Daily Archives: September 20, 2008
Alice- A female Sparrowhawk
As I am writing this I am also looking out the window at Alice in her aviary, sitting as usual next to her mate in an open fronted pen, surveying as only a queen can, over what she knows to be her territory. She is nine years old this year, and looks out over the scratching chickens and watches the children and dogs play with disinterest. Further along the row of aviaries are other hawks and falcons I have hunted with over the same distant hills and fields, but none of them can claim to own the view as she can. Continue reading
The burden of weight
When I was a beginner I knew everything. Now as I learn more about falconry I realise just how little I do know. Falconry, I read, had not changed in thousands of years. I enjoyed reading about the different aspects … Continue reading
Only a bird – Alice
The black cloud is darker today. It’s August and the sun is shining but I can feel the weight of a cloud hanging over me as I take her up in my hands. I know she is gone as I … Continue reading
Lamping
“Lamping!” “You don’t do that, do you?’’ I once sat at a table with some well known British falconers, purists from ‘Ye Olde Scool of Fauconrie’- you know the type, when I happened to mention that my female Redtail was … Continue reading
A good beginner’s bird
‘Hello, my name is …………, I want to get into falconry and I was half thinking of getting a ……. (in this space put anything from a bat falcon to a lammergeyer), but, the only birds available seem to be … Continue reading
Hoodwinked!
“What’s the little hat on the bird’s head for?” “Ah that’s just to protect his eyes so they don’t get damaged when he’s flying” “Hoodwinked” another falconry word that found its way into everyday usage. I looked it up in … Continue reading