Falconry Manual

by Frank L. Beebe

A comprehensive guide to Falcons. This book is presented as a summary of practical information on the training of your hawk or falcon. It draws on my earlier works in this field: North American Falconry, 1976; and finally my major work covering the history, training and behavior of birds of prey, The Complete Falconer 1992 (Also Hancock House Publishers). The Eurasian history of falconry reaches as far back in time as the recorded history of mankind. However, in North America of which there is any record were trained and flown in the eastern United States shortly after World War 1. However, until the publication of North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks, there was no comprehensive source of information available which dealt with the techniques of either capturing or training hawks and falcons. Until some kind of administrative common-sense was made of the foregoing, especially in the United States, the writing of a popular book on falconry could not be properly undertaken. This problem arouse because prior to 1983 in the United States the fundamental question, where can I obtain a hawk or falcon? could not be clearly answered. Now, for the first time since the continent-wide protection of North America raptorial birds in the late 1960's, there is a clear answer. This answer is the right of purchase. The novice can obtain a domestic bred hawk or falcon from a raptor breeder the same way he can obtain a horse, dog, cockatiel or canary. Ownership is transferred with the payment of the purchase price. It is also rewarding that with the re-establishment of the peregrine falcon back into much of its former range, the result of captive breeding and hacking techniques pioneered by falconers, and the consequent downgrading of the bird's endangered status and the recovery of many birds of prey populations (in all likelihood this will continue to an over abundance and movement to eventually villianize the predator again) that many jurisdictions of North America again permit the capturing of wild hawks and falcons. This adds the option of providing both fresh blood lines for captive breeders and the excitement of capturing your own bird. Falconry is an ancient sport with contemporary objectives of yielding a maximum recreational return for little or no drain on the wild populations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Birds

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Jesse Eschweiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative , Frank L. Beebe focuses on information about species far more than Adrian Hallgarth

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in getting into falconry.

There is a common saying that if you ask 10 falconers the same question, you're liable to get 10 different answers. This book is no exception to that rule. Frank Beebe is not without his biases, and they show rather plainly in this text. Nevertheless, if you have a fairly broad reading scope on this subject you'll be able to pick out the bits that don't necessarily fit with the broad assumptions. For instance, I'm fairly certain Beebe has never flown a kestrel, or at least a good on. I've heard tell of people taking a hundred starlings a day with a kestrel, yet Beebe dismisses them as a hunting bird and calls them little better than a pet raptor for a young child. What?

All the same, this book is full of good information if you take it with a grain of salt, and great information if you're looking for a broad overview of falconry in general. It is a wonderful starting point that will likely help you decide whether or not this is a sport you'd like to pursue. The bibliography in the back is extensive, and NAFA itself has many of those books on their own recommended reading lists. Beebe is respected for a reason, and this book rather plainly shows why.

Helpful information - especially on raptor identification - helpful illustrations, including all equipment, lure making, and the birds themselves. This book is a great starting point, and a helpful resource to have readily on hand. A must for any beginner, or any falconer in general. You need to have the basics in mind before you can make up your own mind, after all.

Also of note: I've yet to see another book that covers all the birds one is capable of flying in North America and how they differ to the European and Asiatic birds quite as well as this book does. Very cool resource.

[Jibreel_21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a good book for those wanting to get started in falconry

[Deslni01 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewer's preface: This is the first book I have read about falconry, and at this point in my life I am merely a casual observer and information seeker, rather than an individual ready to take the plunge into apprenticeship and eventually mastery of the sport. As such, take my review with a grain of salt as I have very little knowledge to compare against or with the book.[return][return]A Falconry Manual is an excellent introductory book into the world of falconry. Written by Frank Beebe, one of the most well-respected falconers, the information comes straight from one of the most educated and experienced of North America's falconers at the time of publishing (1976). Roughly the first half of the book is an introduction to the different birds available for falconry in North America - falcons, buteos and accipiters. Each bird has at least two pages that describe its characteristics and traits, natural habitats, the type of prey and its attack methods, and how easy or difficult it is to be trained.[return][return]The rest of the book offers a glimpse into acquiring a falcon, some of the the equipment necessary and how to make them, training, and hunting with the birds. When certain aspects are different for different species of birds, the following section takes care of that. A Falconry Manual contains a lot of general and broad information about nearly every aspect of the sport, but also excludes some information (health concerns, and more specific techniques). However, he accomplishes a great deal in introducing the sport to the reader, and that is how the book should be viewed: as an introductory book to give the reader the general outline of nearly every aspect of the sport. This is an excellent book to pass around to anyone who may be slightly interested in the sport (and who wouldn't be?), and the price (between $15-20 USD) allows one to purchase two or three copies specifically for that purpose.

[Liam]

good read