Date: 10/05/09
Contact: Margie Klein
Phone: 702-486-5127 x 3502

FALCONRY OFFERS UNIQUE CHALLENGE

Nevada master falconer Alfonso Uceda first became interested in falconry as a 14-year old in his native Spain and like many people found the talents of raptors (birds of prey) fascinating. Now, more than 30 years later Uceda continues to practice this unique hunting specialty. He is also a breeder of birds used in this centuries-old art.

Falconry is one part animal husbandry, one part finesse, and three parts sweat. Raising a raptor to follow your cues and chase down game can be very rewarding but also frustrating at times. While hunting is not generally considered a spectator sport, falconry
provides viewers with an unparalleled opportunity to watch some of nature’s most skillful hunters at work.

In Nevada falconers may use their birds to hunt upland game birds and rabbits during the annual hunting season. The practice of falconry requires a state hunting license, both a federal and a state falconry license or “raptor permit” and authorized bird bands. An upland game bird stamp also is required to hunt upland game birds. State and federal waterfowl stamps, most commonly called a “duck stamp” are required when pursuing waterfowl.

Kristy Knight, a NDOW game warden, said falconers are subject to the same regulatory checks as any hunter in the field, including inspection of licenses, bag limits and equipment.
Apprentice falconer Dick Benoit, has only just begun his career as a falconer, getting his start after retiring from the University of Nevada Las Vegas Public Relations Department a few years ago. Like Uceda, Benoit became interested in falconry as a young man in his early teens, but through the years life seemed to get in the way and he had to put off pursuit of the sport.

That all changed after his retirement and Benoit finally found the time to research falconry and to contact local falconers to learn more. Before he could get an apprentice license, Benoit had to get a sponsor. Then he had to pass an exam required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The exam covered bird biology, bird behavior and how to keep a bird.
He studied for 6 months and even shadowed veteran falconers while they trapped chicks, and practiced flying trained birds.

Then the time came when Benoit was able to obtain his own raptor, and after securing the necessary permits from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) he obtained a red-tailed hawk chick and brought it to NDOW for banding.
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A falconry license is not something the average person with an interest in birds can easily acquire; the process necessitates an intense commitment. Two years as an apprentice are required before someone can become a general falconer, and an additional five years are required thereafter to become a master falconer.

Potential new falconers need to know that it requires incredible dedication, to the point of being a way of life, Uceda said. Many other things in a person’s life -- family included -- will suffer a loss of attention due to the time taken up by the birds. Then there is the monetary cost. Basic equipment such as a leash, jess, hood, glove, swivel, and bells can cost hundreds of dollars. Add to that the cost of shelter, perches, food and general care, and the investment can be in the thousands of dollars, he added.

“Falconry is voluntary slavery of man towards a bird,” said Uceda. “The most important thing that I would tell people when they are interested in falconry is that these birds are not pets.”

The first real test of a falconer’s dedication is obtaining a bird, which can sometimes
take weeks. Depending on the species desired, a great deal of travel may be involved. Goshawks are found in the Ruby Mountains among the quaking aspen and older pine trees. Cooper’s hawks can be found at lower elevations near water. Then there is the climbing and the capture, all to be done without falling and injuring one’s self or the bird.

Once acquired, one of the first things that the bird will need is a “mew,” a special housing unit to protect it from the extremes of weather and climate. The mew needs to be constructed according to specifications for each species. The smallest mew is eight feet tall, eight feet wide and eight feet long. Also needed are water, misters, fences, and temperature control. The birds must be tended to daily. “Mews must be inspected prior to the falconer taking possession of a bird,” Knight said.

Another significant commitment involves tending the bird through its molt each summer. From May or June and through August, raptors shed their old feathers and grow new ones. The molting process is a sensitive time for these birds. They need to be kept at the right temperature, fed properly, and protected from stress. Any difficulty they experience at this time could result in “fret marks” on the feathers, which will affect their ability to fly. The old saying, “don’t fret,” is actually a falconry term.

Hunting with birds of prey is done where wild game is plentiful and accessible to the raptors, though it may take some time for falconers and their birds to get in tune with the game. Birds are flown from about 4:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. every day during the open hunting
season. Jackrabbit season is year-round, and they are hunted by falconers throughout the fall and winter. Goshawks, Harris hawks and red-tailed hawks are the most popular birds used for these hunts. Peregrine falcons and their hybrids are used for hunting waterfowl. American kestrels, because of their small size, cannot be used to pursue most upland game. Microhawking is the art of sending these smaller birds after small mammals and birds, and even dragonflies and other insects.

The success rate for all prey species is usually around 30 percent. Uceda noted that older jackrabbits are experienced around the raptors and know how to dodge them. When a bird is successful at capturing its prey, the falconer often has to hike long distances to retrieve their bird, which sits with its prey where it was taken. Luckily the raptor does not immediately eat the game it hunts. A small “treat” of a leg or head from the prey animal is given to the bird. Then the falconer has the choice of preparing the game for himself or holding onto it to feed the bird in the summer.

In addition to flying their birds for hunting purposes, falconers may also fly birds strictly for recreation. Although there is no official falconry club here, the 15 to 20 falconers in Southern Nevada do congregate for events and sharing. A group of them made a presentation at the Wings and Wildlife Festival in Laughlin in March. They “weathered” their birds in an area on the Colorado River, and over a hundred people were able to admire and learn about the birds.

More information on falconry can be obtained from the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the North American Falconers Association.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.