Falconry Displays

Phillip Glasier said in his book that a falcon or hawk should be a friend to the falconer and he/she should enjoy spending time with the bird – obviously flying it but also feeding it on the fist on wet days and of course setting it out to weather on the lawn with a bath on a fine day. Recent changes in management of hawks and falcons often forgets this. As a professional falconer the coming and going of birds over the years is part of my job but for the amateur the death of a hawk or falcon who is a friend  to the falconer and their family is really tough. And so it has been so for this week for a falconry friend of mine who lost his Harris hawk of 25 years after a very short illness.

I was his mentor and together we bought ‘Cleo’ from a back garden breeder in South Wales. He trained her – did a great job – and caught many a rabbit with her. Of course he experienced ‘all’ the ups and downs that go with – like when she was lost on a couple of occasions and when she caught cellulitis from dirty pond water on Salisbury Plain- all strengthening the bond between falconer and hawk. We had her here for 6 months when her falconer was away overseas and I tail belled her and coped her beak for all those years. And latterly for me to still feel useful. I pay tribute to the lost of a friend. Here is a picture of her from early last year.

Cleo