Magazine Article from 1891

"Why has the fine old art of Falconry died out?" It never really has. Falconry is one of the oldest forms of animal behavior modification for the use of man known to exist. I have always had a problem with calling it "training" because you are not really training the bird to do anything except what it naturally does, kill other birds or animals. You don't really "train" it to roll over, collect it's self, sit up, waltz etc. etc. You just condition it to return to you. In my opinion, the purest use of an animal, and the only valid use of the term "at liberty." No walls to contain it, no round pen, no cage, no reins, no restraints what so ever. When your bird is unhooded and released, there is only the atmosphere keeping him within your grasp/reach.

In the mid 60's early 70's Falcon's were the "poster child" for Wildlife Conservation given the findings of the synthetic pesticide DDT(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) in the studies and subsequent book "Silent Spring" authored by American biologist Rachel Carson. Of course Falconer's took a hard hit, as hunters do today with the new "poster child" for Wildlife Conservation, the African elephant. It was debated hotly how much real impact the few birds that they took out of the wild for Falconry had on the future of the species. As the government made steps to regulate the keeping of birds of prey, the Falconry fraternity "maned up" and formed Association's to regulate themselves as well as their hobby. They became skilled in the breeding in captive of the bird's they would use, as well as banning or turning into authorities any individuals who broke the rules or refused to abide by the required regulations. Possibly one of the reasons Falconry hasn't tanked and is still around today. If, and only if you want to follow the rule's.