The UK Falconry and Hawking Event 2011

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With the advent of the Festival of Falconry in 2007 and then again in 2009, it was clear that a specific falconry event was something the United Kingdom needed. With the festival moved overseas and the date deep inside the UK hawking season, The United Kingdom Falconers Club and The International Centre for Birds of Prey felt the time was right to launch a specific falconry event for all UK falconers.

 

Based at the spiritual home of UK falconry and organised by falconers for falconers, ‘The UK Falconry & Hawking Event’ (sponsored by Kiezebrink), aims to be an annual grass roots meeting for all UK clubs, breeders, manufacturers and falconers. ‘The Event’ will deliver an intimate, low key and unifying celebration of the diverse range of hawking occurring in the UK today.

 

‘The Event’ is not about commercial enterprise or profit, but about safeguarding all of our collective futures. It will hopefully provide a place that serious falconers and their families can attend, put factions aside and share and build bridges for the greater good.

 

As such, the single most important aspect of ‘The Event’ will be the participation of UK and overseas club members. The members of any club are the backbone of successful falconry; as such each club will be given pride of place in the special UK Club Marquee. The aim is to encourage communication and discussion between members. The International Club Marquee has been kindly sponsored by Gamehawker and there will be clubs from mainland Europe and North America in attendance.

 

Being a specific falconry event we have focused on sharing as much knowledge as possible. The range of displays and seminars throughout the day are geared to what the practical everyday falconer requires. The seminars cover a wide ranging series of topics.

 

Nigel King will be giving his first ever UK talk on Black Spars in South Africa. Nigel’s firsthand knowledge and enthusiasm will astound those who have a pre-conceived idea about the limitations of these intense accipiters. Slipping distances and flight styles will re-evaluate tired arguments and false information about these hawks.

 

Lee Featherstone is one of the UK’s top Goshawk breeders and having now imported a fresh bloodline from Europe he will be giving an in depth talk on the Artificial Insemination of Goshawks. Lee’s talk will be in support of his recently published book on the same topic.

 

Craig Hendee is a highly regarded falconer from North America. Craig has a vast amount of intricate knowledge regarding the trapping of all species of raptor; but particularly those from the America’s. His talk will be on the various techniques used when Trapping Falcons in North and Latin America.

 

Ben Crane spent time with the falconers of Sindh Province in Pakistan. With the advent of recent political activities and flooding disaster, it is un-likely that western falconers will be able to hawk in Pakistan for some time. Ben will be giving his first ever talk on Trapping and Hunting Accipiters in Pakistan.

 

Pete Smith: Is a highly regarded UK falconer, author and micro falcon specialist. Pete has spent many years developing his own highly technical style and will be on hand to present a demonstration of his Kiting Techniques and various falconry adventures.

 

David Fox is a well known and stalwart member of the British Falconer Clubs Eagle Falconry contingent. His motivation and knowledge is second to none and David will be giving a talk on how to Train and Fly Eagles in the United Kingdom.

 

These seminars will be interspersed by informative and educational talks from Neil Forbes. Back Pack fitting demonstrations by the UKFC’s Tommy Miles and other various equipment, LANTRA award and incubation sessions.

 

There will be ample opportunity before the start of the season to pick up last minute bargains and much needed pieces of furniture and equipment. ‘The Event’ has a variety of the UK and Europe’s best and most reliable falconry equipment and food retailers.

 

From Gamehawker, UB falconry, Ben Long, Falconry Innovations, Master of the Mews, Marshall Telemetry, Tiny Loc, Chris Payne, Ian Vance, International Falconers Magazine, The Falconry & Raptor Conservation Magazine, Falconry World, Mac Falconry, The Hawker Press and beyond, any and all falconry equipment, clothing or food can be purchased over the weekend.

 

In the main arena and throughout the day there will be displays aimed at the general public and which show display falconry in an informative and positive light. Stalwarts of the circuit include Jemima Parry-Jones, Gary Bidiss, Terry Large and Jonathan Marshall. From the Shropshire Hawking Club, Dave Whittingham has provisionally agreed to fly a cast of Merlins to the lure. There will also be dog handling and dog display work from first class falconer, Mike Roberts of Miliscer Gundogs.

 

For those with a broader interest in falconry related culture there will be an Art Marquee celebrating the work of Carl Bass, David Rampling, Steve Greaves, Martin Hayward Harris, Neil Davies and many more besides. Other attractions include a hood making competition, children’s entertainment, food court and full access to over 300 different species of raptor inside the International Centre for Birds of Prey.

 

Because ‘The Event’ is about a shared passion that builds bridges, we will be having a free ‘open invitation’ Bar-B-Q and live music for the evening entertainment. If the weather is good there will be an open air cinema showing falconry related films. A central spot with music, a roaring fire and good food and drink is the best way to share stories and invite fellow falconers along to field meets across Europe and the UK.

 

Even with the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage bid being successful, the future of UK falconry is not certain. The availability of cheap hawks, the surge in badly run forums and the lack of sensible legislation to guide those new to the sport means we have a collective responsibility to safeguard falconry in the United Kingdom. ‘The Event’ has been set up to bring decent falconers together to swap and share ideas, talk, drink, eat and unite the community. UK falconers need to show a united front and provide much needed funds for the Hawk Board and those fighting to keep our sport alive. So if you care, are motivated and you want to make a difference, then we look forward to welcoming you to your event, one which we have called The UK Falconry and Hawking Event .

 

 

 

Feel free to take a look at the website www.falconryhawking.co.uk. It would be nice to see any of you that can make it over, camping will be available Saturday night with plenty going on