The reason we (falconers) began to breed falcons in the first place was to save the peregrine. In the 70s breeding peregrines in captivity had never been done…it was falconers who figured it out, bred them and many of the guys helped with the re-introduction. Based on these efforts, the elmination of DDT and the hard work of many the peregrine came off the endangered species list in 1999. We’ve been working to get greenlit to trap peregrines again ever since.

Many of us don’t want captive bred falcons. You must keep a captive bird for the rest of its life. A wild caught bird can be returned to the wild. It’s not about the breeding stock. There are plenty of nonreleasable peregrines (wild birds permanently injured in the wild).

My best suggestion Kevin would be to read Rachel Dickinson’s book which just came out, “Falconer on the Edge” and my memoir, LIFT when it comes out in November.

There is a bit of a stir going on right now since Fish and Wildife is looking to open taking a number of raptors this year in TX. At least, there seems to be a bit of a stir. Sorry, I should know more about it if I am going to mention it. I am trying to understand why they would do this after not doing it for 30-40 years. Are there too many in the wild like there are deer so that they are not having large enough foraging territories?

Actually, I suppose I should ask you to refer me to something that would give me a basic understanding so I don’t waste your valuable time.

Thanks Rebecca! I love the site.

Kevin

Very nicely put. Thank you for explaining what we do to those who don’t understand it. Well written response and very compassionate.

What a wonderful response, by the way!

I normally trap with a BC. My gerbals have names, live for years, trained over time to enter the trap voluntarily, and seem to enjoy getting out of the cage from time to time. They never seem fearful even when “living death” is on the other side of the wire. They merely preen and wait for their next snack.

No cruelty here.

The new regs allowing beginners the use of Harris Hawks truly saddens me. Many novices will miss the experience, thrills, and disappointed that only trapping provides.

I still fly redtails (or rather restarted) for the joys of trapping almost as much as the love of the birds.

In south Louisiana, due to the late migration, hours and days are needed to acquire a early bird. In fall, my normal River Road route is full of sugarcane trucks, smoke from burning fields, dove hunters, and morning fog. It also means relatively cool temperature after our oven like summers, colorful sunrises, spirited conversation, poor boy sandwiches, and football on the radio.

As the season progress, frustrations mount as there is still no perfect bird. Visual interest remains, however, as you become disoriented when cane fields are cleared and you suddenly can see for miles instead of feet. Other fields are plowed for winter crops and frost occurs. Happily, more migrant arrive and soon move from the fields to smaller hedge rows or ever neighborhoods.

Beginners learn habitat, silhouettes, roost silection, colorations, behaviour and most of all patience. All very useful, if not essential, in ones falconry career.

Thrills include spotting a beautiful hawk, watching attention turn toward your skillfully placed trap, viewing its approach, and the triumphant rush to secure your newly trapped prize.

Disappointments, of course, include botched placement, “flybys”, adult birds, trap malfunctions and worse, a hawk that simply ignors your trap.

Personally, perhaps the most unexpected disappointment, however, occurred recently: I trapped that perfect hawk in less than two hours on the first day.

Russ

Thank you.
Joe