Falconry Basics: An introduction to the care, maintenance and training of birds of prey

Falconry is an ancient and noble art, still practiced today by falconers throughout the world. While, these days, falconry birds are mostly bred in captivity, they are still wild, independent animals and owning and training them requires the right commitment, knowledge and skills. Falconry Basics is designed to provide those new to falconry with the essential information they need, including the basics of types of birds and their individual characteristics; acquiring the proper equipment; how best to care for and maintain healthy birds, and all aspects of training, flying and hunting. Accompanied by diagrams and line drawings throughout, and with additional material, such as a glossary of falconry terms, this newly revised and updated edition offers a comprehensive, practical guide for a whole new generation of falconers.

Table of Contents:
Preface Preface to the 2003 edition A note on terminology Introduction PART 1: Getting started 1 Before you start 2 Falconry and the law 3 Hawks, hawking and falconry 4 First hawk PART 2: Preparing for your first hawk 5 Hawk accommodation and furniture 6 Hawk furniture 7 Training equipment 8 Hawk food 9 Buying and handling a hawk PART 3: Training and flying 10 Weight and condition 11 First steps 12 Up to free flight 13 Flying free 14 Other considerations PART 4: Hawking for quarry 15 Vital homework 16 Entering and basic hunting 17 Hawking companions: dogs and ferrets 18 Notes on quarry PART 5: Maintaining your hawk 19 Illness and injury 20 Beaks and talons 21 Feathers: moulting and repair PART 6: Reference : A hawk’s anatomy IAF Guidelines for the General Welfare of Falconry Raptors A falconry glossary Checklist of equipment Further reading Useful contacts Acknowledgements About the authors Index

About the Author :
Michael K Nicholls has been an active falconer since 1968 when he trained his first kestrel, and still regularly flies merlins and peregrines through the hunting season. He is a passionate advocate for the improvement of the welfare of birds of prey in captive situations, and was involved in the development and promotion of the first nationally recognised awards for falconry best practice. An academic by profession (now retired), with a particular interest in raptor biology, Mike is a member of the Hawk Board and a former editor of the British Falconers' Club Journal and Newsletter. He has written extensively for both academic journals and more popular falconry and avicultural magazines. Tony Hall was Editor of the British Hawking Association's journals and, from the age of fourteen, has bred , trained and flew numerous hawks, including Tawny Owls.

Review :
I found this revised version of the 2003 edition to be exceptionally well written, the text easy to follow and the advice and sensible cautions for beginners that are peppered throughout to be most informative... The advice on bird selection, housing, essential equipment and the care and maintenance of birds of prey is detailed.