etc not just caring for hurt birds. Kathy
donndeli@sunburn.aero.org (James Donndelinger) (02/11/89)
In article <15450@cisunx.UUCP> jrcst4@cisunx.UUCP (James R. Christman) writes: > > This is my first posting, so please bear with me. I am extremely >interested in birds of prey. I live in the Pittsburgh area, and would like >to know if there is anywhere around me that I can go to see them up close. >Also, I would like to get accurate information on owning and raising birds of >prey. If anyone has any information at all on the subject, I would really like >to hear from you. Your best bet is to contact the PA Department of Fish and Game (that might not be the actual name, in CA it's DFG, in WI it's Department of Natural Resources but you get the idea). They can provide you with a list of General and Master Falconers in your area. As stated in an earlier posting, you will have to pass a written test and have your facilities inspected. You will also need to have a sponser(a General or Master) for two years. During this period you are an apprentice and your sponser must report each year on your progress and performance. If you satisfy your sponser after two years you become a general Falconer. The concept of "owning" a raptor is fuzzy. States vary on the rules, but most feel you don't own the bird, it belongs to the state. There are some exceptions to this, as in captive bred birds and hybrids. The purpose of Falconry is not to own an exotic pet, but to pursue (and sometimes catch) game in the field. It is quite exhilarating to watch a bird you have trained to chase game in the field. It is the most natural form of hunting and does not leave crippled game behind. Also, the game taken is never wasted, either the Falconer or the bird or both enjoy the spoils. I've been a Falconer for 6 years and expect to get my Master Falconers permit next year. ~Jim