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The Birds Used
Birds of prey are put into two main groups
"Longwings" and "shortwings"
"Longwings" means falcons, which include The Peregrine,Saker,Gyr,Lanner,and hybrids of these to name but a few.
"Shortwings" means Hawks and Buzzards
The "true" hawks (Accipiters) include the Goshawk(pictured right) and the Sparrowhawk
The Buzzards (Buteos)correctly known as "broadwings" include the Common Buzzard and the Red Tailed Buzzard.
The most common bird flown today is without doubt The Harris Hawk (Parabuteo Unicinctus)which is halfway between Buteo and Accipiter
The bird is relatively new to falconry, not the most handsome but generally speaking the best all rounder.
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The History of falconry
Falconry started many hundreds of years ago, probbably as a means of feeding ones self, birds of prey were captured and trained by man to hunt.
The history of falconry can be traced back as long ago as 2000 BC, to the Middle and Far East. It was perhaps most popular in medieval England though, where it was the favoured field sport for over four centuries. The English probably acquired the technique of falconry from the German Saxons or from the Romans, after they had invaded.
Hunting with birds, was popular with anyone who could afford to buy and keep a bird of prey, to the extent of it being a craze. Having your own falcon was seen as a status symbol.
Todays falconry
Modern day falconry has changed only slightly from ancient times. The techniques have been passed down over the centuries through the training of apprentices by experienced falconers and by reading old and current literature.
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