James E. McKay

James McKay is the director of the National Falconry School, based at Ashover in Derbyshire. He is a zoologist and lecturer as well as a falconer and animal trainer. In this book he offers a comprehensive guide to basic hawk care, falconry and its related sport, ferreting. Beginning with a brief history of falconry, he goes on to lay out everything a novice needs to know before acquiring their first bird.

The various equipment necessary for keeping a hawk is discussed, including instructions for building suitable housing and a run-down of the equipment needed to monitor a hawk on a daily basis, as well as advice on choosing vital items such as hoods, perches and swivels. There is information on selecting a bird, outlining the strengths, weaknesses and capabilities of each species, and a very comprehensive guide to manning and training. On top of all this the author offers guidance on how to maintain a bird's health, including nutrition, weight management and simple first aid, and everything the falconer needs to consider before beginning a breeding program. There is also a section devoted to the care and use of ferrets to aid rabbiting excursions (the author has written several books on ferreting which would make ideal companion volumes for a sporting enthusiast). The glossary proved very useful in clarifying certain terms and concepts, providing a handy reference point, and the bibliography and contacts list provide a valuable source of further information.

This is a book that should be on the shelves of any eager beginner and interested enthusiast, as well as being a source of information and reference to more experienced falconers. My only quibble with the book is that I would have liked more photographs - for example, showing various kinds of equipment alongside each other to show the differences (eg. flight vs. mews jesses, various lures and dummy bunnies), providing greater clarity for a complete novice like me! All in all, though, I learned an awful lot about falconry from this book, both in terms of the enormous commitment and potential pitfalls involved, and in terms of the pleasure and satisfaction a well-trained hawk can bring. Highly recommended.… (meer)