My peregrine "Esther". (Photo: Ole Kramer)

"Hillo, ho, ho, boy. Come, bird, come..."           Hamlet, Act I, Sc. 5

Falconry is one of the most ancient means of hunting still practised. 4000 years it's history can be traced back in history. In Scandinavia archaeological evidence has dated it's existence as far back as to the 5th century.
   Through history several Danish kings have practised the sport, though the trapping and distribution of gyrfalcons from Iceland and Norway have probably been of greater significance than the hunting itself. A Royal Falconry was established in the 16th century. It was abolished in the early 19th century, and since then falconry have been anonymous in Denmark. Not until the early 1970's a club maintaining the interests of falconry was established. It had a short and chaotic life, and ended it's days in the early 1990's being a club for different groups of people interested in raptors and owls. In 1991 the Danish Hawking Club was formed. The club only maintains the interests of falconry.
 

What's falconry?

Falconry is taking quarry in its wild state and own conditions by means of a trained raptor. Basically what the wild raptor does. The only difference between a falconer's hawk and a wild is that the falconer's hawk have learned to accept the falconer as it's helper. The falconer does not teach the hawk to kill. It knows how to do that by instinct. The falconer is a kind of "gun dog" for his hawk. He is responsible for finding proper terrain with right wind conditions, plantation and proper quarry for his hawk. When this is taken care of, he is responsible for positioning himself, and if he has a dog, also the dog, in a way that leaves the hawk in a position with the best chances possible of catching the quarry. That the falconer might have a dog along, doesn't change the fact that it all depends on the hawk whether or not there will be any hunting. The falconer thus depends on a good relation to the hawk.
   Falconry is not just keeping raptors in captivity. A falconer is morally committed to keep his hawk in good condition and to fly it regularly.
   The traditional hawks of falconry are, with regard to the species indigenous to Denmark: The gyrfalcon, the peregrine falcon, the merlin, the goshawk, and the sparrowhawk. The exotic species traditionally used are: The saker falcon, the lanner falcon, the lugger falcon, the prairie falcon, the Harris' hawk, and the red-tailed hawk. Eagles are uncommon in falconry in this part of the world, but the golden eagle, and it's relatives are occasionally seen.
   The hawks previously recommended for beginners were the common kestrel and the common buzzard. Both hawks in their own right, but most beginners quickly gets bored with them. Nowadays it is most common to start with middle-sized falcons as the sakerette (male saker) or the lanner falcon (female lanner - the male being called "lanneret" in falconry terms), or mediumsized broadwinged species as the Harris' hawk or the red-tailed hawk. These hawks are capable of catching quarry as rabbits, partridges, and occasionally hare and pheasant. The falcons are also used for corvids.
Eagles are used elsewhere for hare, fox, and small antelopes and deer.
 

The keeping and training of hawks for falconry

Raptors do well in captivity. They are generally speaking very sedative and solitary animals, who only takes off when hunting or migrating. They are not social like parrots, and thus do not require company all the time.
In the training of a hawk the falconer exploits the natural appetite of the raptor. The hawk must have an urge to eat, but must not be too hungry. Hunger does not promote a good relationship between hawk and falconer. If the hawk gets too hungry it will either rake away to hunt for itself without the falconers assistance, thus risking to get lost from the falconer, or it will not position itself in a favourable position for hunting, but merely stay around the falconer expecting to be fed. Furthermore, a starving hawk will most likely be too weak to hunt successfully.
When the hawk have caught a quarry, it is killed instantly. The falconer hurries to the spot and offers the hawk a piece of lean meat of partridge, quail, or something he knows his hawk likes, in change. It is essential that the hawk doesn't feel cheated by the trade. Occasionally, the hawk doesn't start to eat the quarry, but await the approach of the falconer and the treasured morsel of lean meat. If the hawk found it was cheated, it would fly away.
 

The renaissance of falconry

In the newsmedia and in reference books, falconry is very often wrongly described. Most think of it as a long extinct, or at best archaic method of hunting, or as glamorous and exclusive sport for nobility. Until recently, the only Danish texts on the practice of falconry are 150 and 50 years old, and all written by non-falconers. This is a misconception. Much has happened in falconry, alone in the past 30 years.
The number of active falconers in Denmark have in that period been constantly increasing. A trend that can be recognised in other countries, where falconry in certain countries can be said to experience a renaissance, with clubs having thousands of members. Especially the past ten years have offered substantial progress, and there are now 30-35 falconers in Denmark (population 5.200.000). Not an impressive number, but the conditions under which the Danish falconers have to practice their sport can fully explain this.
Falconers and their hawks are certain draws at gamefairs and themeparks all over the world. Over the last few years the Danish Hawking Club have been present at several fairs all over Denmark. The club's stand is usually the best visited, but the massive support expressed by the visitors are not passed on to the leaders of the hunting association, and green organisations generally opposed to falconry.
 

The legal status of falconry in Denmark

Falconry has been prohibited in Denmark since the Hunting Act of 1967. Prior to the passing of the Hunting Act of 1994, an intensive work was carried out by the Danish falconers in order to have falconry re-introduced. With the the Conservative Minister of Environment then in office, we almost succeeded. The Conservative and Liberal coalition government had to resign, and the new Social Democratic Minister of Environment followed the recommendation of a unanimous Game Administration Council, and maintained the prohibition of falconry, and even removed the possibility of dispensation contained in the old Hunting Act. In The Game Administration Council, the major green organisations, agricultural organisations and the Danish Hunter's Association are seated, and their function is purely advisory.
At the same time the world's strictest control of birds of prey in captivity was introduced in Denmark. Originally the Danish falconers were opposed to this, but it soon became obvious that it is the best that has happened to falconry in Denmark since 1967. Danish raptors are now microchipped and have bloodsamples drawn, in order to control their identity and origin by DNA-fingerprinting.
The reasons for the Danish falconer's objections should be obvious - the throwing suspicion on falconers and fear of complications of the micro-chipping. The worries were soon put into the shade. The accusations of the opponents of falconry about the illegal taking of hawks from the wild have stopped completely. A Status for the administration of the rules regarding the possession of birds of prey and owls in captivity was published in January 1997 by The National Forest- and Nature Agency concludes that no irregularities in the administration of the new regulations have been encountered. The microchip serves several purposes: it is also a precaution against theft, and a great help in recovering lost hawks, as identity and ownership can be established in a matter of minutes with a scanner and a phone.
In 1994 a prohibition of the possession of raptors of species occurring in the Danish fauna was introduced. The assumption made was that it would restrain the keeping of raptors in captivity, and the hereby following possibility of keeping illegally acquired birds of prey. The latter assumption is obviously correct, but the number of raptors kept in captivity have literally exploded since the new regulations came into force. A decreased interest in the keeping of birds of prey is thus not obvious, but is never the less claimed by the legislators. The consequences of the new regulations to the Danish falconers, are that the traditional species used in European falconry are no longer available to new raptor keepers. (Keepers of the species in question at the time the new regulations came into force are, off course permitted to keep their hawks, and are even permitted to supply their stock with new individuals.) Raptor species who by their sole existence in this part of the world have proofed their worth as hunting hawks, are out of reach, and thus new, exotic species have to be employed. Thus the new regulations do not keep anyone from obtaining raptors, only from getting what you want the most. None of the species indigenous to Denmark are rare.
Danish falconers travel abroad to practice their sport, and they do it regularly. England, Scotland and Germany are the most frequently visited destinations for the travels of Danish falconers. Almost every year a group of Danish falconers from The Danish Hawking Club attend one of the international field meetings arranged by its sister organisations around Europe - most commonly in England and Germany.
 

Danish falconers attending the 1997 International Fieldmeet of the British Falconer's Club at Woodhall Spa. From left to right: Tage Jessen, Louis Jessen, Frank Skaarup Hansen and Jakob Borch.

 

The breeding of birds of prey

Birds of prey have been propagated in captivity since the early 1940's when German falconer Renz Waller made a couple of peregrine falcons breed. Since then falconers all over the world have bred so to speak all species of raptors in captivity. Hawks for use in falconry, but also the thousands of birds released in raptor restoration projects over the past 20 years, have been bred entirely by falconers or with aid of falconers. Danish-bred peregrine falcons have been released in Sweden and Russia.
The price of a captive bred raptor is for most species concerned between DKr 1,000,- and DKr 10,000,- ($150-1,500,-/£100-1,000,-), all depending on specie, sex, and the breeders reputation. In fact, very much like gundogs - or shotguns, if you like. Some species, which are harder to breed attain prices above DKr 10,000,- ($1,500,-/£1,000,-). A few even DKr 50,000,- ($7,500,-/£5,000,-).
The prices of several hundred thousand dollars frequently occurring in the media when trade in raptors are dealt with, are only occasionally true, and then it has been Arabian sheikhs wanting particularly beautiful specimens of the uncommon white gyrfalcon. The gyr is not the obvious choice for a hawk to be flown in the desert, but it's handsome and make a beautiful ornament on the fist. Unfortunately reports of such prices attracts fortune hunters, who being not falconers themselves doesn't care the least about the reputation of serious and law abiding falconers.
 

A green fieldsport

Hunting by means of birds of prey is the most difficult and most demanding way of pursuing quarry among the existing. At the same time falconry is also the fieldsport most easily defended. Animal welfare and biology taken into consideration. In fact, biology is the best defence of falconry at all. No specie - raptor or prey - have ever become extinct nor experienced a fatal decline in population due to falconry. Very few other human activities in nature can claim the same. Many species have given in over the last 150 years due to pesticides, prosecution, and destruction of habitat.
Falconry has no effect on wild populations of raptors. Today raptors are bred in captivity in great numbers and the use of modern technology can prevent fauna-criminality.
In countries where the taking of raptors for falconry is allowed, scientific studies have been performed investigating the effect on populations of such harvesting. It is now established that it poses no threat to wild populations of the traditional hawks of falconry.

Bonelli's eagle in flight. (Photo: Jakob Borch)

The prey is chosen by the hawk, which, if given a choice will select the weakest. The hunt is performed on the hawk's and the quarry's conditions, being natural to both.    Falconry is a non-polluting way of hunting: No noise, no lead hail-shots, no cartridge cases, and most important - no wounded game. Falconry rarely causes wounded game. The quarry either gets away or is killed as quickly as a wild raptor would do it. Accordingly falconry leaves no visible traces in the environment. The hunting ground is left in same condition as it was upon arrival.

   Falconry receives increasing recognition internationally. Common European legislation specifically mentions falconry as a legitimate form of hunting, and a Decision of the Court of the European Communities in 1994 confirms the domestication of captive bred birds.
FACE (Fèdèration des Associationes de Chausseurs de la C.C.E.) recognises and supports falconry. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recognises falconry in places with a tradition for falconry, and have co-operated with IAF on certain matters. The recognised Raptor Research Foundation have published papers concluding that falconry is biologically defendable, and even published a position statement on falconry in 1997.
IAF (The International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey), who represents falconry clubs from all over the world internationally, was admitted to the highly regarded international organisation the "International Union for the Conservation of Nature" (IUCN) in 1996. Falconry is being acknowledged as an ecologically healthy way of hunting, non-polluting, using natures' own "weapons", and giving it's practitioners great experiences for an environmentally neglectable price.
Falconers and their hawks are also increasingly used for regulating loss-causing game. In recent years civilian as well as military airfields, public grounds, cities, and farmers around the western world have engaged falconry in their efforts to keep birds away, when all other attempts to control them have failed.
 

Reintroducing falconry

There are nothing biologically to be said against the reintroduction of falconry in Denmark, and The Danish Hawking Club optimistically prepare it happening. A falconer's test, as it is known from Germany and U.S.A. is under preparation, and an apprentice system is also being considered, in order to assure new falconers a thorough education. Initially the initiatives are only intended to work in the club.
 

The fascination of falconry

"Falconry is not a hobby or an amusement, it is a rage. You eat it , drink it, sleep it, and think it, even in recollection." Those are the words of British author T. H. White, and they describe falconry very well. The words are also an account of the strong emotions hawks have caused in man. Among falconry proponents as well as opponents.
Falconry is a very dramatic sport. It is breathtaking to watch the stoop of a peregrine, diving from the sky, and hitting a bird, falling to the ground in a cloud of feathers and down. Or to watch a goshawk cease the head of a screaming rabbit. Whether you like it or not, this is what millions of wild raptors do every day.
Hunting with a hawk you learn about the life of the quarry species. They are always on the look out for predators, and when the falconer appears with his hawk, you see how clever ways of evading hawks the prey have evolved. You learn in which situations you have a chance of success. As you see how difficult it is to catch game with a hawk, you develop a sincere respect of the quarry. Quarry traditionally considered vermin, such as rooks, is a challenge to the falconer's knowledge and judgement, and a physical challenge to the hawk. It can take years of experience, selectively bred falcons, months of training, cross country going means of transportation, tracking equipment, access to large amounts of open country the falconer has to know intimately, and several weeks of daily flights on the land before you succeed in taking a rook. Not a good investment of time just to kill a rook. The quarry is important to the falconer, but the process of finally obtaining it, the pleasure and the challenge of the hunt is just as important. A falconer spends hundreds of hours with his hawk every year, and the average falconer will not unlikely catch 20 pieces of game in a season, if he's out hunting at least 2-3 times a week. He gets many hours of pleasure and fun without catching anything at all, and for some falconers several years passes by without any luck at all.
Of course falconry can be more efficient. On a hunting ground with plenty of rabbits a good goshawk can catch half a dozen rabbits or even more in an afternoon. If that is what you want...
The Danish falconers are in the absurd situation that they can purchase, keep and train all the hawks they want, except the ones they want the most, and they can't let them do what the hawks were created to, and what their wild relatives do - pursue and kill quarry in its wild state and own conditions. Danish owned raptors are captive bred and subordinated the strictest control in the world. Still falconry remains illegal.

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