The Peregrine Falcon, a medium-sized raptor, has long been a source of inspiration. Peregrines were originally called a duck hawk in North America because Alexander Wilson, pioneer of American ornithology, thought them to be nonmigratory. But in years since we have gone back to the older name, the one used in England. At one time, during the Middle Ages, it denoted social status; only lords could fly a Peregrine from the fist. More recently, the bird has served as a spark to reintroduction of endangered species as a falling point of pesticides.
All three North American races are cliff-nesting raptors. The arboreal race, Falco Peregrinus Anatum, once commonly nested east of the Mississippi and lived well on the Passenger Pigeon, its principal prey item. No one knows how many Peregrines occupied how many ledges 150 years ago, but its safe to assume that, after the demise of its once-abundant source of food, the Peregrine population declined.
Traditional concepts of falconry and medical care of falcons vary considerably between the Middle East and the West. The geographical location and unique climate of the Arabian Gulf make it possible to analyze varying diseases and effects of treatments on falcon populations. The long sporting association with falcons has provided insights into their diseases. Any culture whose ancient history includes such an intimate role, such as the Arab or Bedouin (nomadic Arabs) still practice the same medicine their ancestors did a thousand years ago and have practical value in the reintroduction of wild species all over the world.
Approximately 3000 falcons are employed for falconry on the Arabian Peninsula each year. Between 2/3 and 3/4ths are used in the Arabian Gulf region. Saker Falcons represent at least 70% of the captive falcon population thought Arabia. Peregrine Falcons are commonly encountered in the Arabian Gulf region but diminish toward the interior of Saudi Arabia. Other falcons such as the Lanner Falcon form less than 2% of the total captive raptor population. They capture these birds in the fall migration and about 60% are released each spring on natural migratory flyways as fattened and experienced hunters.
It was written that in Arabia: “even more than was the case in medieval Europe, which was so much richer in food supplies, game taken by the Arab’s trained hawk was an important addition to his thin diet. Wild hawks were trapped by rich and poor alike and were flown through the winter months when quarry became available. The Arabs flew their hawks because they wanted to hunt and eat. They did not go hunting because they wanted to see their hawks fly. This is an important distinction to bear in mind, because it underlies the techniques and apparent ruthlessness for desert hawking.” Allen, 1982. The Arab style of Falconry is still practical, even though it has long ceased to be utilitarian for the sheikhs and princes. Its technique and style are also influenced by available quarry (mainly Houbara Bustar and the Stone Curlew). Female Peregrines are preferred for hunting because of their size and strength that enable them to cope with the larger prey items. It is also because of the Peregrines speed and dive in which is highly regarded, a “ringing dive” is a sign of courage and strength to the Arab people. The falcons are taught to be aggressive in kill but tameness is quickly instilled by constant handling and by a reduced diet.
Stress precedes many diseases observed in falcons in the Arabian Gulf. Medically it is an influence causing physiological homeostasis of an organism, causing an overproduction of adrenal hormones, which act to suppress the immune system. Some of the causes of stress on a falcon may be a confined area of living causing physical discomfort, extremes in environmental conditions, and poor nutrition. There is one common ailment though that may harm a falcon though, Bumble foot, an infection of the foot. In the Arabian Gulf it arises from self-inflicted punctures by sharp or badly overgrown talons. In the Bedouin tradition, they do not take care of this because they feel that needle-sharp talons are necessary for falcon’s hunting success. Bedouin falconers recognize only obvious symptoms and combine them into single diseases of the mouth, feet, or breathing. Some folk treatments provide at least visual improvement, but are often not completely cured. The poor success of most ancient remedies creates an underlying sense of futility about medicine. The Bedouin are impatient with long-term treatment. Unless something looks better almost immediately, treatment is usually abandoned and the bird may be released to “Allah’s will” if it continues not to improve in this sense of historical falconry. Fortunately more modern techniques and medicines are able to treat many of the ailments to falconer’s keeps. But wild populations released with such illnesses each year may ultimately cause widespread disease and population declines among the Arab populations.
In Medieval Europe hunting techniques were much different. But similar problems arose with falcons. Most birds were considered a sign of status in one way or another. I have heard wonderful stories of my friend and mentor Joe Rogers explanations for using Falcons. Not only was it a sport, but also in many cases nobility used the magnificent birds to take down other birds like pigeons relaying messages between castles. It was a methods of warfare and mastery. Perhaps this is why much of the falconry techniques were so highly exclusive. To this day you need licenses and training to undertake such a hobby and lifestyle. This is in part not only to protect the bird from becoming a causality of smuggling and outright poaching, but to keep a sense of tradition. As early as 2000 B.C., Egyptians and the Chinese practiced falconry, the art of training raptors to hunt as a part of domestic husbandry reached its fame of course in the medieval times. Military officers used pigeons during wartime to send messages, and falcons were trained to nab the opposition’s pigeons. During the first half of World War II, the U. S. Army maintained a pigeon corps and a falcon corps. The German army had the best falcon corps in the world. In the early 1800’s humans shot peregrine falcons in the Upper Peninsula and all around the United States. They were considered vermin, nuisances that plagued local passenger pigeons coops. But despite this historical shooting the Peregrine survived, not until the effects of DDT hit did we fully come to know what we had lost, not only as a sport but as a piece of wildness that even the Arabs and Medieval ancestors valued.
Falconry Basics
Falconry is of Oriental origin and is very ancient.
It was practiced in China before 2000 BC and in Japan, India, Persia, and other Asian countries as early as 600 BC.
Falconry was popular in Egypt very early on as seen in hieroglyphics.
Falconry was introduced by the Romans into parts of Europe conquered by them, and from the European continent the sport was introduced to England in the second half of the 9th century AD.
After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, falconry was extremely popular with English royalty and nobility. In those days, the type of hawk or falcon an Englishman carried on his wrist when he went hawking marked his rank.
Thus, a king carried the gyrfalcon, an earl the peregrine, a yeoman the goshawk, a priest the sparrow hawk, and a servant the kestrel.
The sport remained popular in England until the first half of the 17th century, when interest in it began to decline.
It revived during the Restoration (beginning 1660), but declined again in the first part of the 18th century, when the sport of shooting birds on the wing became popular.
Falconry uses special vocabulary that has been linked with the sport for centuries.
Among the terms used to describe the hawk itself are "pounces", for claws; "sails", for wings; and "pannel", for the lower stomach.
An "eyas" is a young hawk taken from the nest; it is easier to obtain and train than a grown wild bird.
A "haggard", or "blue hawk" or "passage hawk", is a mature wild bird, better at hunting than an eyas but harder to train and more frequently lost in the course of hunting.
An "eyrie" is a falcon's nest.
When a hawk molts, it is said to be "mewing". After the bird's first molt it is "intermewed".
Mending a hawk's broken feathers is called "imping", and blunting its bill or talons is "coping".
The motions of the falcon in pursuit of its quarry also have special designations. Thus, a hawk "stoops" when, with wings closed, it dives upon its prey.
It "binds" when it clings to the prey and "clutches' when it seizes the quarry in its claws.
Equipment essential to the training of hawks includes "jesses", or leg straps, and "rufters", or leather eye hoods.
Falconry Portal - Harrie Knol's Falconry Portal
