Forward (by David Hancock) 9
Introduction 13
Part 1 Historical Falconry 17
Origins and Attitudes 19
Game, Vermin, Predators, and Wildlife 32
Wild Vermin to Domestication 1961 to 1987 35
Part 2 The Birds of Falconry 47
A Color Presentation of the Birds of Falconry 48
Species Accounts 113
Falcons 116
Longwings 119
American Kestrel 119
Merlin 120
Aplomado Falcon 124
Prairie Falcon 126
Peregrine Falcon 128
Gyrfalcons and Sakers 131
Other Large Falcons 135
Hawks 136
Shortwings 137
Sharp-shinned Hawk 137
Goshawk 140
Cooper's Hawk 146
Broadwings 148
Red-tailed Hawk 148
Harris' Hawk 154
Eagles 157
Aquila 157
Ferruginous Eagle 158
Golden Eagle 162
Part 3 The Art of Falconry 165
Falconry Equipment 167
Jesses 169
Bells and Bewits 171
Leashes 171
Hoods 172
Lawn Blocks and Perches 174
Interior Perches 176
Gloves 177
Lures 178
Hawking Bags or Vests 180
Catching Wild Raptors 181
The Falconer's First Bird 189
Aviary Raptors 195
The Care of Raptors 197
Food 198
Feathers 200
Imping 201
Intermewing 202
Bills and Talons 204
Regulations 204
Disease and Injury 205
Training 209
Pursuit Training 211
Basic Training 213
Accipiter Training 217
Artificial Bird Lures 219
Entering 221
Falcon Training 223
Lure-flying 226
Live Game 232
The Mystical Aspects 233
Some New Horizons 234
Non-falconrs 235
Field Falconry 239
The Falconer's Dog 239
The Falconer's Birds 242
Buteos 242
Harris' Hawk 242
Red-tailed Hawk 245
Accipiters 247
In Yarak 248
Falcons 252
Ringing Flights 255
Waiting-on Flights 256
Aquilas 263
Ferruginous Eagle 263
Golden Eagle 268
Part 4 My Falconry 271
Hawking in Southwestern Canada 273
Some Personal Experiences 273
The Hunting Birds 275
The Hunted Birds 278
The Spoilers 280
Waterfowl Hawking 282
Creeks and Streams 282
Ditches 284
Salt Marshes 286
Duck Hawking 287
Pond Hawking 290
Upland Game-bird Hawking 291
Pheasant 291
Hill Hawking 293
Chukar 293
Goshawk to Goshawk 294
Grouse 295
Gyrfalcons 297
Ducks 298
Flushing 300
The Fight 301
The New Direction 305
Domestication of the Raptors 305
Glossary 314
Annotated Suggested Reading 318
Suppliers' Listings 324
Index 328 |
