Home Reference Manual - Falconry

8/7/2019 Home Reference Manual - Falconry

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Home reference manualFalconry: Hunting with Raptors

Oliver Tomlinson - Spring term 2010


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Contents

Discovery phase

Transformation phase

Making phase

Introduction and initial research 4

Reference book design 5

Falconry book design 10

Discovery conclusions 20

Task analysis: Hooding a falcon 22

Task analysis: Hunting a pheasant with a falcon 26

Editorial and design ows 28

Design inuences 32

Design concepts 34

Final designs 42

Acknowledgements 48


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Home Reference Manual 3

DISCOVERYTRANSFORMATION MAKING

DISCOVERYTRANSF


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Introduction

Initial research

The aim of this project is to design a blad for a home

reference manual aimed at a general market; a home

reference manual is not a textbook or technical manual, and a

blad is a Book Layout and Design.

The nished blad could be used to market the idea to a

publisher, it acts as a sample and often shows nished

spreads and cover artwork

Falconry

I have some experience in falconry and have owned a

number of birds before university. Books have always been

a valuable tool in learning techniques and understanding

the birds, but they contain little information on actual ights

and ying environments. By designing a book for the general

market I can re-order the conventional ow of a falconry

book, and emphasise the requirement of understanding your

environment before buying a potentially unsuitable raptor (thecorrect term for a bird of prey).

I will mention a few falconry terms during this project, but can

assume there will be a glossary in my nal book.

Bryn Walls (1), former art director at Dorling Kindersley visited

the department to give a talk; these are my notes:

Illustrations are often shown as steps with numbers.

Its often useful to show an overhead shot of all the

implements used in a particular task; this also helps the

reader to perceive scale.

Use illustrations not TO, but WITH the text.

Bring text and images together at the creation of a

document

Bryn mentioned an illustrator called Pierre Marchand (2)

There is a need to make things work for the show me

people as well as the tell me people.

In a spread you can have a number of elements in

hierarchical order:

Main point/image (at the top)

Details of the image/annotations

Other stories/news

Think of creating visual stories and virtual tours,

i.e. walking around objects using multiple photos and

captions to tell a story, as if the reader was there. Think

of the 4th dimension as time.

The following notes were made from reading an audio script

from an Open University course (3):

The cover plays an important part in the initial steps to

sell the idea/book to the publishers.

The author, designers and editors all work together in

the same area.

Decide what and how items are going to be portrayed

in the book, i.e. spreads and ow. Start with an editorial

ow, them a more detailed design owchart illustrating

what is to be on each spread (coding diagrams types,

e.g. 3D, illustrations, photos etc).

Next stage is to work out the details on a particular

spread, photo sessions (or sequences) are then

decided, e.g. ingredients photos - a pictorial list of

equipment.

In diagrams think about visualising elements that

people cant see, e.g. pressure points or motion.

The Beetle, Paris, Gallimard, My

rst discoveries, 1989. Artwork by

Pierre Marchand

(2)

A quote on Pierre Marchand from

Hedwige Pasquet and Christine

BakerGallimard Jeunesse:

He couldnt suffer an error of visual

taste or the sin of banality, in a color,

a proportion, a line... his eye was

truly laser sharp. He had to mold, to

control: no project was ever less than

a challenge; the ambition of the 18th-

century French encyclopedists was

underlying every idea.

Pierre Marchand Remembered. URL:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/416501-Pierre_Marchand_

Remembered.php [14/01/10]

(1)

Bryn Walls, Former Art Director atDorling Kindersley. Visited Reading

University Typography Department,

12/01/10

(3)

Notes from an Open University course

on Communication and Education,

where Rob Waller interviews a

publishing manager, editor and

designer from Dorling Kindersley

(1987).


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Reference book design

Key features

A large format home reference guide explaining all elements of

the human body. Also included is an interactive DVD. The size

of the book allows a lot of information to be provided on each

spread in an engaging way, with easy navigation using colour

coding.

Relevance to potential users

Users of this book are most likely to be students up to A-level

grade, or people interested in knowing more about the body.

The younger reader would be used to the high amount of 3D

diagrams, and also the DVD, however, older generations may

nd it difcult.

Cover messages

A large illustration gives the reader a avour of the book

contents, with a textured transparent sleeve adding to the

feeling of exposed layers of the body. Bold typography

highlights the areas covered in the book.

Use of diagrams

3D diagrams convey meanings and functions very well with

clear annotation. Using a black background gives a feeling

of internal space rather than dissection. Photos are added to

show actual examples and are a clever way of providing the

reader some realism.

Lavish 3D CGI spreads engage

the reader and explain complex

procedures.

Parker, S. (2007). The Human Body Book.

London: Dorling Kindersley


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Key features

Full colour soft back in quite a small format, with most

graphics being illustrations. Step-by-step guides are useful, as

are the full page spreads, but pages feel a little cluttered with

oversized banners. The fully justied text and poor spacing is

sometimes confusing.


Home owners with medium to large size gardens will nd this

useful, but only if they have a lawn laid to grass; this is unlikely

in some foreign climates. Techniques are unlikely to change in

lawn care, but the tools may.

Cover messages

The portrayal of a rather small lawn gives the reader indication

of the subject, but the term new is a big mistake. This book

looks very dated now, especially with the illustrations. The

heavy title text box blocks the main image and produces

some distracting angles.

Use of diagrams

Hand rendered illustrations focus on particular tasks but now

look dated, Motion paths on lawns are confusing and should

be split into steps. Text spacing to the illustrations is not

linking the diagram to the text.

Hessayon, D.G. (1997). The New Lawn Expert.

London: Expert Books

Clear illustrations explain tasks,

but text blocks are too far from the

subject

Motion paths are not clear enough

and produce distracting patters.

It would have been better to

break this one down into steps or

phases.


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Key features

Hard-backed landscape format with colour coded sections,

and full colour spreads. Lots of screenshots to explain

processes and a heavy focus on nding the correct section

quickly. It could become repetitive but large photos with text

wrapping break up the steps by showing the reader the results

or aspirations they seek.


An introduction to PC based tasks, essentially for the novice

user or older generation. A simple and engaging layout using

a Windows format can be easy to understand. However, any

book like this will date very quickly as new programmes are

developed and screenshots are no-longer representative.

Landscape is a good format when placed in front of your PC.

Cover messages

Highlighting computer is good, but I think PC should be

made clearer as this is useless for MAC users. The words just

about anything are a little ambiguous.

Use of diagrams

Diagrams would not be very useful in this type of book, so

the choice of screenshots is good. Too many screenshots

can become a little repetitive though, but this book highlights

certain elements well.

Readers Digest (2009). How to do just about

anything on a computer.

London: Readers Digest Association Ltd.


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Key features

Hard-backed with a colour sleeve. All internal pages are

mono-chrome with a mixture of photos and illustrations. Body

text is justied making it difcult to skim read, but captions

are nicely placed under graphics. Many of the photos require

the user to rotate the book, but this actually makes it quite

engaging.


Flyshing techniques have not changed for many years, and

equipment requirements are also very similar. All types of

casting and rivers are mentioned, with diagrams guiding the

reader from many different viewpoints.

Cover messages

The cover image is a little saturated but this may be due to

the age of the book; and the title needs a little more room.

I do like the use of a typical scene and the use of the word

complete.

Use of diagrams

Some of the diagrams look almost scientic, but once the

reader understands that many show the casting of the shing

line, they become very understandable. Time series is aided

by letters or numbers, and illustrations of the sherman

highlight motion. I would like to see a few more elements in

the illustrations to show the context of the image, e.g. the river

bank or foliage. As the photos are mono-chrome, it can be

difcult to see the details.

Walker, C.F. (1979). The Complete Fly Fisher.

2nd Ed. London: Barrie & Jenkins Ltd.


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Illustrations are quite scientic, but

accompanied with the text, make

the process easy to understand

by using clever scaling and time-

frame overlays.

A requirement to rotate the book to

see the photos actually breaks up

the rather repetitive text layout.

Scaling the hand in this illustrationhighlights the area of discussion.


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Falconry book design

Due to the age of some of these falconry books I shall not

scale them in the same way as the previous ones; instead I

have made notes on particular characteristics. I continue to

scale the later ones.

Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. (1250). The Art

of Falconry. Translated and Edited by Casey

A. Wood and F. Marjorie Fyfe (1943), Stanford

University Press

The Art of Falconry was one of

the rst guides produced on

the subject. Though written in

1250, elements of the diagrams

still give a good indication of

current falconry processes. It was

produced by hand in full colour

and this would explain why there

are only two examples left today.

It is interesting to see illustrations

of scenes; far right shows a

potential cause of bating (the bird

apping from the st or perch) in

the form of a window cleaner.

It is a scientic book, approaching

the subject from Aristotle but based

closely on observation and experiment

throughout, Divisivus et Inquisitivus,

in the words of the preface, it is at the

same time a scholastic book, minute

and almost mechanical in its divisions

and subdivisions. It is also a rigidly

practical book, written by a falconerfor falconers and condensing a long

experience into systematic form for the

use of others.

Haskins,C.H, The Latin Literature

of Sport (Speculum) Vol.2, No

3 (Jul.,1927), P.244. Cited from

Wikipedia


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A large hand-coloured spread

showing falconry equipment and

providing templates for hood-

making. Focussed diagrams of

equipment tted to the bird help

the reader understand the usage,

as do different angles of the

hoods. Most of the elements are

shown actual size.

Salvin, F.H & Brodrick, W (1873). Falconry in the

British Isles. 2nd Ed. London: John Van Voorst


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Latham. S. (1633). Lathams Falconry: or, The

Faulcons Lure, and Cure. London: Thomas Harper

A very small an intricate format

gives this guide a note-book feel,

especially with its leather binding.

Hand written notes show an

interaction with the book; these

notes look like a list and could be

an indication of the user working

out some costs.

The inner cover is centrally aligned

with an interesting diagram

showing equipment used in

falconry - this revolves around the

focus, a hawk.


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A table of contents shows the

book it to be used as a reference

guide, allowing navigation to the

desired chapter. Also interesting

to note the acrostic poem on the

left page.

A mixture of roman and italics

are used to dene different text

groups, with each main section

introduced with an ornate banner

across the top and a large initial

letter. A large outer margin is left

for notes.

Tailing-off the text is an interesting

method of nishing a section,

with an image dening the new

section; in this case the Goshawk

(Goshawke in old spelling).


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Blome, R. (1929). Hawking or Faulconry.

London: The Cresset Press Ltd

The inside front cover of this

book contains a fold-out graphic

depicting falconry choices andoptions. Being a reprint, it is

produced in black and white, but

the original can be seen on the

opposite page.

This spread depicts a hunting

scene on the left (Partridge

Hawking), however, the subject

on the right is not connected with

the image. I think it is useful to

have the text put into context but it

needs to be near the image.

The falconry bag shown on this

page is not a generic one, but

a bag belonging to someone

in particular. Adding a personal

touch to the book and giving it a

historical feel.


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I like the title style, mixing lower

and upper capitals; this may be an

interesting way of styling my own

manual. The connections between

the bubbles are also very nice,

using calligraphic thicks and thins

portray motion and may be an

interesting approach to illustrating

ight lines.

The poster below is the original

version, rst printed in 1686,

and would have been folded

and placed in the rst edition of

Blomes Hawking or Faulconry.

I think it is a great example of an

early information graphic on the

subject of falconry. Starting from

the left it ows as a family tree,

asking questions and drilling down

to answers on ying environments,

quarry, and applicable raptor

choice.

Images of quarry, raptors and

equipment (unlabelled) ow around

the outside of the diagram, which

in turn is placed in a training

environment at the bottom.

This diagram is engaging and

informative, but more importantly

follows a pattern that anyone new

to falconry should follow; this is the

method of access structure Id like

to follow in my manual.


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Key features

The 3rd edition of this book has a modernised hardback

cover sleeve, but the contents remain relatively unchanged

from the original 1978 version. It is a guide on all aspects

of falconry for newcomers but also contains information

on making equipment more applicable to the experienced.

Using photography in step by step processes is very useful inexplaining complex tasks, however photos are often from the

same angle.


Known as a key text in falconry circles, it has excellent

sections on training, but due to its age equipment is

dated and few people make their own in current times. Its

publication also straddles a key period in modern falconry

where it used to be legal to take hawks from the wild with a

permit, but now this practice is illegal.

Cover messages

The large image is eye-catching but could be confused for a

general ornithology book; the title is placed well enough to

counterbalance this issue. It is difcult to date the book from

the cover so the reader may be disappointed to see the age of

the content.

Use of diagrams

A mixture of line diagrams and step by step photo sequences

are used throughout to aid understanding by highlighting key

points in the process. Being monotone does not effect the

usability as few processes require colour differentiation.

Glasier, P. (1998). Falconry & Hawking. 3rd Ed.

London: Batsford (original 1978)

The author of this book is the

father of Jemima Parry-Jones, the

author of the book on the opposite

page. There are a number

similarities in the step by step

photo series style.


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The full-bleed nished image on

the right page is a useful method

of portraying the completed

process of hooding.

Key features

This book is very much aimed at the beginner and includes a

section on training owls (this is not falconry in the true sense).

It has a mix of colour and monochrome photos accompanied

by explanatory line drawings. There is little mentioned on

hunting strategy but a very thorough section on equipment

with a couple of well laid out ingredients pages.


For beginners to falconry this book is ideal for an introduction,

but fails to take the reader to a more advanced level. The

inclusion of owls is an unusual addition and may not be

relevant to true falconers.

Cover messages

The Buzzard is very much a beginners bird, so using this

raptor in a falconry setting provides the reader with an idea

of the content. This is only applicable if the reader has prior

knowledge that a Buzzard is a beginners bird, and it does

not give any indication of owls. Mixing upper and lower-case

capitals was seen in the older falconry manuals and may be a

way of illustrating the ancient roots of the sport.

Use of diagrams

Photos have been carefully planned, using beginner birds, and

focussing on key elements of particular tasks from different

angles. Line diagrams are useful in providing exploded

information but the typography could be placed around them

in a more intuitive way.

Parry-Jones, J. (1994). Training Birds of Prey.

Newton Abbot: David & Charles


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Key features

A book of two very comprehensive sections, one on the

anatomy and understanding of raptors, and the other on

training and ying. There is a full colour section in the middle

but all other illustrations are black and white. All text is

justied in two columns, and with few navigation aids its

difcult to use as a reference manual. The book is almosttrying to do too much without having a clear target audience.


This book is aimed at the experienced falconer or ornithologist

and it caters for each individuals need well, However, putting

the two together is often confusing as there is no distinct

difference in layout or styling.

Cover messages

Using a young falcon indicates the books focus on

understanding raptors at all stages. The background looks

like a domestic environment so the reader will ascertain the

subject is not wholly wild raptors. The colour choice for the

title does not work on the mottled background.

Use of diagrams

The data graphics are rather uninspiring and often too large,

but the illustrative ights and environments are very clear, by

showing ight lines and elements a photo cant depict (e.g.

wind ow) the reader can follow step processes easily.

Fox, N. (1995). Understanding the Bird of Prey.

Surrey: Hancock House

Exposing hidden elements of

hooding using illustration.


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Data graphics are often too large

for the spread

Numbers on a diagram link to

steps in the text.

Some tables could be improved

with the addition of shading.

Illustrations of ying environments

place the reader in the picture,

they are a great method for

highlighting a ight, but the use of

a dotted ight path may be difcult

to follow.


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Discovery conclusions

Due to the niche market of falconry manuals, modern books

on this subject do not seem to have a very large budget for

publishing and design. When compared with guides like

The Human Body, and How to do Just About Anything on a

Computer, the falconry manuals Ive researched are bland and

uninspiring; the complete opposite of the subject they refer

to. Examples from the 17th century are intricate and personal,

giving a feel of the regal origins of the sport; this is something

I would like to adapt for my own manual.

Imagery

Birds of prey are such beautiful animals I would like to use

as many detailed photos as possible, likewise, the bond

between the trainer and their bird is very strong so I would

like to represent this also. The environments and equipment

are key features of falconry, with most of the equipment being

handmade from leather a lot of the imagery is quite earthy.

Tasks

Dealing with live animals, a number of the tasks involved in

falconry need careful application, so illustrating tasks needs

clear steps from different viewpoints.

Flights

Flying a bird has many steps and eventualities but still follows

a dened path. The most interesting examples of ights

appear from a user perspective, actually taking the reader to

the eld.

Key points

Create a visual story

Visualise elements the reader can not see

Double spreads with full bleed images engage

the reader

Create a new access structure that represents

how falconry decisions should be made, e.g.

understand your environment before deciding

which bird to y.

Style elements from older falconry times can

demonstrate its noble roots.

Illustration works best when applied with

photography to demonstrate nonvisual themes,

e.g. ight lines and wind direction.


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ERYTRANSFORMATIONM


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Task analysis:

Hooding a falconIn order to design a step by step process it is necessary to

understand the subject thoroughly. Within my manual on

falconry I would like to illustrate the technique for hooding,

and give details on a particular ight. I spent a weekend with a

falconer and took the following photo sequences. Notes were

taken and key points highlighted.

From the front

A raptor is always held on the weakest

arm to allow the falconer to carry out

tasks with his dominant hand.

The hood is held by its plume (located

on the top).

The hood opening is facing upwards

as the hood is brought upwards from a

low position in front of the bird.

As the hood chin strap meets the

lower beak, the beak passes through

the opening and the hood is rolled

over the birds head.

The hood is gently pushed into place. Wait for a moment to allow the bird to

settle.

To tighten the hood in place, the

longer straps (braces) need to be

pulled.

One of the braces are held by the

teeth by using the right hand to put it

in the mouth.

The opposite long brace is taken in the

right hand.

Both braces are pulled apart at the

same time, this tightens the hood

without causing any discomfort to the

bird.

Removal of the hood is done by

reversing the steps and pulling the

shorter straps.

Key steps are highlighted in red

1

6

11

2

7

12

3

8

13

4

9

14

5

10

15


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From the back

Rolling the hood over the head.

Pushing in place.

Pausing for a moment Drawing the braces.

Bringing the hood towards the bird at

a low angle.

1

6

11

2

7

12

3

8

13

4

9

14

5

10

15


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Hooding in the eld

1

2

4

3

5

A low approach in front of the bird

IDEA: It is not necessary to see the

whole bird, or the falconer, during

this process; it may be better to

focus the picture on the subject,

i.e. a close-up of the hood, falcon

and hand motion.


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6

8

10

12

7

9

11

Rolling the hood over the falcons

head as the beak passes through the

hood opening.

Drawing the braces.

Pushing in place.


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Task analysis: Hunting a

pheasant with a falcon

Tieing the leash, the cord that is

attached to the leather jesses via

a swivel. The removable jesses are

attached through eyelets to the

falcons legs.

Once at the ying ground the falconer

will drive around looking for suitable

quarry to y at; in this case we are

looking for pheasants.

Casting off the falcon. The bird is

now free to y but will often take her

time, assessing the conditions and

preparing for ight by rufing her

feathers.

When the falcon is at her highest point

the falconer signals to her to prepare

for the ush.

Here you can see the falcon releasing

the pheasants feathers she caught

from the rst stoop.

In level ight the pheasant is faster

than the falcon who has lost her height

advantage and her speed.

The pheasant reaches the safety of

cover; this is exactly the same place

where the falcon was cast off from.

Having missed her chance, the falcon

rings up and looks for the quarry.

The falconer now calls the falcon back

to him by throwing out a lure with meat

attached to it.

The falcon is actually inverted in this

image, turning in the air for another

stoop.

Closing in... The pheasant jinks out of the way and

the falcon misses.

A tail-chase ensues as the pheasant

heads for the nearest dense cover.

The dog is released and looks for the

quarry to ush (to push into ight).

As the quarry ushes the falconer

gives a shout, but the falcon has such

quick reexes she will have already

started stooping (a dive).

The aim of the falcon is to strike the

quarry with closed feet, raking it with

her huge back talons. As a stoop can

reach speeds in excess of 200mph

this can kill the quarry outright.

In this case the falcon is a young

bird so did not strike the pheasant

accurately. He momentum carries her

up for another attempt.

The falcon takes ight. The falcon now rings up to gain

height by ying in circles above the

falconer. On site of the airborne

raptor the pheasant will stay in place,

crouching low to the ground.

The falconer will walk towards the

quarry keeping his eye on the falcon

above.

A pheasant is spotted feeding out in

the open eld.

Take the falcon from the vehicle

(keeping noise to a minimum). Prepare

for ight by removing the leash, swivel

and jesses.

Remove the hood and store it in a safe

place.

Before setting off in your car, check

that all equipment is packed.

Fitting a tail-mounted telemetry

transmitter (this sends a signal to a

receiver so you can nd a lost bird).

Placing the hooded falcon on a

specially made perch in the rear of the

vehicle.

Drive to the ying ground

Drive past the quarry to a

suitable place to cast off

your bird, preferably down

wind behind some cover.

1

6

11

16

21

26

2

7

12

17

22

27

3

8

13

18

23

28

4

9

14

19

24

29

5

10

15

20

25

30


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Task analysis conclusions

There are only a few steps, in the hooding and ight, that

need to be shown in my book design. The hooding procedure

should only require four images, focussing on key points

and accompanied with text descriptions. The ight is more

complicated as it involves a process occurring in different

times and places, with the falconer taking actions in parallel

with the falcon. This will be a challenge to design, possibly

requiring a mix of photos, illustrations (to show ight paths)

and text descriptions.

Gliding in towards the falconer. Landing on the lure.

Taking a moment as the falcon eats

meat from the lure, the falconer talks

about the ight, and the dog has a

rest.

Once she has nished her reward, the

falcon is hooded ready for the journey

home.

Returning to the vehicle. Dog and falcon safe in the vehicle.

Being hooded in the car keeps the

falcon calm and undisturbed by trafc.

Picking up the falcon from the lure is

achieved by offering her food on the

st.

Equipment is replaced (jesses, leash

and swivel).

Eating meat from the lure. Approaching the falcon, the falconer

stays low and does not make any

sudden movements.

INSPIRATION: The style of Nigel

Holmes work is simple but

extremely understandable. Motion

is illustrated using simple arrows,

curved in the scarf instructions(far right), and time-frame

transparencies (in the conductor).

They may be a little too sterile for

my purpose, as I would like ight

paths and motion to be more

natural, maybe using thicks and

thins of a brush stroke.

31

36

41

32

37

42

33

38

43

34

39

35

40


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Editorial & design ows

The ow of my book will allow for a slightly different access

structure than is often used within falconry books. The book

shall be laid out in the same manner that a falconer should

approach their sport, i.e. understanding what environment is

available to them before working out what kind of bird to y.

Having spoken to experienced falconers, they often state that

a beginner or novice will chose a bird to y that is unsuitable

to the environment and quarry they have available.

2) Flight and theory

Start with an environment map (link to others)

Arable farmland

Large plains

Woodland

Highlands

Desert

Individual maps: each one to have a focus on the birds

that can be own; Long wings (falcons), Shortwings

(hawks), Broadwings (buzzards/harris hawks), Eagles

Maps to link to prey types (rabbit, hare, squirrel,

pheasant, grouse, partridge, water birds, hedgerow

quarry, rooks/crows, magpie)

1) Introduction and history

What this book is for

Denition of falconry

Historical timelines (linked to location in the world)

Layout for introduction

and history.

Historical timelines.

Environments contents

page (Concept 1):

photos and colour

coding on falcons tail,

ight lines linking to

page numbers.

Double page photo

spread to introduce the

environment section.


page (Concept 2):

large photo, bird ight,

colour coding and key

to ights.


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page (Concept 3):

photos, colour coding

and descriptions.

Specic ight details

(Concept 1): Text

process on left, ight on

right, quarry and bird

details on footer.

Double page photo

spread for each

environment section.

Specic ight details

(Concept 2): Spread

dominated by the ight,

with step details as

annotation. Flight from

different angles.

More options for illustrating anindividual ight.


page (Concept 4):An Alternative for

concept 3


30/50


4) Training methods

By bird type then hunting desire

3) Bird choice

Different sub-species of the groups e.g. Peregrine under

Longwings, Sparrowhawk under Shortwings etc.

Also include details of quarry types and their

characteristics.

Layout as per

introduction but

including large hero

shot of theraptor.

Double page photo

spread for section.

Double page photo

spread for section.

Layout for training as

per introduction. Also

inclusion of step by

step processes and

diagrams.

Timeline spreads may

be useful to depict

training but could be

too prescriptive - some

birds are more difcult

than others.


31/50



5) Specic tasks

Hooding

Using the lure

Coping and imping

Food types and feeding

Bird handling (including knot tying)

Lost birds and telemetry

Housing and perches

Fitting equipment

Travelling

Layout similar to birdchoice, with inclusion

of hero image and also

step by step process.

IDEA: The reader of this section

may be carrying out the actions

as they read, using each spread

as a reference while they perform

the task. For this reason I would

like to use a different stock of

paper, heavier and more resilient.

To differentiate from the rest of the

book Id also like to give the whole

section a colour wash.

Double page photo

spread for section.


32/50


Design inuences

Lnwin sop t game

Longwing stoop at game

The regal history of falconry.

Rich scenes with bright colours.

Early falconry information graphic;

hand drawn, owing, motion.

Typography based on old scriptsand texts, Bickham and Sabon.


33/50



Relationship between falconer and

his bird is very deep and is forged

over a number of years.

TYPEFACES: Baskerville is a classic typeface but Id

like to use something more modern. Quadraat is a little

too squat, but Sabon is nice and airy and would make a

good representation of bird ight.

Simple line drawings tell a story

and explain a ight path, taking the

reader to the environment.

Recurring patterns and earth

tones.

Capturing motion and ight in still

images; apply this to diagrams.

Equipment is a mix of new

technology and methods used for

thousands of years.

The bird uses its own lethal

equipment to survive.

Baskerville Regular 10pt/11.5

Before even considering which bird you would like to y you

should analyse the environment you have available to y in.There are some species of raptor that are totally unsuited tocertain environments or ying style.

Quadraat Regular 10pt/11.5

Beore even considering which bird you would like to fy youshould analyse the environment you have available to fy in. Thereare some species o raptor that are totally unsuited to certainenvironments or fying style.

Sabon Roman 10pt/11.5

Before even considering which bird you would like to y youshould analyse the environment you have available to y in.There are some species of raptor that are totally unsuited tocertain environments or ying style.


34/50


Design concepts

Flying environments

22

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Lanner Falcon

page 125

Picking up p. 266

Details of quarry are givenwith information on environ-mental characteristics. Hunt-

ing dates are also shown.

Page references to birdsof prey best suited to the

environment.

Links to the task section ofthis book accompany ightinstructions.

Beoreevenconsideringwhichbird youwouldliketoyyoushouldanalysetheenvironmentyouhaveavailabletoyin.Therearesome species o raptor thatare totallyunsuited to certain environments or yingstyle.Thisshouldbethefrstthingthealconerassesses,asaclearunderstandingowhatyouwanttoachievewillnotonlydictatethebestbirdoryou,butalsothekindoequipmentrequiredandthetypeoquarryavailable.

This section othe book issplitinto fvedierentenvironmentsyoumayencounterasaalconer,thenwithineachenvironmentyouwillfndexamplesopossibleightsandthequarryandraptorbestsuitedtothatstyle;romgrousehawkingintheHighlandswitha Longwing,to Lowland harehawkingwithaShortwing.

Whereaightisdescribedyouwillfndhelpullinkstospecifctasksinthetasksectionothisbook;thesemaybestepbystepguidesorsimplereerencetoolsthatare a common eature omanyighttypes.

23

Arable Lowland

Woodland

Highlands

The Plains

Desert

Telemetry: Wherever you decide to y, telemetryis essential. This is a tail-mounted transmittermanufactured by Marshal. It is not something toallow the falconer to take risky slips with a halftrained bird, but more a fall-back incaseanything unforeseen happens and youend up losing your bird. Don'tforget, always check thebatteries beforeying.

Key misunderstood.

Greyscale image ages

the spread.

Poor mix of typefaces.

Key to prey and birds

is not clear.

Concept 1

1.1 - Flying environments title spread


35/50



Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rua

Grey Partridge

Perdix perdix

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

The Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

1.Thegame is spottedfromacarorotherdistantlocation,oftenusing binoculars.Uponspottinga coveyor singularbirdintheopen,thefalconerwillremove thehood,andcastoffthefalconfromsuita-blecover,allowingthebirdtogainheightoverhead.

2.Onsiteofthefalconoverheadthequarryshouldstayinpositionandlieattotheground.Itisnowtimeforthefalconerto

Longwing stoop at feathered game

Perfec

tpos

itionfol

lowedbythefush

Thesto

op

Impactp

oint

OutcomeA

Quarryfush

approachcalmlywiththedogonalead.Signallingtothewaitingfalconwillmakesureshestaysoverhead.

3.Whenthefalconisupwindofthehidingquarryitistimetoletthedogoffandfush the gameunderher.Thequarrywillundoubtedlyytowardsthenearestcoverandthisshouldbeanticipatedbythefal-coner.

Spotting game

Hooding

Flushing game

Pheasants are

a largequarryrequir-ing a heavyalcon to catch

them. In level fightthey are very ast.

p. 235

p. 260

p. 232

Mallards can be ound insmall ponds and ditchesin lowland areas. A dog

is a necessity as they arevery dicult to fush; riverducks should be avoided alltogether.

Once a common site butnow the Grey, or English,partridge is a rare site. Theyare much more wary thanthe Red-Legged so a careulapproach is required.

Also known as the Frenchpartridge, these birds can beound in very large coveys,

giving the alconer an oppor-tunity or excellent slips.

J

FM

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

34

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

3

4

5

Arable Lowland

Bells: A vital piece oequipment when ying inlowland areas. On a alconthey are best mounted onthe tail and will help youfnd her on the groundor in deeper c over.

Falconersappr

oach

Casting o

Gainingheight

Followingoverh

ead

OutcomeB

4.Nowitis alldownto thealcon;uponseeingthefush andhearingthe shoutsrombelowshewillstoopatgreatspeedtointerceptthe quarrybeoreit reachescover.OutcomeA:Thealconwillstrikethegamewithclosedtalons,causingittotumbletotheground.Shewillloopoverandtackleherprizeontheground,otendispatchingitwithabitetotheneck.Out-comeB:Thealconwillstrikebutinac-

curately,ormissalltogetherasthequarryjinkstoavoidthestoop.Inthisscenariothecleverquarrywillveryotenout-fythealconinatail-chase,beatinghertocover.

5.Pick up the falcon,eitherromhercaughtquarry(outcomeone),orbycallinghertoalurethrownoutontothegroundbythealconer(optiontwo).

Picking up p. 266

35

Peregrine Falcon

page 119

Lanner Falcon

page 125

1

2

Real elements clutter

the spread.

Portrait format, even though a good

shape to show ights may not

stand out in a bookshop - look at a

landscape format

The ight path works

well and includes the

reader in the scene.

Steps are difcult to

link to the image.

Links to the task

section feel detached.

1.2 - Flight details


36/50


HuntingwithRaptors

History Flights & Theory Raptor Choice Training Methods Falconry Tasks

Falconry; a noble sport with a history dating back

to 720 BC, now rising in popularity as newcomers

experience the deep bond between man and bird once

reserved only for the regal and gentry of the land.

This book acts as a guide to the newcomer, and a

reference to the experienced falconer or austringer. You

will nd step-by-step illustrations of possible ights in a

variety of environments found in the UK and beyond.

Raptor characteristics, training methods, and falconry

tasks are shown in rich photos and described by leading

falconry professionals.

www.tomlinsonbooks.com

HuntingwithRaptors

Tomlinson

Flights & Theory

Beore even considering which bird you would

like to y you should analyse the environmentyou have available to y in. There are some

species o raptor that are totally unsuited tocertain environments or ying style. This shouldbe the frst thing the alconer assesses, a clearunderstanding o what you want to achieve will

not only dictate the best bird or you, but alsothe kind o equipment required and the type oquarry available.

This section o the book is split into our dierent

environments you may encounter as a alconer,then within each environment you will fndexamples o possible ights and the quarry and

raptor best suited to that style; rom grousehawking in the Highlands with a Longwing, toLowland hare hawking with a Shortwing.

Where a ight is described you will fnd helpul

links to specifc tasks in the task section o thisbook; these may be step by step guides or simplereerence tools that are a common eature o

many ight types.

Arable Lowland

Woodland

Highlands

Open Flatlands

Arable Lowland Flights & Theory

Longwing stoop at eathered game p. 34

Longwing ight at gulls rom the fst p. 36

Longwing ight at corvids rom the fst p. 38

Shortwing / Broadwing at ur and eather p. 40

Shortwing at small hedgerow game p. 44

Broadwing ollowing on p. 46

The most common environment that most alconers

will experience in the UK, Lowland Arable has manydierent characteristics and thereore many dierentbirds can be own at a variety o quarry. However, like

all areas, it has its own dangers such as power lines,and an enclosed landscape adding to the possibility olosing sight o your bird.

Once permission has been given by the landowner, thealconer may choose the sort o ight that best suits the

land they are on and the quarry they wish to hunt.

Some quarry such as rabbits and squirrels may becaught all year, but eathered game such as pheasantsand partridge are seasonal. A licence must be obtained

beore ying at gulls and corvids.

Potential ights are described step-by-step over thenext ew pages, but remember, you are dealing withanimals and innumerous possibilities o variance so be

prepared or all eventualities.

The most common environmenthas a lot to oer

Concept 2

2.1 - Back, spine and cover

2.2 - Flying environments title spread

2.3 - Specic environment title spread

Banner is dated.

Flight much better in

colour, adjust for fold.

Too close to image.

Indents are

confusing.

Remove p or write

page. Change to

a sans serif do add

difference.

Flight here is lost in

background colour.

Good falconry

reference.

Spacing needs

adjusting.


37/50



The game is spotted rom a car whiledriving over the hawking ground

or on oot rom a distant location.Binoculars are required to prevent the

quarry fushing early.

Upon spotting a covey or singular bird

in the open, the alconer will removethe hood, and cast o the alcon rom

suitable cover, allowing the bird togain height overhead.


You can see in this photo the tail-mounted

telemetry transmitter. It doesnt matter whatenvironment you y in, use telemetry i you

dont want to lose your alcon. It is a good

idea to ft the transmitter beore arriving atthe ying ground to prevent rushing when you

spot quarry.

Spot the quarry

Casting off

Falconers approach

On site o the alcon overhead the

quarry should stay in position and liefat to the ground. It is now time or

the alconer to approach calmly withthe dog on a lead. Signalling to the

waiting alcon will make sure she staysoverhead.

1

3

2

p. 235

p. 260

Spotting game

Hooding

1 2 3

34

Arable Lowland

The stoop

Picking up

Flushing the quarry

When the alcon is upwind o the

hiding quarry it is time to let the dogo and fush the game under her. The

quarry will undoubtedly fy towardsthe nearest cover and this should be

anticipated by the alconer.

Upon seeing the fush and hearing theshouts rom below she will stoop at

great speed to intercept the quarrybeore it reaches cover. Outcome A:

The alcon will strike the game withclosed talons, causing it to tumble to

the ground with her looping over todispatch. Outcome B: The alcon will

strike but inaccurately, or miss alltogether as the quarry jinks to avoid

the stoop; this results in a tail-chaseoten nishing as the quarry beats the

alcon to cover.

Stooping falcons have been known to reachspeeds in excess of 200 mph; you can quite

literally hear them tearing through the air.

6

4

5

p. 266

p. 232

Picking up

Flushing game

Pick up the alcon, either rom hercaught quarry (outcome one), or by

calling her to a lure thrown out ontothe ground by the alconer (outcome

two). An experienced alcon can nowbe fown again on the same day, or the

alconer can call it a day and rewardtheir bird or a good fight.

54

35

LannerPheasant Duck PartridgeGyr Falcon Peregrine Falcon

Falconry Tasks

Using the lure

Food types and feeding

Picking up

Lost birds and telemetry Flushing game p. 232

Spotting game p. 235

Using the lure p. 254

Lost birds and telemetry p. 256

Hooding p. 260

Picking up p. 266

Bird handling p. 270

Food types and feeding p. 278

Coping and imping p. 280

Housing and perches p. 282

Fitting equipment p. 286

Travelling p. 288

Hooding

Fitting equipment

Flushing game

Hooding

Low approach1Hold the hood by its plume andapproach from below with the beak

opening facing the bird.

The hood is used in the manning process(acclimatising to humans and the human world) andto keep the raptor in a calm state, both in the early

part of its training and throughout its falconry career.Out of all the falconers aids the hood is the mostimportant piece of equipment.

There are various styles and types of hood for raptors

within falconry. The hood is hand made, often fromkip leather or suitable kangaroo leather. There are twostandard types used in American/

European Falconry; the AngloIndian hood (non-blocked)and made from one piece of

leather. The Dutch Hood, that is a three piecehood blocked on a special mould called a hoodblock, which is designed to best represent

the shape of the raptors head, also allowingspace for the eyes with an adequate neckwidth.

It is essential that the hood ts the

raptor in a comfortable way orthe raptor will reject the hoodoutright, making training very

difcult.

260

Hood typesA good hood should meet a number of

criteria: the hawk should not be able to get it

off. The hawk should be able to feed and castthrough it safely. It should be light in weight,

sit comfortably on the hawks head without

causing condensation, irritation or trailing

braces which annoy the hawk. It should belight-tight. It should not cause sores around

the gape or pinch the nape feathers. It

should be tough, durable, weather-proof,and easily cleaned or renovated.

Draw the bracesPush in placeRoll over 432As the chin strap o the hood meets thebeak, use a rolling motion and ollow

the shape o the alcons head.

Gently push the hood down into placewith the tips o your fngers. Leave

or a second or two. It is vital to havea alcon that will sit with the braces

undone.

Use one hand and your teeth to closethe hood by pulling the longer braces

in a swit motion.

Hooding as seen in The Artof Falconry, by Frederick II

of Hohenstaufen (1250)

261

Dutch hood

Well tting but

often heavy

Arab style

Soft and light-weight but

can lose its shape

Blocked Arab

A great t and hard

wearing, especially

with synthetic braces

Anglo-Indian

Easy to make and often used for

hawks rather than falcons

Falconry Tasks

2.5 - Tasks section title spread

2.4 - Flight details

2.6 - Specic task

Guide to quarry and raptors

is not understood.

Numbers need to be

less obtrusive.

Flight time series

works well but needs

to be enlarged.

Steps and images

need aligning better.

Do not align numbers

and replace with sans

serif.

Images have a good

focus on hooding but

everything can be

moved up.


38/50


HUNTING

with

RAPTORS

history

flights & theory

raptor choice

training methods

falconry tasks

HuntingwithRaptorsHistory Flights & Theory Raptor Choice Training Methods Falconry Tasks


Falconry; a noble sport with a history dating

back to 720 BC, now rising in popularity as

newcomers experience the deep bond between

man and bird once reserved only for the regal

and gentry of the land.

This book acts as a guide to the newcomer,

and a reference to the experienced falconer

or austringer. You will nd step-by-step

illustrations of possible ights in a variety of

environments found in the UK and beyond.

Raptor characteristics, training methods, and

falconry tasks are shown in rich photos and

described by leading falconry professionals.

Tomlinson

HuntingwithRaptors

32

Longwing stoop at eathered game page 34

Longwing ight at gulls rom the fst page 36

Shortwing / Broadwing at ur and eather page 38

Shortwing at small hedgerow game page 42

Longwing at small game page 44

Broadwing ollowing-on page 46

Arable Lowland

The most common environment that most alconerswill experience in Britain, Arable Lowland has many

dierent characteristics and thereore many dierentbirds can be fown at a variety o quarry. However, likeall areas, it has its own dangers such as power lines,

and an enclosed landscape adding to the possibility olosing sight o your bird.

Once permission has been given by the landowner, the

alconer may choose the sort o fight that best suits theland they are on and the quarry they wish to hunt.

Some quarry such as rabbits may be caught all year,but eathered game such as pheasants and partridge are

seasonal, with some requiring a licence.

Potential fights are described step-by-step over thenext ew pages, but remember, you are dealing withanimals and innumerous possibilities o variance so be


The most common Britishenvironment has a lot to oer

33

The Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Mallards can be ound in small ponds and ditches

in lowland areas. A dog is a necessity as they aredicult to fush; river birds should be let alone.

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Pheasants are a large quarry requiring a heavy

alcon to catch them rom a stoop, or a Goshawk

rom the st. In level fight they are very ast.

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix

Once a common site but now the Grey, or English,

partridge is a rare site. Being more wary than theRed-Legged a careul approach is required.

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa

Also known as the French partridge, these birds

can be ound in very large coveys, giving thealconer an opportunity or excellent slips.

European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus

A common quarry or the Broadwings and Harris

Hawks, numerous in many locations and availableall year round.

Gulls (e.g. Herring and Lesser Black Backed)

Like Skylarks, the alconer requires a licence to

take any gull. A large alcon fown rom the st

can provide great sport; look or ploughed elds.

Brown Hare Lepus europaeus

Large Broadwings and Goshawks are needed to

take a Hare which can reach speeds o 45mph.Seasons are dependant on area so please check.

Skylark Alauda arvensis

Lark-hawking with a Merlin is a short but intense

time. A licence is required to catch a limitednumber beore they get too strong on the wing.

Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l A ug

Sep O ct N ov

Dec Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l A ug

Sep O ct N ov

Dec

Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l A ug

Sep O ct N ov

Dec

Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l A ug

Sep O ct N ov

Dec

Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l A ug

Sep O ct N ov

Dec

Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l A ug

Sep Oct Nov

Dec

Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l A ug

Sep O ct N ov

Dec

Jan Feb

Mar A pr May

Jun Ju l Aug

Sep Oct Nov

Dec

Concept 3

3.1 - Back, spine and cover

3.1A - Cover alternative

3.3 - Specic environment title spread

Leather is a nice

reference to older

books and equipment.

Text too small

Leather On the cover

may be better on the

image below.

Body text could be

better on left page so it

is not so sparse.

Information is too heavy

and text doesnt stand

out enough.


39/50



The game is spotted rom a car whiledriving over the hawking ground

or on oot rom a distant location.

Binoculars are required to prevent thequarry fushing early.

Upon spotting a covey or singular birdin the open, the alconer will remove

the hood, and cast o the alcon rom

suitable cover, allowing the bird togain height overhead.


You can see in this photo thetail-mounted telemetry transmitter.

Whatever environment you y in,

use telemetry i you dont want to

lose your alcon. It is a good idea toft the transmitter beore arriving at

the ying ground to prevent rushing

when you spot quarry.

Spot the quarry Casting off Falconers approach

On site o the alcon overhead thequarry should stay in position and lie

fat to the ground. It is now time or

the alconer to approach calmly withthe dog on a lead. Signalling to the

waiting alcon so she ollows above.page 235 page 260Spotting game Hooding

34

1 2 3

A cock pheasant may weigh as much as fve pounds, but the

average is probably closer to three pounds. They have relativelyshort wings or this weight, which accounts or their slow take-

o. However, once a pheasant levels-o, they can y at speeds

o up to 40 miles an hour.

Signalling the alcon can be done by raising

the arm, or even by showing the palm o your

hand. This silent message will keep the alcons

interest and inorm her o the imminent ush,without disturbing the quarry.

Arable Lowland

When the alcon is upwind o thehiding quarry it is time to let the dog

o and fush the game under her. The

quarry will undoubtedly fy towardsthe nearest cover.

Pick up the alcon, either rom hercaught quarry (outcome one), or by

calling her to a lure thrown out onto

the ground by the alconer (outcometwo). An experienced alcon can now

be fown again on the same day, or thealconer can call it a day and reward

their bird or a good fight.

35

Flushing the quarry The stoop Picking up

page 232

page 266

Flushing game

Picking up

4 5 6

Upon seeing the fush and hearing theshouts rom below she will stoop at

great speed to intercept the quarry

beore it reaches cover. Outcome A:The alcon will strike the game with

closed talons, causing it to tumble tothe ground with her looping over to

dispatch. Outcome B: The alcon willstrike but inaccurately, or miss all

together as the quarry jinks to avoidthe stoop; this results in a tail-chase

oten nishing as the quarrybeats the alcon to cover.

Stooping falcons have been

known to reach speeds inexcess of 200 mph; you

can quite literally hear themtearing through the air.

3.4 - Flight details Cut out images breakup the spread in a

good way.

Frutiger has been used

for the page references,

it matches Sabon well.

Flights better at

this size.

Lines crossing over

are distracting.


40/50



41/50


DISCOVERY TRANSFORMATION MAKING

RMATIONMAKING


42/50


Final designs

Tomlinson

HuntingwithRa

ptors


Falconry; a noble sport with a historydating back to 720 BC, now rising inpopularity as newcomers experience thedeep bond between man and bird oncereserved only for the regal and gentryof the land.

This book acts as a guide to thenewcomer, and a reference to theexperienced falconer or austringer.You will nd step-by-step illustrationsof possible ights in a variety ofenvironments found in the UK.

Raptor characteristics, trainingmethods, and falconry tasks are shownin rich photos and described by leadingfalconry professionals.

Flights & Theory

30


43/50



Beore deciding which bird you would

like to fy you should analyse the

environment you have available to fy

in. A clear understanding o what you

want to achieve will not only dictate

the best bird or you, but also the kind

o equipment required and the type o

quarry available.

This section o the book is split into

our environments you may encounter

in Britain. Within each environment

you will nd examples o possible

fights; rom grouse hawking in the

Highlands, to Lowland hare hawking.

Arable Lowland

Woodland

Highlands

Open Flatlands

Where a ight is described you will nd helpful

links to specic tasks in the task s ection of

this book; these may be step by step guides

or simple reference tools that are a common

feature of many ight types.

31

The cover design has been re-

designed from the version below.

When printed and assembled as

a blad, the previous cover was

too busy, as the elements did not

work together. The chosen version

(left) is a more minimal approach,

and exaggerates the shape of the

birds wing.

HuntingwithRaptorsHistory Flights & Theory Raptor Choice Training Methods Falconry Tasks


44/50


32 Arable Lowland

Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa

Also known as the French partridge, these

birds can be found in very large coveys, giving

the falconer an opportunity for excellent slips

at a choice of birds.

Jan F eb

Mar Apr May

Jun Jul Aug

S ep O ct Nov

Dec

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix

Once a common site but now the Grey, or

English, partridge is a rare site. Being more

wary than the Red-Legged a careful approach

is required, and coveys are often smaller.

Jan Feb

Mar Apr May

Jun Jul Aug

S ep O ct Nov

Dec

The Mallard Anas platyrhynchosMallards can be found in small ponds and

ditches in lowland areas. A dog is a necessity

as they are difcult to ush; river birds should

be left alone.

Jan Feb

Mar Apr May

Jun Jul Aug

S ep O ct Nov

Dec

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Pheasants are a large quarry requiring a

heavy falcon to catch them from a stoop, or a

Goshawk from the st. In level ight they are

very fast, reaching speeds up top 45mph.

Jan Feb

Mar Apr May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep Oct Nov

Dec

European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus

A common quarry for the Broadwings and

Harris Hawks, numerous in many locations and

available all year round. In Arable Lowland it

can be difcult to nd them away from cover.

Jan F eb

Mar Apr May

J un J ul A ug

S ep O ct Nov

Dec

Brown Hare Lepus europaeusLarge Broadwings and Goshawks are needed

to take a Hare which can reach speeds of

45mph. Seasons are dependant on area so

please check with your local wildlife agency.

Jan F eb

Mar Apr May

J un J ul A ug

S ep O ct Nov

Dec

Skylark Alauda arvensis

Lark-hawking with a Merlin is a short but

intense time. A licence is required to catch

a limited number before they become too

strong on the wing.

Jan F eb

Mar Apr May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep Oct Nov

Dec

Gulls (e.g. Herring and Lesser Black Backed)

Like Skylarks, the falconer requires a licence to

take any gull. A large falcon own from the

st can provide great sport; look for freshly

ploughed elds.

Jan F eb

Mar Apr May

J un J ul A ug

S ep O ct Nov

Dec

The game is spotted rom a car whiledriving over the hawking groundor on oot rom a distant location.Binoculars are required to prevent the

quarry fushing early.

Upon spotting a covey or singular birdin the open, the alconer will removethe hood, and cast o the alcon romsuitable cover, allowing the bird to

gain height overhead.

longwing stoop at feathered game

You can see in this photo the

tail-mounted telemetry transmitter.

Whatever environment you y in,

use telemetry i you dont want to

lose your alcon. It is a good idea to

ft the transmitter beore arriving at

the ying ground to prevent rushing

when you spot quarry.

spot the quarry casting off falconers approach

On site o the alcon overhead thequarry should stay in position and liefat to the ground. It is now time orthe alconer to approach calmly with

the dog on a lead. Signalling to thewaiting alcon so she ollows above.page 235 page 260Spotting game Hooding

1 2 3

A cock pheasant may weigh as much as fve pounds, but the

average is probably closer to three pounds. They have relatively

short wings or this weight, which accounts or their slow take-

o. However, once a pheasant levels-o, they can y at speeds

o up to 40 miles an hour.

Signalling the alcon can be done by raising

the arm, or even by showing the palm o yourhand. This silent message will keep the alcons

interest and inorm her o the imminent ush,

without disturbing the quarry.

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33

Longwing stoop at eathered game34Longwing ight at gulls rom the fst 36

Shortwing / Broadwing at ur and eather 38

Shortwing at small hedgerow game 42

Longwing at small game 44

Broadwing ollowing-on 46

The most common environment that most alconers

will experience in Britain, Arable Lowland has many

dierent characteristics and thereore many dierent

birds can be fown at a variety o quarry. However, like

all areas, it has its own dangers such as power lines,

and an enclosed landscape adding to the possibility o

losing sight o your bird.

Once permission has been given by the landowner, the

alconer may choose the sort o fight that best suits the

land they are on and the quarry they wish to hunt.

Some quarry such as rabbits may be caught all year,

but eathered game such as pheasants and partridge are

seasonal, with some requiring a licence.

Potential fights are described step-by-step over the

next ew pages, but remember, you are dealing withanimals and innumerous possibilities o variance so be


The most common Britishenvironment has a lot to oer

Arable Lowland

When the alcon is upwind o thehiding quarry it is time to let the dogo and fush the game under her. Thequarry will undoubtedly fy towards

the nearest cover.

Pick up the alcon, either rom hercaught quarry (outcome one), or bycalling her to a lure thrown out ontothe ground by the alconer (outcome

two). An experienced alcon can nowbe fown again on the same day, or thealconer can call it a day and rewardtheir bird or a good fight.

flushing the quarry the stoop picking up

page 232

page 266

Flushing game

Picking up

4 5 6

Upon seeing the fush and hearing theshouts rom below she will stoop atgreat speed to intercept the quarrybeore it reaches cover. Outcome A:

The alcon will strike the game withclosed talons, causing it to tumble tothe ground with her looping over todispatch. Outcome B: The alcon willstrike but inaccurately, or miss alltogether as the quarry jinks to avoidthe stoop; this results in a tail-chaseoten nishing as the quarrybeats the alcon to cover.

Stooping falcons have been

known to reach speeds in

excess of 200 mph; you

can quite literally hear them

tearing through the air.

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260

Hold the hood by its plume andapproach from below with the beakopening facing the bird. A lowapproach prevents startling the hawk.

The hood is used in the manning process

(acclimatising to humans and the human world) and

to keep the raptor in a calm state, both in the early

part of its training and throughout its falconry career.

Out of all the falconers aids the hood is the most

important piece of equipment.

There are various styles and types of hood for raptors

within falconry. The hood is hand made, often from

kip leather or suitable kangaroo leather. There are two

standard types used in American/European

Falconry; the Anglo Indian

hood (non-blocked) and made

from one piece of leather. The

Dutch Hood, that is a three piece hood blocked on

a special mould called a hood block, whichis designed to best represent the shape of the

raptors head, also allowing space for the

eyes with an adequate neck width.

It is essential that the hood ts the raptor

in a comfortable way or the raptor

will reject the hood outright, making

training very difcult.

hooding

low approach1

Hood types

A good hood should meet a number of criteria:

the hawk should not be able to get it off.

The hawk should be able to feed and cast

through it safely. It should be light in weight,

sit comfortably on the hawks head without

causing condensation, irritation or trailing

braces which annoy the hawk. It should be

light-tight. It should not cause sores around the

gape or pinch the nape feathers. It should be

tough, durable, weather-proof, and easily

cleaned or renovated.

Once accustomed to the hood, a

falcon will be at complete ease

when wearing one, becoming

so relaxed as to fall asleep.

A well tting quality hood

may be expensive but is

a real investment in thewellbeing of your bird.

Falconry Tasks

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261

As the chin strap o the hood meets thebeak, use a rolling motion, ollowingthe shape o the alcons head, to rollover and down.

Gently push the hood down into placewith the tips o your fngers, thenpause. It is vital to have a alcon thatwill sit with the braces undone.

Use one hand and your teeth to closethe hood by pulling the longer bracesin a swit motion. Dont worry, a wellftting hood cant be over tightened.

Hooding as seen in The Art

of Falconry, by Frederick II

of Hohenstaufen (1250)

Dutch hood

Well tting but

often heavy

Arab style

Soft and light-weight but

can lose its shape

Blocked Arab

A great t and hard wearing,

especially with synthetic braces

Anglo-Indian

Easy to make and often used for

hawks rather than falcons

Falconry Tasks

roll over push in place draw the braces2 3 4

Flushing game 232

Spotting game 235

Using the lure 254

Lost birds and telemetry 256

Hooding 260

Picking up 266

Bird handling 270

Food types and feeding 278

Coping and imping 280

Housing and perches 282

Fitting equipment 286

Travelling 288

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Acknowledgements

Throughout this project I referred to a number of sources; this

section gives details on these materials.

Copy

Text within the spreads is a mix of my own, falconry books

seen in the discovery stage, and Wikipedia.

Photos

Most photos of hunting scenes, equipment and hooding

practice have been taken by me with the kind permission of

the people detailed below. Other photos of quarry and raptors

(including the cover image) have been taken from ickr and

bought from iStock.

Tony James has been a falconer

for 33 years and treasurer for the

British Falconers Club for 4 years.The photos taken for this project

were of his rst year Peregrine

Falcon. He was kind enough to

let me handle and photograph

his fantastic collection of falconry

books and antique hawking

equipment.

The Hawk Conservancy kindly

allowed me to take close-up

photos of the hooding process.

The Hawk Conservancy Trust

is a conservation charity and

visitor attraction that has for

many years worked in the elds

of conservation, education,

rehabilitation and the research of

birds of prey, both in the UK and

overseas.


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