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As far as “cruelty” to the falcon is concerned, it is obvious that the 
health and well being of the birds are of prime importance if the falcon 
is to fly well. Anyone who has examined the birds in the care of a serious 
falconer will have observed their excellent condition, and will also have 
noted that such birds seldom have even so much as a single feather broken. 
Sometimes people express concern at the birds being tethered. Yet, 
wild hawks or owls will sit on a given perch for hours on end. Trained 
birds are flown free almost daily, and at this time they are absolutely 
free to leave the falconer and his environment. The suggestion that the 
birds return only because of hunger is also unfounded: many of us have 
had birds return fully fed. (In one instance a falcon returned to the fal- 
coner’s house carrying the remainder of her prey.) 
In some respects falconry is similar to hunting with a well-trained dog 
in that the performance of the animal is of great importance—in falconry, 
of more importance—than the quarry. As a “field sport” falconry, admittedly, 
has a low harvest; yet it provides many hours of enjoyable recreation with 
many flights per head of quarry. 
Edward Fitch, of Arlington Heights, who prepared this explanation 
of falconry especially for THE AUDUBON BULLETIN, brings along 
impressive credentials. He is Central Director, North American 
Falconers Association; Director, Great Lakes Falconers Association, 
and a member of the Inland Bird Banding Association. In January, 
he was one of three Arlington Heights licensed bird-banders who 
succeeded in capturing a rare Arctic Snowy Owl in that suburb. 
They later released the bird in northern Wisconsin. 
Public relations and public education are but two of the broad problems 
faced by serious falconers in the United States. The major specific prob- 
lems are: 
(1) Thoughtless shooting of raptors in nearly all the 50 states regard- 
less of specific legislation protecting the birds of prey. (As a result the 
falconer is continually faced with the concern that his birds will be shot. 
This has happened many times in this state. In Illinois, during November, 
1967, a falconer’s bird was shot by a hunter in the falconer’s presence.) 
(2) Activities of the untutored beginner or would-be pet keeper. (Too 
often these people are referred to as “falconers,” and their abuse frequently 
provides the basis for unwarranted criticism of the sport.) 
Recent concern over the sudden decline of several species of raptors 
has brought a need for more research into the birds of prey. Therefore, 
reasearch into domestic breeding is vital so that the species would not 
be lost. (It is realized that it will take several years to reduce the effects 
of the chlorinated hydrocarbons now in the environment, and it is entirely 
possible that these chemicals may be the major decimating factor in some 
species.) Accordingly, several falconers are now cooperating in an attempt 
to breed the species in captivity. These are under close observation and ex- 
perimentation in terms of light factors, feeding cycles, and types of 
enclosures. 
