Falconry, Good/Bad?

[pet]

Hi everyone as a counrtry/ nature loving person i'm more than keen on my animals, i'm also fond of most rural way's. I dont like hunting and can't stand fox hunting, however, not wanting to cause to much conflict but after wathing a program on Falconry, by the end i found myself becoming interested in an event thats etched into our history. I was interested to find out others views on this past-time, ( if done properly ) do we think its acceptable, or, just another cruel bloodsport???? Undecided.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

IMO it's like most things, done properly it's absolutly fine. Its just a small minority that bring every pastime down

[Jonny]

Well my boy likes it.......I agree with Links.......

[Gaina]

I must admit Fox hunting is not my cup of tea personally but I acknowledge it's a very complex subject. I like falconry as you're witnessing a bird exercising it's natural instincts. I did a falconry course a few years ago, but I haven't had the time or facilities to do justice to a bird of my own yet.

I went out with some friends at the begining of the year, and watching predator and prey in perfect balance with eachother and witnessing behaviour that not many people get to see does something quite profound to you.

Also, the amount of other wildlife you get to see while you're out there is fun and I now know where to find a place locally that is awash with Bullfinches

Falconers also played a crucial role in reviving the Peregrine population a few years ago, so thats a definate 'plus'. Also falconers and other fieldsports people are perfectly placed to notice when something doesn't seem right with the ecology of your local patch (did I phrase that correctly ).

[Airehead]

Originally Posted by pet

or, just another cruel bloodsport.

Of course it is a blood sport, but why the word 'cruel'?

I am fed up with the current tendency, strongly supported by the media, to idolise predators - birds, big cats, otters etc - whilst trying to deny that we are one of them, and that is the source of all blood sports. It is in our genes and nature demands that the urge be satisfied. If natural satisfaction is denied, then it will be achieved in more anti-social ways. For some people hunting with a camera is sufficient and that is good, but it does not satisfy everyone.

My view of the human race as predators was confirmed recently as it happens at a falconry display where the falconer was introducing a bird which had not seen a crowd of people before. He said it might be intimidated due to being watched by so many people because both our eyes are in the front of our heads, which defines us as predators.

I have only one thing against falconers - they are bringing foreign birds into the country and I believe that the influx of all foreign species should be banned.

[pheonix]

I agree with most of the above points. I saw an excellent falconary display on saturday, with all foreign birds except for a peregrine/gyr hybrid, the show was very informative.
the trouble with this like any is it can be cruel like anything if done wrong, but we cannot deny that it is another form of hunting and it is that (the hunting) that you need to decide wether your against or not, not just the one form of hunting.

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by pheonix

I agree with most of the above points. I saw an excellent falconary display on saturday, with all foreign birds except for a peregrine/gyr hybrid, the show was very informative.
the trouble with this like any is it can be cruel like anything if done wrong, but we cannot deny that it is another form of hunting and it is that (the hunting) that you need to decide wether your against or not, not just the one form of hunting.

Just out of interest, who provided the falconry display?

[pheonix]

Originally Posted by Gaina

Just out of interest, who provided the falconry display?

It was on the Isle of Wight, at the owl and falconary centre there near Sandown.
If your looking for someone to do a show theres someone at Fir Tree Farm, Warmington, Oxon. Don't know if thats why you asked just a guess but i could proberbly get his number if you wanted?

[life through a lens]

Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly

IMO it's like most things, done properly it's absolutly fine. Its just a small minority that bring every pastime down

I second the above. After all it is part of our countries history and does also allow people the chance to see these creatures close up. Anything that could help to inspire an interest in wildlife in our younger generations has got to have strong merits.

Olly

[pet]

ah, all very interesting, in reply to Airhead questioning the use of the word cruel, its because i have opinions like everyone and a lot of bloodsports ie fox hunting, badgerbaiting ect, are, in my humble opinion CRUEL, given we are supposed to be an intellagent race we perhaps should know better, however Gaina put it perfectly, predator and prey, falcons hunting rabbits ect is how nature intended, so i find it more natural, hence more acceptable.