Falcons and Falconry School Links Programme

A falcon is a bird

• A bird has light, hollow bones

• No teeth and use their beaks to break up food

• Feathers insulate and protect their bodies

• Lays eggs

A falcon is a bird of prey

• A bird of prey eats meat

• They use their feet to capture prey

• Excellent vision

• Sharp hooked beak

• Powerful feet with sharp talons

Types of birds of prey

• Eagles

• Osprey

• Kites

• Hawks

• Buzzards

• Harriers

• Vultures

• Falcons

Characteristics of falcons

• Powerful, fast flyers

• Tapered tails

• Notched beak for tearing food

• Do not build their own nests

• Dark eyes

Types of falcons

There are approximately 37 species of falcons

Some examples are

• Peregrine

• Gyrfalcon

• Kestrel

• Saker Falcon

Falconry• Falconry is the art of

hunting wild animals, for food or sport, with trained birds of prey.

• Falconry probably began on the Steppes of Asia 3000-2000BC

• Falconry is one of the oldest sports in the world

Falconry• Falcons are not the

only birds of prey used in falconry

• Eagles are used to catch large prey

• Hawking is another term for falconry – often used when a hawk is flown

The Falconer

• It takes many years of practise to become a skilled falconer

• The falconer trains the falcon and a close bond is formed between falconer and bird.

• Falconry is a humane way for hunting

The art of falconry

• This photograph shows a falconer using a lure

• A lure is an imitation of a bird or animal that the bird of prey hunts in the wild

• A lure is swung around the falconers head, the bird will swoop to catch the lure

• The lure can be used for exercising the bird or to call the bird of prey back to the falconer

Decline of falconry

• Falconry declined with the invention of the gun

• Birds of prey were no longer needed to catch food for people

• Falconry survived though to present day as it became a sport of the nobility

Falconry today

• Falconry is now a popular pastime in many countries

• 78 countries were represented at the recent International Festival of Falconry

• In 2010 falconry was officially recognised as part of world human cultural heritage

• Falconry is used to control pest birds and animals in urban areas, landfills, commercial buildings, and airports.

AcknowledgementsMany thanks to the following photographers for images used in this PowerPoint :

• Chris Johnson• Stig Olsen• Linda Wright• Andres Lopez Peinado• Andrew Lopez Sanchez• Berta Peinado Ramirez• Lee O’Dwyer• Andrew Dixon• Rob Palmer

• Funded by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi and supported by Mongolian Ministry of Nature Environment and Tourism. Implemented by International Wildlife Consultants , UK and Wildlife and Conservation Center, Mongolia