Peregrine falcons are the fastest living thing- they can fly at speeds over 100 mph. They are graceful and amazing to watch. In the late Sixties and early Seventies, peregrine falcons nearly went extinct,for more info:go heredue to the effect of DDT on egg production, and have only come back [even after DDT was banned] due to a concerted effort on the part of scientists, enthusiasts and- falconers.
Humans have captured and trained falcons to hunt for thousands of years. In the USA, a small minority continues this tradition. Falconers must serve an apprenticeship and be licensed.
The environmental community is not united around the impact of falconry on the environment and falcons. Some feel that falconers cause no harm to the falcon - others are concerned that such a beautiful wild animal is captive for human enjoyment. At any rate, capturing wild falcons has been illegal since the early '70's. There is now pressure to lift the ban.
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Fish and Wildlife (those nice people who think hunting wolves from airplanes is sport) have suggested that falconers be allowed to capture about 100 fledglings. See:
http://www.fws.gov/...
Fish and Wildlife (the federal agency) says: "The Service has announced the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (DEA) for take of migrant peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the United States for use in falconry. In the DEA, we considered six alternatives to address potential take of migrant peregrine falcons in the United States and Alaska. You can view the Federal Register Notice and the DEA. You also can submit comments to FalconryDEA@fws.gov on the DEA. Comments will be due by the close of business on 02/11/08.
A typical birder blog comment: by POINSOT :
If you read the Draft EA you will see that the environmental analysis doesn't get too quantitative but comes to its conclusions almost as if by guessing. Information is needed on the current legal status of the species under US laws and what explicit legal protections it currently has. How would peregrine nestlings be captured? Would that process
have impacts directly, indirectly or cumulatively on the species or its environment? How would the continued harvest effect the long-term viability of the species? How does the harvest conform to the "undisclosed" protections under the Endangered Species Act, migratory bird treaty act, etc.? How does the harvesting conforms to the species'Recovery Plan? To my thinking, this is a total bugs bunny, harebrained idea that is ethically medieval. It's birdy bondage. It's true that falconers, along with bird watchers and ornithologists, all participated in bringing about protections to the peregrine in the 1960's and 1970's when populations plummeted. But falconry needs to accept modern reality. Peregrines are scarce, beautiful and are protected and should not be permitted to be "taken" for private recreation. The proposal would have minimal if any benefits to the species and should be set aside.
Now what does this have to do with politics? (besides a respite from My Candidate is Better than Yours rhetoric) Remember The Maltese Falcon? A falcon is a traditional item of tribute from a sub-king to his overlord king. The Saudis are exponents of falconry. Do you think the Shrub wants to get a falcon so he can give it to his overlords, the Saudis?