Hunting with birds of prey: A primer on this ancient and thrilling sport

THE BIRDS OF PREY

Falconry is the sport of hunting wild quarry with birds of prey, or raptors, which includes falcons, hawks and eagles. It has been practised for many thousands of years, reaching its pinnacle in Medieval times when the aristocracy embraced the sport. Even now, falconry continues to enjoy a small community of devotees (see sidebar “Falconry folks”).

A raptor used for falconry is not a pet, but rather an important member of a hunting team that also includes the falconer and typically one or more dogs. Not all birds of prey are suitable for falconry, however; it depends on whether the raptor’s style of hunting and typical prey are compatible with the sport and the interests of the falconer.

For example, large falcons are ideal if the quarry is primarily waterfowl or upland game birds, as is the case on the Canadian prairies. Smaller falcons, such as the merlin, are held in high esteem simply because of their dramatic pursuit flights, even when the quarry is only a small bird such as a sparrow or starling. Hawks and eagles are more suited to hunting mammalian prey such as rabbits and squirrels, which are often found in areas close to large urban centres. Then there’s the centuries-old practice of hunting foxes with golden eagles on the Asian steppes, which has been highlighted recently in several documentaries.

In many areas where permitted, wild raptors can be taken from the nest when they are young, or trapped during the fall migration, for use in falconry. However, more and more falconry birds are now produced through captive breeding. In the mid-1900s, for example, falconers developed techniques to breed peregrine falcons in captivity when their populations were threatened by pesticides. This included the production of hybrids among species, sometimes providing falconers with birds specifically suited to their needs.

Today, in fact, many falconers prefer to fly hybrids between peregrines and gyrfalcons. That’s because the peregrine is noted for its tendency to “wait on,” circling high above its intended quarry, then providing a spectacular, high-speed stoop. The gyrfalcon, meanwhile, provides the size (it is the largest of the falcons) and the hardiness of an Arctic resident, which helps when the temperatures drop below -20°C on the prairies.

THE PREY

In the flat lands of western Canada, ducks and geese are the most common prey hunted with large falcons, with the abundance of small ponds most years providing ample opportunities. The most challenging of all western Canadian prey species is the sharp-tailed grouse, a formidable quarry for falcons. Sharpies are big, strong, fast birds, yet still highly manoeuvrable. They have the ability, unlike the pheasant, to fly long distances, and if your falcon is not in great shape, it won’t keep up. Some hunters might be surprised by the way sharptails respond when being attacked by an avian predator, compared with their rather slow flap-and-glide response to being flushed under the gun.

As for eastern Canada with its more forested areas, it sees more falconers using birds such as red-tailed hawks and goshawks to pursue rabbits and squirrels.