Falconry

What is Hawking?

Hawking is to hunt game with a trained Bird of Prey. The hunt itself does not separate much from the hunting of wild Birds of Prey. 
The only difference is the trained bird has learnt to accept the falconer as a helper in catching food. The falconer does not teach the Bird of Prey to kill, killing is a normal instinct the birds has. 
Hawking is not just keeping Birds of Prey, a falconer is obligated to keep his bird fit, by flying regularly.

Many perceive hawking as a glamorous and exclusive sport for Royals and Arab oil sheiks, but this is not the case. All members of society is represented within falconry.

 
The History of Falconry

Falconry is one of the oldest ways of hunting, and can be traced about 4000 years back in time. In Denmark falconry has been traced back to the 5th century.  Several Danish Kings has over time practiced falconry. The Royal Danish Falconry was founded in the 1600th century on Frederiksberg. Since then Falconry has been anonymous in Denmark.

 
Birds and Quarry

The falconer traditionally splits up Birds of Prey in three groups. Longwings (falcons), Shortwing (hawks), and Broadwings (buzzards and eagles).
The traditional falconry birds of northern Europe are: Gyrfalcon, Peregrine falcon, Merlin, Goshawk and Sparrowhawk.

The exotic birds are: Saker falcon, Lanner falcon, Lugger falcon, Prarie falcon, Harris Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk.

The traditional quarry are partrigde, pheasants, ducks, crows, rabbits and hares.