An Exciting Adventure at Pacific Northwest Raptors

Birds of prey have long captivated the imagination of mankind. These striking yet graceful hunters of the air display some of the most impressive acrobatics and strategies in the animal kingdom. Swooping down on their prey from dizzying heights at incredible speeds with amazing accuracy, raptors continue to awe, thrill and inspire us even after centuries of admiration.

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Falconry Part 2: The Basics

Most falconers would agree that the ancient art of falconry requires plenty of patience, perseverance and time. Training birds of prey (raptors) is a lengthy and complex process, but can be extremely rewarding. With the goal of protecting the birds, most countries have strict laws with regard to the capturing and keeping of raptors, requiring that training be done under the supervision of a licensed falconer. When one considers that many important training details vary between species of raptors, individual raptors, as well as to where and when it is best to undertake training, it is clear that consulting a professional falconer is essential for the raptor as well as the would-be falconer.

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Falconry Part 1: Origins and Applications

Falconry is a sport that involves the training of birds of prey to hunt game for their trainers. Although not all birds of prey are falcons, the previous use of the term “hawker” when hawks were used for hunting has come to commonly be used as a term describing traveling traders. For this reason the term “hawker” has fallen into disuse, with “falconer” and “falconry” applying to the sport irrespective of the species of bird used.

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