A photo of the beautiful bird from that day. As a first-winter, young bird...how was the behavior of the bird forever changed, after spending a year in captivity? When released, it had known captivity for longer than it ever knew life in the wild.
About 2 1/2 years ago, I was birding on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands in South Dakota, having a wonderful data shooting photos of the huge numbers of raptors that are found there in the winter. Towards the end of the day, I came across a gorgeous young Gyrfalcon, always a wonderful find, and stopped to take photos. Soon, a pickup came screaming over the hill and pulled up right beside me. It turns out they were 2 falconers who were trying to capture that bird, and had set up a live pigeon under a net nearby to try to entice it (and tangle it). They told (DEFINITELY not nicely at first) that I needed to leave, so they could capture the bird. To make a long story short, I told them I had EVERY right to stay there and photograph this wild bird, so I stayed and took more photos, then left, not knowing what ever happened to that bird. Here’s a photo of the bird, and more of the story from that day.
Well, yesterday I got an email, presumably from the 2 falconers. They said the story had a “happy ending”. Turns out the falcon WAS indeed captured, and was used by the falconers for a year. According to the falconers, it was a “happy ending” because after a year, the falcon was released back into the wild.
“Happy ending”? Not so much for me. First of all, as I stated back then…Gyrfalcons are VERY rare birds in the lower 48 states. Only a handful make the winter trek down from the Arctic and make it all the way to the lower 48. The central part of South Dakota is one of the best places to go in winter to see them. I once had a very, very remarkable day were I saw 5 in one day, but despite all the trips I take to the area in winter, on MOST days you don’t see them at all (despite seeing 100+ other raptors), and I go entire WINTERS without ever seeing them. And this in the proverbial “hotspot” for them in the lower 48. I don’t think you should be allowed to capture them, PERIOD, given their rarity in the lower 48.
As for the “happy ending”…is it really? That bird was captured and kept by falconers for a year. There’s no doubt that this bird was a first-winter bird when captured, a very young and inexperienced animal. Then it’s captured, and spends a year in captivity, as falconers teach it, well, whatever the hell falconers teach it. Given its young age when captured, after being held for a year, that bird had thus spent more time in captivity than it ever had in the wild.
And then it’s released back into the wild. Is that a “happy ending”? How will that bird behave, compared to a bird that was always wild? It went an entire year in captivity. It had come down from the Arctic that winter it was captured, but had never made the return trip. After being in captivity and missing a winter cycle, would it even try to migrate back north? It had never had the chance to do so, before being captured. What about other behavior? How might that have changed after a year in captivity? When released, just how different might that bird act, than a gyrfalcon that had been in the wild its entire life? Especially since it was captured so young?
When I posted this 2 1/2 years ago, one falconer responded that they’re “better hunters” after being used by a falconer…as if a human falconer is a better “trainer” of a falcon than is nature and thousands of years of evolution. Other falconers were more direct, stating the birds are a “resource” to be used…a phrase I really hate, given that for people like this, ALL of nature is there for one purpose, and one purpose only…for the exploitation and use by human beings, no matter the consequences.
I have no doubt the vast majority of falconers love and respect their birds, just as they love their hobby. I’m really not against falconry in general. But…Gyrfalcons have a special place in my heart, given their rarity, their tie to South Dakota, and the memories I have of my very first winter when I started birding, where seeing my first wild Gyrfalcon was an experience I’ll never forget. They’re such a rare, rare sight in the United States, outside of Alaska. No matter how well a falconer treats his birds, you’ll never convince me that the behavior of that bird isn’t forever changed, once it’s released back into the wild.
People are selfish and want what they want when they want it, regardless of outcome. Nobody NEEDS a wild bird or animal, not a tiger, a chimp, or a falcon. The animal can’t help but be changed and can’t be as strong as it once was–it’s survival instinct has been altered. Buy a damn goldfish and stop appropriating everyone’s wildlife for personal pleasure. Probably same crowd who doesn’t think fracking chemicals cause any harm if it makes oil available.
I too find this phrase, “a “resource” to be used”, very bothersome. Exploitation is not always a good thing. In fact, it seems to me that it is as often harmful as helpful. I like this phrase:
“A resource to be enjoyed without alteration.”
Like the sport of killing wolves. Just because… Sucks to be wildlife.
I respect your opinion on wild take (falconers capturing a wild raptor for falconry) but thought there were maybe some facts regarding wild take that you may have missed out on or others might be interested in prior to condemning the practice.
Falconers are only allowed to trap Passage (first year) birds. The reasoning for this is because 75%-80% of raptors die during their first year. This is a fact backed up by numerous scientific studies. You mentioned receiving an e-mail stating that the gyrfalcon had been returned to the wild (referred to as “hacking back” in falconry terms), this is standard practice by falconers in the US with wild trapped birds. Hacking them back is releasing a healthy bird into an area with plenty of prey & doing follow up visits to ensure the birds success. These ex-falconry birds are more than ready to sustain themselves in the wild & especially during the spring, a time of plenty, when they are hacked back. In fact, many falconers have enjoyed watching their previous falconry birds return to their hunting grounds, often with mate in tow, year after year.
We as North American falconers take a great deal of pride in the fact that we are not only enjoying the ancient sport of falconry but are also, in a small way, securing a future for a raptor that more than likely wouldn’t have made it through its first year.
One final note on the Gyrfalcons that visit the northern states of the US. These are the birds that couldn’t hold their own in the northern territories the species prefers. Basically, they are the overflow from the previous springs hatch that will most likely be in that 75%-80% mortality range due to inability to hold on to a northern hunting area, lack of hunting skill, etc.
If nothing else, hopefully you can find some comfort knowing the beautiful Gyrfalcon that graced your camera lens is still a memeber of the wild population & not part of that first year mortality statistic.
Hi Falconer,
Respectfully…I’ve seen the exact same comments from multiple falconers. And, I don’t buy much of it. It sure SOUNDS good, with falconers saying they’re somehow “helping” raptor populations by taking them and re-releasing them. Funny, raptors have managed to survive and thrive long before falconers were around to “help” them.
I also don’t buy for a second your comment that Gyrfalcons that visit the U.S. in winter are “birds that couldn’t hold their own” in their more northern habitat. It’s baloney. Many of the birds that visit in the winter are NOT young birds, they’re mature adults, birds that have obviously managed to survive quite well. In South Dakota, we have adult birds that have routinely returned to the exact same location for multiple winters. It’s about a foraging opportunity they simply don’t have during bleak winters in the Arctic, with pheasants and grouse galore on the South Dakota grasslands. They’re not just birds that have “failed” in their northern habitat.
I’ve had multiple falconers claim that they’re somehow doing young birds a favor by capturing them and “teaching” them how to hunt and survive. BS. Again…somehow, raptors have managed to survive for thousands of years without falconer help. You’re taking a first-year bird, a bird that has never made a complete migration cycle, and taking them out of their natural habitat for a year. There’s NO way in hell that doesn’t affect their long-term behavior. There’s NO way in hell that doesn’t acclimate the birds to a human presence to varying extents, and ANY such acclimation can be a death sentence in its own right, especially in a gun-happy state like South Dakota. And what does taking a first-year bird do to it’s migration instincts? Gyrs here tend to start arriving late November, leave starting in March. What about a hacked Gyr that a falconer has kept? That bird has NEVER had the chance to complete a full migration cycle…when released back into the wild, will that bird’s behavior be the same as a bird that’s always been wild? With a year under a falconer’s care, will that bird still undergo seasonal migration in the same way a wild bird would?
Sorry falconers. I know you love your birds, that’s not in question. But not for a second will I buy that you are somehow HELPING wild raptors, by taking wild birds and keeping them in captivity for any length of time.