Falconry Basics

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.

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