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Falcons and Falconry . School Links Programme . A falcon is a bird. A bird has light, hollow bones No teeth and use their beaks to break up food Feathers insulate and protect their bodies Lays eggs. A falcon is a bird of prey. A bird of prey eats meat They use their feet to capture prey
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Falcons and Falconry School Links Programme
A falcon is a bird • A bird has light, hollow bones • No teeth and use their beaks to break up food • Feathers insulate and protect their bodies • Lays eggs
A falcon is a bird of prey • A bird of prey eats meat • They use their feet to capture prey • Excellent vision • Sharp hooked beak • Powerful feet with sharp talons
Types of birds of prey • Eagles • Osprey • Kites • Hawks • Buzzards • Harriers • Vultures • Falcons
Characteristics of falcons • Powerful, fast flyers • Tapered tails • Notched beak for tearing food • Do not build their own nests • Dark eyes
Types of falcons • There are approximately 37 species of falcons • Some examples are • Peregrine • Gyrfalcon • Kestrel • Saker Falcon
Falconry • Falconry is the art of hunting wild animals, for food or sport, with trained birds of prey. • Falconry probably began on the Steppes of Asia 3000-2000BC • Falconry is one of the oldest sports in the world
Falconry • Falcons are not the only birds of prey used in falconry • Eagles are used to catch large prey • Hawking is another term for falconry – often used when a hawk is flown
The Falconer • It takes many years of practise to become a skilled falconer • The falconer trains the falcon and a close bond is formed between falconer and bird. • Falconry is a humane way for hunting
The art of falconry • This photograph shows a falconer using a lure • A lure is an imitation of a bird or animal that the bird of prey hunts in the wild • A lure is swung around the falconers head, the bird will swoop to catch the lure • The lure can be used for exercising the bird or to call the bird of prey back to the falconer
Decline of falconry • Falconry declined with the invention of the gun • Birds of prey were no longer needed to catch food for people • Falconry survived though to present day as it became a sport of the nobility
Falconry today • Falconry is now a popular pastime in many countries • 78 countries were represented at the recent International Festival of Falconry • In 2010 falconry was officially recognised as part of world human cultural heritage • Falconry is used to control pest birds and animals in urban areas, landfills, commercial buildings, and airports.
Acknowledgements Many thanks to the following photographers for images used in this PowerPoint : • Chris Johnson • Stig Olsen • Linda Wright • Andres Lopez Peinado • Andrew Lopez Sanchez • Berta Peinado Ramirez • Lee O’Dwyer • Andrew Dixon • Rob Palmer • Funded by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi and supported by Mongolian Ministry of Nature Environment and Tourism. Implemented by International Wildlife Consultants , UK and Wildlife and Conservation Center, Mongolia