Game Bird Farmers and Falconers
By Kitty Tolson Carroll
Game bird farmers and falconers historically have been at odds with each other. Raptors, especially great horned owls, have harassed game bird breeders for centuries. In response, many have used lethal control of raptor "pests," by using pole traps, by shooting, and such means.
Such methods are now illegal. Nowadays, if the general public found out that a game bird breeder used such methods, there would be a major outcry. Lethal control methods for raptors must not occur -- the negative publicity from such activities could put some of the game farmers out of business. Yet for some game bird breeders, lethal control of raptors could be worth the risk (we've all heard of the s.s.s. method of pest control: "Shoot, Shovel & Shut-up").
Some game bird farmers are pushing for an allowance for lethal control of raptors on their farms (see March, 2002 Wildlife Harvest, Vol. 33, No. 3). While I feel that using lethal control on raptors probably would have little impact on raptor populations, the public relations nightmare we all would undergo if this came to pass, I feel, would adversely affect hunting sports everywhere. I feel that the negative image that lethal control can give the general public is far more devastating to game bird farmers than the losses of their birds in the first place.
A Modest Proposal
My proposal is that game bird farmers and falconers work together to lower the impact of wild raptors on their livelihoods. Once or twice, I've mentioned this cooperation to fellow falconers. Several have said they don't want to deal with "canned hunting preserves."
My response is, "What do you think bagged quarry is? Where do you think the chukkar or quail you released under your falcon originally came from?"
Remember, bagged quarry is strictly illegal in Great Britain. That has come about because of the negative impression the mostly urban public got from the idea of setting up such an artificial "hunt." Like it or not, those virulent anti-hunting and animal rights trends which started across the Atlantic have reached our shores. They have been very active and vocal in the U.S. for about 20 years.
I see a mutual need between game bird producers and falconers. Breeders need the expertise of a licensed falconer to assist them with problem raptors, while falconers need game bird farmers to NOT travel the route toward lethal control, for our own well-being in the public eye.
Let me list just a few ways falconers can help game bird farmers: falconers can legally trap and remove offending raptors; we can recommend housing improvements and alternative facilities to better protect the young game birds; we can help them discover ways to provide a barrier net that the raptor will hit before it hits the pens themselves (causing real havoc and stress to the game birds); we can also direct that the farmers set up a pigeon loft away from their game bird pens to distract the hawks and owls away from the "cash crop."
As many falconers know, pigeons are more self-sufficient than game birds, and they are not nearly as much labor or overhead involved in keeping a pigeon loft. As many of us have also experienced, the flashy pigeons will often be targeted by raptors before other birds.
They key is to educate the breeder that he/she needs to modify all facilities -- indeed his or her very approach to game bird farming -- to minimize future losses.
Getting Down to Basics
Great horned owls (and barred owls) like to sit on pens at night, panicking the birds within. The owls then pull body parts through the enclosure. Hawks sometimes do this in the daytime. I've spoken with several biologist/falconers about this issue, and the primary way we've come up with to prevent this very serious and real problem is to use a double-netting system for the pens. The first layer of netting is for confining the game birds. Next, the facility should leave a six-foot dead space. Finally the whole is enclosed by a canopy net to keep a sufficient distance between marauding raptors and the pens themselves. Another facility improvement that I'd highly recommend is for them to build a "save haven" area where the game birds can hide from the predator, either aerial or ground.
More specific alterations to management practices include the employment of a pest management program involving live catch box traps for ground predators, and a Swedish goshawk trap for raptors (plans for raptor traps are available in game bird manuals, so handing out this information is not breaching any ethical barrier); all of which need to be implemented and managed year-round. Another major problem I've seen in my experience with game bird producers is that, in many cases, they blame raptors for ground predator incursions. Educating game bird farmers that pest management -- all kinds of pest management -- is a continuous process will be a key to the establishment of a long-term relationship with them.
Another solution involves keeping bantam game hens with the game birds, especially having the game hens raise the "cash crop" chicks. In my experience, this seems to teach the game birds how to avoid being eaten and the importance of taking evasive action.
Establishing a loft of pigeons to attract the avian predators away from the cash crop gamebirds. Barn/feral pigeons are inexpensive and very low-labor to maintain. The pigeons flashy style of flight attracts raptors away from the more expensive and vulnerable game birds. Pigeons are also useful for training bird dogs. And if you have some of the fancier breeds, they are quite an attractive addition to your preserve.
Electric fencing also helps to prevent ground predator losses.
Finally, adequate cover is essential for released birds. I've also found that keeping bantam game hens in these areas facilitates better survival rates of released birds.
Game bird breeders also have to learn to accept a manageable loss ratio from predation as simply a part of doing business in this field. Many must be reminded that they are literally offering a smorgasbord of tasty, fluttering game birds to attract any predator.
I have approached several game bird farms with my expertise in helping with problem raptors. They are normally curious about falconry, although some do have a hatred of raptors.
Actually, I can understand their feelings. I feel that way about raccoons. I've had much damage done to my pigeon loft and game bird pens by the masked bandits. Because if this, I do not expect the game farm owner to be as enchanted with raptors as I.
When I show them a falconry hunt, I simply want them to become more educated in how a raptor thinks, and to teach them ways to reduce game bird losses to raptors. I make many of the above specific suggestions to them. Then I help them set and attain some of these goals.
You as a falconer can barter for hunting rights during the non-gunning season, or for birds for your own raptor, in return for the service you're rendering. I've found game bird farmers to be quite receptive to help once they get over their suspicions. And everyone benefits in the long run.
I also suggest that you join and support pro-gun and hunting organizations. The National Rifle Association (www.nra.org); U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (www.ussportsmen.org); The National Animal Interest Alliance (www.naiaonline.org); and the North American Gamebird Association (www.naga.org), to name but a few. You might want to offer to sponsor them for North American Falconer's Association membership. They then will have the knowledge and tools to understand that we are also concerned with the same issues. That you hold memberships in such organizations will tell them that you, as a falconer, support the rights of all hunters, anglers, and trappers.
Here are some of the overseas websites to educate yourself about the anti-hunting, animal rights issues happening all over Europe: www.countryside-alliance.org; www.scottishcountrysidealliance.org; and PETA has an "action/alert" section we all should monitor. I noted recently that it has over 450 entries of mostly animal cruelty cases which they post to this alert page: http://www.peta.org/alert/automation/AlertItem.asp?id=450
All of us field sports enthusiasts need to stand together. We cannot be on the defensive any longer. We must be very proactive in projecting a positive image of falconry and all field sports, so it behooves us to help our game bird farmer brothers.
________________
Kitty Tolson Carroll has been licensed as a falconer since 1974. She has trained and flown accipiters, falcons, and buteos (and is training her first golden eagle), in the field on game. She was initially asked to give a small presentation on birds of prey and falconry in 1980. Since then, her lectures have evolved into a professional free flying presentation featuring owls, hawks and falcons. She performs at renaissance, medieval, historical, Scottish, and agricultural fairs and modern themed events.
She also does consulting work for pest bird problems in cities, stadiums, game bird farms, airports, production plants and warehouses. She emphasizes no poison/chemical methods for controlling pest populations.
You can contact Kitty at: Accipiter Enterprises, Educational Birds of Prey, 15209 165th Road, Live Oak, Florida, 32060. Phone: 386-776-1960. Web page: www.birdsofprey.net; Email: Hawkmom74@birdsofprey.net
Update: Since this article was written. In 2007, The US Fish & Wildlife Service now issues abatement permits to falconers who wish to use raptors for pest bird control. I hold one.
