Falcon Fever: A Falconer in the Twenty-first Century

by Tim Gallagher

What is so compelling about falconry? Tim Gallagher mines his lifelong obsession with falcons for an answer in this engaging volume interweaving memoir, history, and travelogue. An entire subculture of the sport exists outside the mainstream of American society, consisting of obsessed individuals who still use the ancient training techniques and language of falconry. Gallagher finds that his personal story connects on many levels with that of Frederick II, the thirteenth-century Holy Roman Emperor, legendary falconer, and notorious freethinker who brought the full wrath of the medieval Church down upon his dynasty. While following in Frederick’s footsteps through southern Italy, Gallagher ponders his own history as well. What salve to his spirit did falconry provide when it ignited his passion at age twelve? Beset by a turbulent childhood dominated by a brutal and violent father, Gallagher turned to this sport for emotional release. He offers us a unique glimpse into contemporary falconry, and the result is a surprisingly frank and revealing personal story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Birds, Memoir, Nature, Animals

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Best known for being one of the rediscoverers of the ivory-billed woodpecker (which was believed to be extinct since the 1940s) and writing THE GRAIL BIRD, author Tim Gallagher has another passion that has driven him since childhood -- the ancient sport of falconry. Gallagher's most recent adventure -- detailed in his new book, FALCON FEVER -- was to follow in the footsteps of 13th-century Emperor Frederick II -- a scientist, architect, poet, musician, and all-around Renaissance man 200 years before the births of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Frederick was also the greatest falconer who ever lived. His talks are illustrated with photographs of Frederick's spectacular castles and hunting areas, stunning hand-painted illustrations from his illuminated manuscript on falconry, and pictures of modern falconers hunting in the same style as Frederick II."

Reviews

[Dlmrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, and parts of the second. When he integrates his early years with his burgeoning passion for falconry, it's very compelling, and he shares plenty of entertaining anecdotes. The second half loses steam, especially as he travels through Italy on what sounds like a pretty bad trip. I wish that this part had either been much shorter or more committed to internal revelations. When he opens up, it can be effective, but much of it is a list of his bad travel experiences following Frederick II's life.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite writing style, but the numerous stories and unusual information contained within make it still very interesting, so I finished it quickly!

[Ted Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've read this year, and it came as a complete surprise. I had no previous interest in falconry, but I was familiar with Tim Gallagher's role in the rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker and had enjoyed reading his book, THE GRAIL BIRD, which details the behind-the-scenes events that led to finding that iconic species. I had also seen Gallagher speak at Cornell once, and he seemed interesting and passionate about his work. I picked up FALCON FEVER purely out of curiosity.

I'm not sure exactly what my expectations were, but FALCON FEVER completely exceeded them. The book is broken into two main parts--"My Back Pages" and "My Frederick II Year"--and in some ways it's like two books in one. The first half is a memoir covering his life up to age 19, and it's a harrowing story, as compellingly written as Tobias Wolff's THIS BOY'S LIFE, and even more grim, as Gallagher attempts to cope with a violent, unpredictable (and often drunk) father, who frequently terrorizes his family. But Gallagher finds solace in nature, escaping for hours at a time to run in the fields with his dog. He takes up falconry at the age of 12, and it becomes a grand obsession as he strives to develop an intimate relationship with the wildest, freest creatures on Earth.

At this time, Gallagher discovers Frederick II, a thirteenth-century Holy Roman Emperor and a Renaissance man 200 years before Leonardo da Vinci. He was also perhaps the greatest falconer who ever lived, and wrote a massive tome on the subject that Gallagher devoured as a preteen. But life was tough for him. He spent the last couple of years of high school working graveyard shift at factories, trying to help support his family after they fled from his father, and he often fell asleep in class.

This was in the 1960s, and like many teens in his generation, Gallagher was deeply affected by the Viet Nam war and the alternative culture that became so pervasive then. He and his friends began experimenting with drugs, and then, in his late teens, he was caught up in a drug sting and sent to jail for months. This was the most harrowing part of the book for me. By then, you feel like you really know who this kid is, and a cellblock is the last place on Earth where he belongs. He was so naive and innocent; it was like Billy Budd thrown into a den of wolves. His portrait of life in prison is unforgettable--the strange people he met; the prison culture; amazing. But Gallagher endures and becomes stronger for it.

The book then jumps more than 35 years. Gallagher is 55 years old, the same age as Frederick II was when he died, and he decides to spend a year intensely involved in falconry, visiting famous falconers in Wyoming, Nebraska, and other places in America as well as in Britain and Europe. He also travels through southern Italy and Sicily, retracing the steps of Frederick II. Toward the end of this section, the two parts of his life come together in a moving climax.

I highly recommend this book.

[Crystal Sarakas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting mix of travelogue, history, memoir and naturalist writing. Tim Gallagher writes about his own love of falconry, with a look into his past and his struggles as a young man with his abusive father. There's also a lot about Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor from the 1200s who also was an avid falconer. Gallagher spent a year "chasing Frederick's ghost" and the second part of the book mixes his travels as a falconer with his travels in Italy as he follows Frederick II's footsteps.

I enjoyed the glimpse into the life of a falconer and appreciated the history and personal journey of the author.

[Liz Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really two books in one. The first half, about the author's troubled youth and his burgeoning interest in falconry, is fascinating. It's the kind of thing where you wonder, how do kids ever get interested in this? I learned that falconers/hawkers actually take baby hawks from the nest, a little upsetting when you think of how protective mama sparrows are of their babies. The second half is about his contemporary falconry and travels - that half is a snoozer! All it is is lists of locations and names of falconers and their birds. The first is definitely worth reading though.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Gallagher's Falcon Fever is a good if somewhat odd book. The author relates some great stories about his falconry experience - the best parts of the book. He also seeks to understand his own past, and his search for peace is also an important aspect. These parts speaks to many of us who use our own obsessions to fill holes in our souls. His travelogue about his trip to Italy and Sicily seeking a connection with Emperor Frederick II seems disjointed with the rest of the book. I'm a big Frederick II fan, myself - but I would have liked it to be its own story, with much more development. All in all, though, this is a good book about a great birder and falconer.

[L Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man, his demons and a history of falconry

At the end of this book, I am better for having read it. I wanted a story, a written experience of falconry and I got that and some.
It also was a bit of a travelogue and although I appreciated the author's passion for his "why" of traveling to these locations, It was a lot.
I appreciated the author's intimacy with the reader and his willingness to share his frustrations and vulnerabilities. I felt like I got to know him.
Sometimes, his transitions were rough and I was scratching my head but within a paragraph or two I got it.
If you're curious about Falconry, this can help you understand it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my bird club book club. Gallagher had a fascinating early life, and I was astounded to learn how early he decided to be a falconer. I wish he had told the read more about falconry because I didn't always understand the terms he used to describe flights. I got lost in the chapters set in Italy. A map would have been helpful. After I finished the book, I offered it to some acquaintances who are falconers. They said they had read it and didn't care for it.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

About half-way through this book I wondered how he could keep talking on topic of falcons without making the reading dry. Surprisingly enough, the very next chapter was about him selling the reefer in his teenage years and the resulting five months spent in jail. The book is a mix of his rough personal life and his passion for falconry, making for an interesting read.

[Dot · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is heartening to read about a young man from a difficult childhood, with a passion for falcons, turning that passion into a successful career. I recently attended a panel of successful, strong women, and all of them stressed "passion" for what they were doing. And he succeeded despite his public school education...he spent hours in the library reading up on his avocation.

[Allanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I really did.

But I just wasn't in the mood to get through it. I skimmed a little and will give it a try again sometime.

I would love to try falconry a try. The raptor birds are gorgeous.

[Brian M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about a boy who becomes a falconer. The boy becomes a man and then an old man. Reflections on life, birding, and history are abound in this book. I enjoyed it as a night time read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave up on this book. Realized I am looking for more history of falconry, especially 16th to 19th century.

[Bob Peru · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little too much about his drunken father and all, but the falconry parts were great. and he's a good writer.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok for a bus ride when you are trapped and have nothing better to do/read.

[The Lady Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not an instruction manual on falconry but one man's experience with it. There are some dark parts since he goes into prison and stuff, but otherwise it's a pretty good book.

[timv · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was in need of some serious editing. The authors use of superlatives wore on me. The part I most enjoyed was his tales of growing up and discovering falconry.

[Jan Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy duty falconry information. Interesting life story from Gallagher.

[Bradley Voyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story, linking the past to the present and hope for the future.