Falconry for Conservation Purposes Only

Forest and Bird, Issue 312, 1 May 2004, Page 19

Falconry for Conservation Purposes Only

There are very few falconers in New Zealand today and all are associated with conservation projects permitted by the Department of Conservation. The true origins of falconry, described as ‘the art and practice of flying trained birds of prey at live quarry, are probably buried in the mists of time, but available records date the practice to around 2000 BC. The use of falcons solely to hunt live quarry is not allowed in New Zealand, but the use of

falconry techniques is proving important in the long-term conservation of the species. Debbie Stewart of the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust in Rotorua uses falconry techniques to help rehabilitate injured birds. These techniques allow birds an opportunity to pursue their natural quarry. They are used to assess and improve the bird’s fitness before releasing it back into the wild. Falconry techniques are also used with birds too injured for -. Oe eee ee ee, eee ee

release. These captive birds are subsequently used to breed chicks that are then released into the wild using ‘hacking. Finally, falconry techniques are used by the Wingspan Trust for advocacy and education via display and interactive opportunities. Giving people the chance to see a falcon up close helps to raise the public’s awareness of this wonderful bird. The Wingspan Trust can be contacted at www.wingspan.co.nz wingspan@xtra.co.nz, or 1164 Paradise Valley Road, PO Box 993, Rotorua. -S ee ees NS ee BP PP de ee ree > yy rr