Ancient Art: Falconry

Few people ever get the privilege of watching a falconer and their bird in action. The beauty of watching a human work in partnership with a wild animal is awe-inspiring. Once one has this experience, many people want to participate in this amazing art - The Sport of Kings.

Falconry is an ancient art, with experts unable to determine the exact origins it is estimated to date back over 8,000 to 10,000 years.¹ By definition, it is the use of a trained raptor to hunt wild quarry, or prey, in natural conditions. This sport is very demanding and requires the specialized care and training of an animal 365 days a year. Falconry takes not only time but commitment to serious research before getting involved in this lifestyle.

This sport is not for everyone, even if they find the art of falconry fascinating. The bird involved in the partnership is a wild animal that is federally protected and is only allowed to be kept in captivity under licensure if it is used to hunt wild game. These animals are not pets and are not permitted to be kept as pets. A falconer must be willing to use their partner to hunt, find locations with the appropriate game available for the bird, and have the time to hunt on a frequent and regular basis. These magnificent creatures are highly evolved predators, and one must be comfortable with the predator-prey relationship to have the honor of participating in this endeavor with their raptor.

To become a falconer, one must undertake an apprenticeship under a licensed General or Master falconer. For more information, see the North America Falconers Association. There are three levels of falconer, with each level permitted to hold a different number and species of bird. It takes a minimum of seven years to go through the steps to reach the level of a master falconer. State and federal requirements must be met and followed to obtain the proper permits and licensure before getting a bird, as all native raptors are protected by state, federal, and international law. In most states, this requires a written test and the building of an appropriate space to house your raptors. Once these permits and licenses are in place, the exciting journey of a two-year-long apprenticeship can begin!

It takes time and significant commitment to become a licensed falconer, but it is a privilege to take part in keeping one of the oldest sports of mankind alive. Few things are as awe-inspiring and rewarding as experiencing success with a bird that you have spent months and countless hours developing a working relationship with. While falconry is not a widely practiced or popular hunting sport, there is a small yet amazing community of people who share a passion for this hobby with other falconers across the world.

 

 

At BSM Partners you will find many of us have hobbies that involve the animals we have studied or researched for our careers as well. On our team, we have two licensed falconers, and BSM Partners has employees who are passionate about not only companion animals, but livestock animals, exotics, and wildlife as well. We have experts and develop products not only in the dog and cat space but also in birds like chickens, horses, pigs, cows, and even humans.

References

1. “Raptor Force | History of Falconry | Nature | PBS.” Nature, http://www.facebook.com/pbsnature, 4 June 2008, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/raptor-force-history-of-falconry/.

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About the Author

Dr. Katy Miller works as the Director of Veterinary Services at BSM Partners. She earned her veterinary degree at Ross University and completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University. She previously served for 11 years as the Director of Dog and Cat Health and Nutrition for Mud Bay where she earned multiple certifications and specialized in pet food nutriton, prior to which she practiced general and emergency medicine for seven years. She is also a competitive three-day eventer, licensed falconer, and claims only two (Golden and Mini Doxie) of their nine dogs.