Falcons and the Art of Falconry
By: Habeeb Salloum/Arab America Contributing Writer
No other birds have captivated man since the dawn of history more than falcons, the most regal raptors of the hawk family. Riding the sky with flawless grace, in the eyes of men, a picture postcard of perfection. Through the centuries, these majestic birds with their dazzling speed and reckless abandon while flying have been considered to be perfect hunters. The fastest creatures on earth, on both land and in air, they are said to swoop, at times, when diving for their prey, at over 200 miles an hour.
Flying at lofty altitudes, with sheer power of the wing and endurance, stooping like a shot from a bullet upon their quarry, they are an unforgettable sight. In most instances with lightning speed and a deadly blow with their hind talons, they strike their prey dead in the air. Masters of the skies they are the world’s most perfect lethal flying machine.
Since the beginning of civilization man has captured and used the falcon in the chase. Historians have indicated that it was the first animal or bird that had an effective hunting partnership with man. Initially, man used tamed falcons to procure food. Later, as society became more affluent, these raptors were used to hunt for pleasure.
Falconry, the art of hunting with falcons is said by many to be the most noble sport known to man. For centuries it was the exclusive diversion of kings and nobles. In the Middle Ages this method of the chase was taken up with ardour by almost all men of wealth. Aristocrats considered it the highest and most fascinating of any pastime.
The enchantment and mystery of the falcon darting from the hand of its master at astounding speed, then turning around and plummeting from the sky in response to a signal from him has, through the ages, held men spellbound. With strength, co-ordination, energy and physical perfection this few pounds of perfect hunting apparatus has enthralled man for thousands of years. Frank Illingworth in his book Falcons and Falconry writes:
“It is this: the pleasure in flying a falcon is derived not from the actual kill but from the style and finesse of your falcon’s battle tactics and also from training so wild and delicately balanced a bird to fly aloft at one’s bidding and again at one’s bidding return to the fist, and give a stylish battle display into the bargain.”
Falconry or hawking dates back to the earliest days of recorded history. It is believed that about 4,000 years ago, it was first practised in the open spaces of Central Asia and China. From these lands this method of hunting for food and pleasure spread to the remainder of Asia, including the Middle East.
In the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding countries, the art of falconry was enthusiastically adopted. It became a common method for hunting in these lands long before the birth of Christ. The Assyrians and ancient Egyptians considered the falcon a sacred hunting emblem. Bas-reliefs dating over 3,500 years ago have been found showing falconers from these ancient peoples carrying hawks on their fists. In the following centuries, although falconry declined and sometimes died in parts of the world, in the Arabian Peninsula it has remained a princely sport up until our times.
In Europe, the sport of hawking was barely known to the Greeks and Romans. It was only after the occupation by the Arabs of the Iberian peninsula in the 8th century that it was introduced into other parts of Europe. Later, during the Crusades, the ritualized art of falconry was learned and brought back by the returning soldiers of the cross.
While in the Middle East, the haughty European knights came to appreciate the pleasures of this aristocratic sport. They brought back to their lands the techniques, equipment, and terminology of this kingly pastime. However, the greatest boost for falconry was given in the 13th century by the emperor Frederick II, king of six kingdoms from Sicily to Germany. One of the greatest scholars in his age, he knew all the classical languages and was open-minded and tolerant regarding other peoples and religions. Although he lived in the era of the Crusades, when the Europeans were carrying religious wars to North Africa and the Middle East, he, nevertheless, had his court filled with Muslim scholars. One of the most prominent and colourful falconers in history, he laboured for 30 years, at times consulting with Arab falconers, on his famed classical work The Art of Falconry. He is credited with introducing hawking, on a large scale, into Italy and the other countries under his influence.
The European lords and gentry took on this breathtaking sport and pursued it with a passion. For centuries, reaching its peak in the 16th century, falconry flourished and became known as the sport of kings. Only the nobility had the needed leisure time and were able to afford the upkeep of falconers. For these barons, not only did hawking give relief and pleasure, but it also provided game for their tables.
In that knightly era, the gifts of falcons between kings had great diplomatic and political significance. The value of these regal birds was so highly prized that, at times, it made a difference between friendly or hostile relations in dealings among nations.
The art of falconry reached North America at the end of the 19th century. However, it was not until the 1930s that it was practised, and then, on a very small scale. Only in the last fifty years has it, to some extent, taken hold.
Being for centuries the principal sport of the wealthy, falconry was praised by men of letters and poets who wished to impress their leaders or patrons. Hence, it entered the ballads and literature of a number of nations. In England, where more than any other European country the sport has been pursued with vigour since the Crusades, dramatists and poets often used the falcon in their writings. In a romantic comedy The Falcon, Alfred Tennyson has one of his characters, the count, talking to his bird:
“My princess of the cloud, my plumed purveyor,
My far-eyed queen of the wind-thou that canst soar
Beyond the morning lark, and howsoe’er
Thy quarry wind and wheel, swoop down upon him
Eagle-like, lightning like – strike, make his feathers
Glance in mid heaven.”
Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew writes:
“My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,
And till she stoop, she must not be full-gorged,
For then she never looks upon the lure.”
In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare makes the falcon a metaphor when Juliet calls Romeo:
“Hist! Romeo, hist! 0h for a falconer’s voice,
To lure this tassel-gentle back again.”
Among the Arabs, the sport of falconry has a long literary tradition.
In odes and stories, the falcon has been glorified as being the `legendary bird of the ages’ and a `winged courageous thoroughbred’. The 8th century Baghdadi poet Abū a1-cAthāhiya wrote:
“With youths who hold the reigns of destiny like the falcons.”
Al-Hariri of Basra, an 11th century man of letters, in his Adventures of Abu Zayd, one of the most celebrated books in Arabic literature, quotes his hero Abu Zayd on his deathbed as advising his son to have the vigour and courage of the falcon.
In Europe, with the French revolution and the subsequent demise of the great estates and fencing of open lands, falconry began to die away. However, the most important factor in its near extinction was the advent of guns. In the competition between bird and gunpowder, firearms were the triumphant. The final blow which almost wiped the falcon from the face of the earth was the use of pesticides. In the U.S., no wild falcon survived east of the Rockies. This changed when laws came in for pesticides limiting their use.
There are at least 37 species of falcons who, in most cases, live in open country and are dispersed throughout the world. However, they all have common characteristics. Like humans they usually fall in love and mate only once in their lifetime. Therefore, unlike most birds, it is difficult to breed them in captivity. Rarely will a captured falcon, in a falconer’s shed, find another bird for which it has natural affection.
Although falcons are called hawks and belong to the hawk family, they are somewhat different. In the majority of cases, they hunt their prey on the wing while hawks strike their quarry on the ground. Most falcons lay from two to six eggs on cliffs or ledges in abandoned nests, or simply by scraping a hole in the ground. On the other hand, a number of the smaller species nest in trees and fields.
The female, which is much sought after by falconers, is a third larger than the male. It does most of the incubating and remains with the young until they are ready to fly. The male hunts, first to feed the nesting female, then for both his mate and the fledglings.
All species of falcons have large heads, short, hooked beaks, stubby necks, bullet shaped bodies, strong feet with hooked talons and a vision, four to five times as sharp as man – the keenest of any creature on earth. The long-pointed wings propel them on their swift powerful flights and enable them to overtake and run down their quarry from a long distance with great accuracy.
The gyrfalcon, known as the ‘noble falcon’, is the largest and strongest of the species. Its splendid appearance makes it more regal than any other type of hawk. The average female is about two feet in length and weighs a little less than four pounds. For food they eat mainly, rabbits, squirrels, weasels, and other small animals. The most northerly of the falcons, their natural home is the cold treeless lands of northern Europe, Asia, and North America. In medieval times they were the favourite of kings and were reserved for nobility. As royal hawks, they were highly valued by the aristocracy and were given as precious gifts to honoured guests.
Closely related to the gyrfalcon are the saker and lanner, twins of the prairie falcon found in the western areas of North America. The two are larger types in the family of falcons – a little smaller than the gyrfalcons. Native to the open spaces of Central Asia and the Middle East, they are strong hardy hawks. The saker is known as the ‘falcon of falcons’, and for countless centuries has inspired the poets of the desert and the steppes. The Arabs prize it highly and say that there is no better hunting hawk in the world than this species of falcon.
Both the saker and the lanner are desert falcons and were brought back to Europe by the Crusaders. The saker still carries its Arabic name ṣaqr. Well-known in medieval times, they are believed to be the first species of raptors used by man in hunting.
The peregrine, which includes the shaheen, a jungle hawk in India, is the most universal and best known of the falcons. This species is found throughout the globe and is considered the most magnificent and spectacular of the birds of prey. It is graceful, courageous, and easily tamed. About 20 inches long and weighting approximately two pounds, it has hunted for man since ancient times. Usually, the bird lives in wooded country and thrives, mostly, on other birds. Its quarry is seized and killed on the wing with a swift plunge that at times reaches 240 miles an hour. A pet and favourite of falconers, this well-known hawk is the most popular of all the raptors.
Much smaller than the peregrine is the kestrel. A beautifully shaped brightly coloured small falcon, it is found in all continents. One of the most easily tamed of all hunting hawks it is employed as a beginner by new falconers. Unlike most other falcon species, it nests in trees, buildings, or any other spot it finds convenient. Almost all its food is mice and insects which it hunts on the ground. From eight to ten inches long and weighing about eight ounces the kestrel is not the regal hawk which inspired poets.
Weighing about seven ounces, the merlin is the tiniest of all the falcons. At times labelled the pigeon hawk, this diminutive raptor is a persevering and bold bird. It lives in open country and nests in sand dunes, moors, or pastures. Its quarry is usually small birds which it hunts on the wing.
All the species of falcons mentioned, and others can be tamed and trained for hunting. However, a skilled falconer needs much time and patience to prepare his birds for the chase. He must give his entire attention to his hawks. Habits are easily fixed in falcons and what they initially learn they will never forget. However, they need continual training. Even after they begin to hunt, a few days of neglect will make them unreliable.
The best hunting falcons are taken from the eyrie (nest) when they are fledglings. In the past and even today, there are men who specialize in supplying the market with these baby raptors.
After capture, the nestling is put into a dark room or shed until it calms down. In the following few days, the falconer strokes and quietly talks to the young bird until it accepts him as the owner. During this period and for a time afterwards, the baby falcon is fed all its meals from a hand protected by a thick leather glove and gauntlet.
At the very beginning of the training a hood is introduced to blindfold the hawk. This reduces the bird to a passive state and permits it to be carried without problems of fright. Next, strips of leather called jesses are attached to the legs. A metal swivel is then attached to connect the jesses to a leash which is employed to tie the falcon to the falconer’s leather glove, or a block or perch on the ground. When the hawk is ready to take to the field, bells that aid in locating the falcon when it has made its kill, are attached to each leg above the jesses.
When the falconer is accepted by the bird, its training begins. First, the falcon is walked about hooded then the blindfold is removed and reintroduced many times. This tends to draw a bond between the trainer and the bird. Meals consisting of small strips of meat are fed to the hawk three times a day from the glove.
In the next stage, the bird is set on a block or perch, and of course, leashed. The trainer crouches a few yards away with small pieces of meat on the gloved fist. He then uses a whistle or some other signal to call the hawk who, without fail, will leap for the meat. In succeeding days, the distance is extended from 20 to 30 yards.
After the falcon has become familiar with flying to the fist for food, it is ready for the lure. This implement for bringing back the bird to the fist can be an artificial bait resembling a bird or mammal with pieces of meat attached, or a dead bird or animal. The falcon is placed on a block or perch tied to a 40-to-50-yard thin line called a creance. To attract the falcon’s attention, the lure, which is attached to a somewhat long leash, is then twitched in the nearby grass. When the falcon takes off, then lunges for the bait, it is allowed to eat the meat on the ground before being called to the fist.
In the next stage, when the hawk takes off, the trainer swings the lure above his head. After it plunges and clutches the lure it is allowed to eat the bait. From then on, the falcon is fed all its meals from the lure. After a period, the bird can be released from the leash and, if well trained, will return to the lure for its meals. From that day the lure forms the connecting link between falcon and trainer.
The ultimate goal of the falconer is to tame his bird and make it lose its fear of man. A well-trained falcon is obedient and will only hunt birds of the falconer’s choice in a manner he desires. The trainer always ensures his falcons stay healthy during the training period and are well exercised by the use of the lure. He must be patient and experienced to be able to train his bird from fledgling to hunter. According to Gilbert Blaine in his book, Falconry, man cannot become an expert in hooding and manning a falcon with less than two years of practice.
After the training is completed, the time comes for the trainer to feel the crowning thrill of falconry. When the falconer chooses his game, the hawk is un-hooded and released. Leaving the fist, it will fly around the falconer’s head a few times then soar to great heights. Circling above the prey for a few moments, it will dart down with unbelievable velocity and strike its quarry dead.
The falcon, which is never fed before the hunt, is allowed to sit on its prey for a few moments. The hawker, then approaches slowly with a little fresh meat on the gloved fist or lure. When the falcon is enticed to the fist, the falconer discreetly takes away the game. The bird is then hooded and given the head of its quarry for a meal. Buzzard, duck, geese, grouse, heron, partridge, pheasant, pigeon, and rook are all hunted in this fashion.
This method of training and hunting by hawk is, more or less, the same throughout the world. However, hunting with hawks is not in our times a thriving sport. Only in the Arabian Peninsula is it still practised on a large scale. The Arabs have cherished the falcon since the days of antiquity and have always had a far-reaching commitment to falconry. They, even today, ensure that this sport is practised in a proper way with due respect to their traditional customs. Out of the 10,000 trained falcons in the world, at least several thousands are to be found in the Arabian Peninsula. It is the one place in the globe where hawking continues to thrive.
From ancient times the Arabs were proud of the power and endurance of what they considered the noble falcon. Their admiration for this winged hunter is attested to by the names they gave it. by which they called it. Abū watāb (father of the swoop) and shahĪn (royal bird), are examples of the honour and esteem they had for this raptor. Important historical figures that fought and won against overwhelming odds were labelled falcons. cAbd al-Raḥmān I, the first Umayyad ruler of Arab Spain, was pursued by the armies of his bitter enemies, the Abbasids, through North Africa. Single-handedly, against tremendous odds, he escaped and established a kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. Spain. Due to his daring and courage, he was labelled by his archenemy Al-Manṣūr, the caliph of Baghdad, as the ‘Falcon of Quraysh’. In this the past century cAbd al-cAziz ibn Sacud with a handful of men captured the city of Riyadh, then went on to establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Because of his determination and heroic deeds, he became known as the ‘falcon of the Arabian Peninsula’.
In the eastern lands of the Arabs, more than any other place in the world today, the appeal of falconry has not faded with the passing centuries. Among the distinguished men of the Arabian Peninsula, as in the past ages, this continuing sport holds an exalted position. Horsemen dressed in white Arab robes and riding fine Arabian horses with falcons on their fists are a common sight. In most cases, the fast-flying desert houbara bustard, like the falcon a bird of the open spaces, is the main quarry. The hawk falcon must be well trained and in the best of condition to be able to bring down this spirited large bird.
In other parts of the world, falconry has in the last few decades been revived and is increasing in popularity. Almost all the western European countries, Canada and the U.S., U.S.A. have established falconry clubs which are making tremendous efforts to protect the falcon. Through their exertion people are becoming better informed as to why these historic raptors should not be allowed to disappear.
It is strange indeed, when falcons helped man in hunting game and enjoying the chase, they were cherished. However, when guns were invented and their hunting ability became obsolete, they were considered pests and predators. Hence, there was hardly a voice raised to halt their elimination. Yet, even with firearms and a number of other factors working against its survival, the falcon did not die out. The leisurely middle class, produced by the Industrial Revolution, adopted this ancient method of the chase. Also, in the last few decades, thanks to the valuable work of hunting clubs and rich patrons, it can now be bred, to some extent, in captivity. Thus, it has become possible, even with gunpowder and pollution which threatened its extinction, to save the falcon.
In many parts of the world, especially the arid western prairies of Canada and the U.S.A., whose open spaces are ideal for falconry, the popularity of the sport is increasing. In this modern revival, unlike in the medieval world, when the nobles had professional falconers, horses, game dogs and friends accompany and help them hunt, the falconer carries his own hawk and hunts by himself. From being the sport of nobility, it has become the sport of the middle classes. Thanks to this, the most regal of the raptors has not been allowed to disappear. Today, there is no question that man will allow a bird, which has fascinated and hunted with him since the beginning of time, to become extinct. George Kotsiopoulus in his book The Art and Sport of Falconry expresses the feeling of many who admire and want to preserve this bird of prey when he writes:
“…she is beautiful, swift, courageous, mysterious, beguiling
and elusive. She is, in short, magnificent”.