Falconry Displays

I read with some alarm that wild peregrine ′numbers have significantly dropped in certain areas – globally. The last catastrophe that peregrines faced in the past was the wide spread post war usage of DDT to improve crop yields by protecting them from pests. Thankfully since the ban peregrine numbers have bounced back and along with their ancestral coastal haunts they have become a familiar urban dweller nesting on high buildings – inland cliffs – with plenty of feral pigeons to catch down below.

The key word here is their coastal haunts because these seem to be the places where peregrines have recently disappeared. There are always local reasons why certain pairs are absent but the general decline requires a wider explanation.

It seems that avian flu may well be responsible as coastal peregrines predate seabirds who are particular vulnerable to this disease and likely to pass it on if they are predated by peregrines.

This means that urban peregrines may be important in repopulating coastal sites – rather than the other way around which has been the traditional arrangement.

Peregrines after DDT were captive bred and released using the falconry technique of hacking in North America. Who knows this expertise of breeding and ‘hacking back’ may be needed in the future again. One of course hopes not. Wild birds may slowly become immune to this condition – it has become so widespread that this may happen. Those survivors pass on their immunity to their offspring. Sea bird communities reportedly have bounced back after heavy loses to the condition. But raptors are particularly vulnerable at the top of the food chain.

At home we take special measures against bird flu including foot dips and keeping wild birds away from where the falcons are housed. This is difficult with free range poultry.  Raptor husbandry of course is different but precautions are still required. Vaccination of poultry is something that is now being considered. Zoo birds can be vaccinated. This is becoming an important topic because bird flu is beginning to jump the species barrier. This has happened in America with bird flu crossing over into in diary cattle. Which is very worrying.

Our own peregrine ‘Sprite’ is well and continues to be flown everyday. He was going to another falconer – as I have explained elsewhere – but it fell through and he remains with us. He is featured in my book ‘Falconry – aspects of care of the trained falcon and hawk’. He is a big personality!

Here is a recent photograph of him sitting on the sock lure after catching it.