North American Falconers' Association Promoting Falconry for Raptor Conservation in Africa By Ron Hartley, Photos by Ron Hartley

Falcon College Falconry Club Students in the Zambezi Valley

This article has been adapted from a ZNCT, $700.00), the International paper presented to the 8th Pan Association of Falconry (IAF, using a African Ornithological Congress (PAOC) donation from NAFA, $410.00), the in Bujumbura, Burundi in October 1992, Royal Society for the Protection of and it was the first time that a falconer (RSBP), and the International Council for had been invited. It is held every four Preservation (ICBP. $375.00 collec years at a different venue in Africa, the tively). IAF president. Christian de 7th PAOC notable for the resolution sup Coune, was astonished to learn that the porting conservation minded falconry latter two organizations had supported a clubs proposed by Dr. P. J. Mundy. I was falconry organization, possibly a first. committed to re-submitting this resolution My invitation stemmed from the ZFC and winning - Mundy's had failed 17 research program with the Peregrine votes to 25. Over 130 delegates attended Fund Inc. (TPF. Hartley 1991). Our ties PAOC 8, from 28 African and 6 with TPF go back to 1978. when we European and North American countries. established our captive breeding pro Financial support for my attendance gramme (Thomson 1984 c). Jim Weaver was provided by the Raptor Conservation and Prof. Tom Cade visited us in 1983. Fund (RCF) of the Zimbabwe Falconer's whilst working on Taita , and sub Club (ZFC, administered by the sequently established a joint enterprise Zimbabwe National Conservation Trust, with the ZFC and the Department of

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National Parks and Wildlife Management cooperative and friendly atmosphere. (DNP). Jim and Bill Heinrich have "Until recent decades falconers were fre returned on several occasions to pursue quently the only ally of raptors and much this work, focussed mainly on Taita and of the statutory protection is a direct peregrine research, including DDT result of the falconers' commitment to impact. Since 1991 Dr. Richard Watson preservation of birds of prey" (Burnham of TPF has taken over as the Research 1990)."Falconry has never been more Biologist for Africa and Madagascar, part popular than it is today" with about of TPF Pan African Raptor Conservation 10,000 to 20,000 practitioners, primari Program (PARC), and my attendance at ly in the Middle East, Europe, and North the 8th PAOC was part of this overall America, with lesser numbers in South effort. The theme of the 8th PAOC was America, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, "Birds and the African environment." the Asiatic part of the Soviet Union. About 150 papers were presented at ses Korea, Japan and the Indian subconti sions and workshops which included: nent (Cade 1982). birds in disturbed environments, conser Most falconry organizations have vation of biodiversity, education for con established strict codes of conduct con servation, and the biology of birds of trolling the take of raptors from the wild, prey. I presented papers on: Notes on how they are maintained and flown the breeding biology, hunting behaviour (Burnham 1990). In North America and ecology of the Taita in where there are roughly 3,500 falconers, Zimbabwe, and "Falconry as an instru studies have shown that there is no nega ment of conservation in Zimbabwe." tive impact on raptor populations by the Relatively little organized falconry occurs demands of falconry (Burnham 1990) . in Africa, south of the Sahara, restricted Falconry has been a legal pursuit in to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zimbabwe for more than 24 years. A Botswana. In Zimbabwa there has been special falconry policy was established in an extended period of successful opera 1976 by the Department of National tion, where the sport has been recog Parks and Wildlife Management (DNP) nized by the Department of National and the Zimbabwe Falconers Club (ZFC) Parks and Wildlife Management (DNP) as which related to the new Parks and Wild an integral part of overall conservation Life Act of 1975. This act sought to policy (Thomson 1984a, b and c). entrust a greater conservation onus on Consequently the DNP falconry policy the users of wildlife. The bases of the fal has been used as a model in South Africa conry policy are a code of conduct and a and Botswana, while it has been consid grading system. These have resulted in a ered also in Namibia (Brown and high standard of practical falconry Simmons in lit.) and Kenya (Osborn in (Hartley 1983) and conservation prac lit.). Nevertheless there is still considerable tices (Hartley 1991) and a modest but apprehension amongst some African steady growth in the number of falconers ornithologists towards legalized falconry. (Table 1). The ZFC conservation strategy At the 7th Pan African Ornithological has 4 components: education and public Conference (PAOC) a motion supporting awareness through talks and demonstra conservation-minded falconry clubs by Dr. tions by experienced falconers and from P. J. Mundy (DNP, Zimbabwe) and R. 2 falconry clubs at private schools Osborn (Kenya National Parks Dept.) was (Hartley 1987); veterinary care and reha defeated by 25 votes to 17 (Mundy bilitation; a research data base on raptor 1989). At the 8th PAOC I proposed a nest sites used for studies of populations, resolution in support of conservation- comparative ecology, DDT impact and minded falconry clubs, but after viewing the prey base of hawks; and a captive the list of resolutions, the council got cold breeding and release programme mainly feet and decided to abandon this part of on the African peregrine (Hartley 1991). the proceedings! Nevertheless there was A review of the activities of the no antagonism towards falconry and the Zimbabwe Falconer's Club (ZFC) over the proceedings were conducted in a most past 16 years shows that the

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ciency with one of the non-protected species such as the African goshawk (A. tachiro. C). To fly the African peregrine a falconer has to satisfy three specially appointed A grade examiners that he is highly competent with the lanner. Competence is gauged on general man agement of the hawk, its response to the handler and its performance on wild quarry in the field. Consequently falcon ers are graded into A, B or C categories, a system which has ensured high stan dards of practical falconry, coupled with the necessary expertise in managing the raptors and even their prey. Without the commitment to the sport itself (Hartley 1983) there would not have been the same motivation in the conservation activities. Immature female Taita falcon No unreasonable constraints have ever been placed on the acquisition of Zimbabwean approach of encouraging hawks including the peregrine. There has non-governmental organizations with a been no commercialization of raptors vested interest in a wildlife resource is either. Zimbabwe falconers are neither working well with falconry and raptor mere hawk keepers nor "Robin Hood" conservation (Hartley 1991) . a view sup falconers (Glasier 1978) . If one does not ported also by several authorities (Mundy have the time to hunt your hawk properly 1989. Steyn 1990. Burnham 1990) . it is hacked back or passed on to some Moreover, effective, inexpensive systems one else. Proper falconry is too demand are necessary for research and conserva ing to get popularized. tion in Africa (Hartley 1991). Enthusiasts are encouraged to join the The following describes the falconry club and they are given assistance. policy, research and captive breeding Furthermore the club has run an open, programmes. high profile operation in the country for some 16 years. Yet there has never been POLICY a problem of too many members (Table The policy is regulated by a govern 1) . On the contrary some of the best fal ment appointed falconry coordinator who coners cease practicing when they do not is also a leading falconer. Permits are have sufficient time to do justice to their issued in terms of a code of conduct hawk. However, most of these individuals which, in effect, is a signed contract still remain strong supporters of the club, between the falconer and the director of several participating in the research pro the department. The permit prescribes gramme as well. certain specially protected species which In return for the reasonable use of may be taken for the purpose of falconry. hawks from the wild there has been a These are the African peregrine (Falco willingness to participate in the research peregrinus minor. A) . the lanner (Falco activities well beyond the requirements of biarmicus, B) . the African hawk eagle the code of conduct. Although members (Hieraaetus fasciata, B) and the black are obligated to report nest sites, submit sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus, locational and mensural data on captured B). Only indigeous raptors are permitted. hawks, submit carcasses and so on, a sys In order to fly any of the B category tem has been established whereby mem hawks the falconer has to satisfy one of bers do not feel pressurized by the the appointed falconry examiners that he research team and coordinator to do has reached an approved level of profi things. Consequently members offer this

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material freely and seek advice on the rel surements. Some useful work has been evant methods. Reliable data is also facili done on the Ayres' eagle (Hartley and tated. Mundy in prep) while two specimens of As a member of the research commit the little known Siberian peregrine (Falco tee DNP Chief Ornithologist Dr. P.J. peregrinus calidus) have also been collect Mundy has helped to plan and guide the ed. Wherever possible carcasses have projects. been submitted to the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo or to the DNP. RESEARCH PROGRAMME Blood samples have been taken from As the practice of falconry has been a variety of captive raptors to assist largely dependent on the taking of rap researchers overseas. Studies have also tors from the wild, a harvest must be justi been conducted on the food intake of fied on the basis of availability. Falconers captive raptors. have been under an obligation to report A special survey on the raptors of the nest sites to the coordinator, while they Batoka Gorge system was started in have been encouraged to collect data on 1983 after a visit by professor T. J. Cade productivity as well. The success of the and J. D. Weaver of TPF. This has now system can be gauged by the increase in developed into a more detailed study on known peregrine sites from 10 in 1971, populations and ecology to assist both in 47 by 1984, 107 by 1989 and 132 environmental impact assessment and today. The same has happened to sites mitigation measures necessary for a for other species used in falconry, such as planned hydro-electric dam (Hartley the , black sparrowhawk, 1993) . The ZFC has also proposed that African hawk eagle, African goshawk, the area be proclaimed as a special bird ovambo (A, ovampensis) and redbreasted of prey sanctuary (Hartley 1991). sparrowhawks (A. rufiventris), plus those Fieldwork has been particularly difficult in not generally used such as Taita falcon this rugged and inhospitable zone, made (Falco fasciinucha) , crowned eagle more complicated by the existence of a (Stephanoaetus coronatus), Martial eagle minefield at the top, the legacy of the (Polemaetus bellicosus), black eagle recent civil war in Zimbabwe, The gorges (Aquila verreauxii). are Africa's equivalent of the Snake River The data bank has facilitated special Canyon in the USA. ized work on DDT impact on the African Another key aspect has been the col goshawk and the African peregrine lection of data on quarry species, increas (Hartley 1991) - the ZFC has been ingly relevant from an organization that involved in DDT impact research since hunts a wide range of gamebirds (Hartley 1976 (Thomson 1984c). The African and Mundy 1992) and other species goshawk study has been a joint project throughout the year. with the Overseas Development The ZFC publishes its results, while it Administration (ODA) , while that on the also produces its newsletter Talon twice a peregrine has been a joint venture with year. TPF and the DNP. Data has been used also by the DNP THE FIELDWORK TEAM AND to revise the list of specially protected OTHER ORGANIZATIONS species in Zimbabwe (Mundy in lit. ) and Most importantly the ZFC has built in the Zimbabwe Bird Atlas project. up a strong team of supporters who Currently data is being analyzed on the know what they are looking at and how status and comparative ecology of the to go about basic fieldwork. Members peregrine, lanner and Taita falcon. include farmers, tradesmen, schoolmas Falconers often trap hawks away ters, doctors, accountants, businessmen, from such sites, while they receive injured veterinary surgeons and wildlife biolo ones from the public. All recoveries are gists. A group with such diverse talents documented with relevant information on has proved largely instrumental in the location, date of recovery, moult, overall success of the operation. plumage characteristics, weight and mea- Apart from the relationships with

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equipment, a Landcruiser and two white water rafts. The National Birds of Prey Centre in the U. K. (NBPC) has donated incubators and a computer-word proces- sor.The EWT has provided spotting scopes. The TPF has provided a wide range of world-class expertise including fieldworkers and scientific personnel. For instance Prof. Jim Enderson helped to plan and facilitate the DDT impact survey on the peregrine, Dr. Ian Newton sam pled the eggs and Mark Robertson helped with the climbing.

CAPTIVE BREEDING AND RELEASE PROGRAMME This has focussed mainly on the African Peregrine and has been supple mented recently with a pool of Taita Falcons. The threats of DDT and the need to be self sufficient in the produc tion of hunting hawks stimulated the pro gramme (Thomson 1984 c). Started in 1978 as a joint venture between the DNP and the ZFC, the first successes came in 1981 when two pairs produced three young. By the end of 1992, 15 pairs had produced 128 young, 111 of these fledging successfully. Eleven have been lost as trained birds during falconry £4uJ^'. .'- - - i hunts and 29 have been released to the Batoka Gorges. wild, mainly in the past four seasons. Each released bird has been ringed. Five DNP and TPF,the ZFC is affiliated to the have been recovered, while two have International Association of Falconry been seen at the release sites several (IAF), NAFA, the Endangered Wildlife months later. Trust of Southern Africa (EWT), the Until 1992. when the Transvaal Southern African Ornithological Society Falconry Club in South Africa had their (SAOS). the African Raptor Information first success, this was the only pro Centre (ARIC), the Zimbabwe National gramme producing the African peregrine Conservations Trust (ZNCT), the in captivity. So far 48 peregrines have Ornithological Association of Zimbabwe been used: 30 from the wild and 18 Fl's. (OAZ), the Zambezi Society and the Just 26 of these have made up 15 suc Wildlife Society of Zimbabwe. Working cessful pairs. Careful changing of mates relationships have also been established has helped to improve success. The suc with the ODA, the Transvaal Museum cess rate has been creditable, 54.2% of and the Natural History Museum in the birds breeding, compared with levels Bulawayo. of 30-50% achieved elsewhere (Lindberg In 1989 the ZFC established the 1982) . Nearly all of the birds produced Raptor Conservation Fund (RCF), admin have been the result of natural incubation istered by the ZNCT. It has supported all and they have been reared full time by of the projects since then, while it has the parents. Almost all of the breeding also helped to fund recent work on black birds have been recruited from the pool eagles in the Matopos by Val Gargett. of trained hunting hawks. TPF has donated climbing and incubator A great strength of the programme is

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22 North American Falconers' Association that it has encouraged participation and RSBP. ICBP. RCF (ZNCT). Mr. C. de has avoided exclusivity: 17 individuals Coune, Drs. G. Allport, R. Kenward. R. have held pairs of peregrines for breed- Watson, and R. T. Wilson, all of whom made my attendance possible.

REFERENCES Burnham, W. A. 1990. Raptors and people. In: Newton, I. and Olsen, P. Birds of Prey. Merehurst Press: London, pp. 170-188. Cade. T. J. 1982. The falcons of the world. Collins: London. Glasier, P. 1978. Falconry and Hawking. London: B. T. Batsford. Hartley. R. R. 1983. Falconry in Zimbabwe. North American Falconers' Club Journal 22: 84-91. Hartley, R. R. 1987. The operation of Falcon College Falconry Club. North American Falconers' Club Journal 26: 6- 12. Hartley. R. R. 1991. The Zimbabwe Falconers' Club - Current research and f : conservation projects. Endangered Wildlife 8: 9-15. Hartley, R. R. and Mundy, P. J. Adult tiercel African peregrine. 1992. The management of gamebirds in Zimbabwe. In: Proceedings of the Perdix ing, while 19 falconers have contributed VJ conference 1991. Gibier Faune birds. A wide base of expertise has been Sauvage 9. built up. plus the appropriate infrastruc Hartley. R.R. 1993. The Batoka ture and a substantial gene pool of pere Gorges, haven for birds of prey. African grines. Wildlife 47: 74-78. The total cost of the programme Lindberg. P. 1982. Captive breeding 1978 to 1991 (1990 prices), in terms of programme for reintroduction of the food and equipment, has been (Zim) , Falco peregrinus. in $228,496 - not even the price of a sec Fennoscandia. Nordic Congr. Ornithol. ond hand Mercedes Benz in Zimbabwe! 3: 65-78. This has amounted to a cost of (Zim) Mundy, P. J. 1989. Raptors at the $2,058 per fledged chick. Nearly all of Seventh Pan-African Ornithological these costs have been borne by the indi Congress. Newsletter of the WWGBP vidual breeders. Needless to say there is 10: 9-11. just not that kind of money available for Steyn. P. and Arnott. G. 1990. full time endangered species projects in Hunters of the African sky. Cape Town: Zimbabwe, nor for that matter in most Struik Winchester. Third World countries. Thomson, W. R. 1984. a - Falconry: The ZFC has helped to seed captive an arm of raptor conservation: b - DDT breeding projects in Southern Africa, in Zimbabwe. : 169-171; c - Captive having provided six pairs of captive bred breeding of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrines to the Transvaal and Natal peregrinus minor) : 241-244. In: Falconry Clubs and one pair to the Mendelsohn. J. M. and Botswana Falconry Club. Sapaford. C.W (eds) . Proc. M 2nd symp. African predatory j^^< ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS birds. Durban: Natal Bird *5| i* Sincere thanks to NAFA. the IAF. Club: 15-18. W ^

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