BORCH'S
FALCONRY - english
Have you decided to give falconry a try? Then have a look at this list of things to get and things to do before you get your first hawk.Equipment:
Hood
Knife.
Block- or bowperch
Whistle.
Portable block or bowperch
Leather for jesses.
Transportation crate or cadge.
Leathertool: leather punch, leatherknife/scalpel, eyelets and applicator, chopping board, pliers.
Weight - weights down to 5 g or less.
Leathergrease: Ko cho line for the hood, for shoes, ordinary for glove etc.
Bath.
De-wormer.
3 leashes
Anti mite powder.
3 swivels
For coping the beak and talons: Ordinary nailfile, File for chainsaw, Square file, Surgical nailscissors/nailscissors for dogs.
Bells.
10 sec glue.
Glove.
Bamboosplinters/carbonfibers.
Falconers bag/ -waistcoat.
Tape for the tail
Lure.
Telemetry (not strictly necessary, but definitely a very valuable instrument.)
Books:
A comprehensive contemporary manual on falconry.
A veterinary manual, ie Coopers & Remple's 'Raptor Biomedicine'.
Housing
Roofed weatheringground
Things to do before getting a hawk:Locate a veterinary surgeon in your area with special interest in birds of prey.
Find a flying ground.
The basis for purchasing all this equipment and finally getting hawk is, of course, that you have been properly trained in handling hawks. You can go to a falconry school to learn if falconry is really something for you, but to become a falconer, you have to find an experienced falconer to educate you. In some countries it requires a license to practice falconry and you might have to pass a test. Here you will probably be associated to an experienced falconer, during your time as apprentice. Sometimes apprentices are only permitted to train certain species.
Making your own equipment
Several books give excelent advise on making your own furniture.
Glasier, Philip
Falconry and Hawking, 2nd ed.
Publ.: Batsford
Year and place: 1986 London
ISBN: 0 7134 5555 1Kimsey, Bryan A. / Hodge, Jim
Falconry Equipment: A Guide to Making and Using Falconry Equipment
Publ.: Kimsey/Hodge Publications
Year and place: 1992 Houston, TexasUpton, Roger
Falconry Principles & Practice.
Publ.: A & C Black
Year and place: 1991 London
ISBN: 0 7136 3262 3
Your first hawk
A large buzzard or one of the smaller large falcons are by most considered the best beginners bird. A common buzzard, a Harris' hawk, a red-tailed buzzard, a lanner falcon, a male saker falcon, are among the most suitable birds for beginners - all depending whether you want to fly shortwings or longwings - and that again depends on the countryside you live in. You need lots of open land for a longwing.
Common for all species of birds of prey is that they are not pets. Hawks are not sociable birds like parrots. They are predators, and kill by instinct. Hawks are also longlived, so consider carefully before getting into falconry. You might become stuck with a hawk when you realize falconry is not for you. You should carefully consider the reasons you want to become a falconer. An appropriate reason is not that it looks cool with a hawk on your fist.
BORCH'S
FALCONRY - english