Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW Animal Science No 53, 2014: 143–149 (Ann. Warsaw Univ. of Life Sci. – SGGW, Anim. Sci. 53, 2014) Study on the relation between an accipiter bird and man RENÁTA TOBOLOVÁ2, PIOTR WIETROW2, PAWEŁ KOSIARZ2, ANNA GŁOWACKA 2, MONIKA ŁUKASIEWICZ1 1 Department of Animal Breeding, 2 „Aves” Scientific Circle Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW Abstract: Study on the relation between an were also trained for work or for sports. accipiter bird and man. The aim of this study A currently popular method of training was to learn relations between accipitrids and is the so-called positive reinforcement men working with them. The study consisted in observations of trained accipitrids – common which consists in the strengthening of buzzard Buteo buteo and Northern goshawk positive behaviors by the use of, e.g. re- Accipiter gentili, during everyday trainings, with wards and behavioral markers. Before special attention devoted to the role of sight in such training, an appropriately strongly their life. As a result of observations made in the motivating reward is selected depending study, it was concluded that the visual and audio signal as well as knowing each other and common on species preferences. trust were important factors during man’s work Northern goshawk Accipiter gentili is with a raptor. Common buzzard turned out to a timid and secretive bird, difficult to ob- be a calmer bird, its responses were less rapid serve (Pielowski 1996). It is a common, compared to Northern goshawk. This raptor did though not numerous, species of for- not pay attention to the presence of unfamiliar persons, but was vulnerable to objects emitting est interior (Tomiałojć and Stawarczyk signals unfamiliar to it (buses or moving trolleys). 2003, Anderwald 2013). It is unsociable, None of the hunting birds allowed to be touched impetuous, wild and very bold. It eagerly by an unfamiliar person, which is a natural preys in the afforsted rural and field land- behavior of raptors. Northern goshawk was scape. The spectrum of its preys is very responding signifi cantly faster to the sight of an approaching person and was fl aying away almost wide because the trophic niches of male immediately. and female hardly coincide. The female is remarkably larger than the male and Key words: common buzzard Buteo buteo, its prey may be that of the size of a hare, Northern goshawk Accipiter gentili, man-bird whereas male prey does not exceed the relations size of a pigeon. Recent goshawk ex- pansion (Rutz et al. 2006b) has been at- INTRODUCTION tributable to a continuous increase in the population number of pigeons as a result For ages, relations between man and of transformations in agriculture (Rutz et animals have been accomplished on the al. 2006a). Goshawk is reluctant to car- plane of production and coexistence. rion and has a strong hunting instinct, Since ancient times, a man has been re- therefore it is not the ally to pigeon and maining in close relations with birds that poultry producers. Many goshawks end apart from keeping company to man, their lives in traps set nearby dovecotes 144 R. Tobolová et al. (Kruszewicz 2010). Perceived as a ver- Korbel 1983, Dudziński 1988, Havet min, this raptor has been for ages exter- 1994, Godlewski 1997, Elphick 2003, minated also by hunters who were blam- Hayman 2007, Nüsslein 2008). ing it for losses in populations of hares Falconry involves not only preying, and game birds. but also cooperation between a raptor The situation of common buzzard and a man. Many falconers take care Buteo buteo is much more favorable. over their raptors for pure pleasure. In It is the most numerous accipiter bird general, falconry involves taming (man- of Poland and Europe (Tomiałojć and nig) of a raptor and teaching it to fly to Stawarczyk 2003). A high population the falconer. After appropriate training, number, small habitat requirements and the birds equipped in claws and excellent “open lifestyle” enable its easy observa- senses are able to capture a prey. A fal- tion outside cities (Pielowski 1996). It coner takes a great pleasure in possess- nests in forests and large tree complexes. ing a “winged pet” and in the possibil- As it feeds with rodents, the biotopes ity of observing its flights, whereas the of this raptor include rural and field preying itself is a wonderful spectacle landscapes (Perrins 1998). Birds con- and, presumably, the most natural way stitute the second in line component of of practicing hunting. its diet, although some scientists claim The aim of this study was to learn that the share of birds in its prey may relations between accipitrids and men be significantly greater (Goszczyński working with them. The study consisted and Piłatowski 1986, Jędrzejewska and in observations of trained accipitrids Jędrzejewski 2001, Reif et al. 2001, – common buzzard Buteo buteo and Goszczyński et al. 2005, Skierczyński Northern goshawk Accipiter gentili, 2006). As common buzzard feeds with during everyday trainings, with special field pests, a man has no reason for ex- attention devoted to the role of sight in terminating this raptor. their life. These birds are used in falconry to, e.g. hunt with a raptor for game (most frequently with goshawk). The widely MATERIAL AND METHODS understood falconry has been popular in many parts of the world inhabited by the Observations involved two species of birds of prey. It includes both hunting accipitrids: the female common buzzard with raptors of the falcon family (Falco- Buteo buteo aged 6 years and male North- nidae) sui generis, but also hawking with ern goshawk Accipiter gentili 1 year of various species of accipitrids belonging age. Observations of bird trainings were to the Accipitridae family including ea- recorded using a stationary digital cam- gles and their subfamily – sea eagles, era and a flying platform, in the form e.g. white-tailed eagle Haliaëtus al- of short videos presenting behaviors of bicilla or fish hawks Pandion haliaëtus birds in different situations (Fig. 1): (1) – although they all belong to the order calling the bird to a falconry glove with Falconiformes (all contemporary orni- meat hidden inside; (2) calling the bird to thological and hunting data come from: a falconry glove without feed; (3) calling Study on the relation between an accipiter bird and man 145 1. 2. 3. 4. FIGURE 1. Various scenorios of bird training the raptor to a falconer’s hand without ter each flight, the bird is rewarded with a glove and meat; (4) calling the rap- a piece of meat. Depending on physical tor to a falconer’s hand without a glove, conditions, the bird performs from a few but with meat; and summoning the birds to several dozens of flights in a single with the use of different types of obsta- training session. Hence, the stimulus cles, situations non-specific to raptors’ the bird is responding to is the falconry environment and training spaces, includ- glove. ing the stress-inducing ones. Training of The first stage of the study included birds have made their owners. Training the identification of a stimulus which the birds took three hours a day through triggered the accipitrid’s response in the September, October and November. form of flight to the trainer. The experi- All observations were meticulously de- ment was carried out in a few variants. scribed. The first consisted in calling the bird to a falconry glove with meat hidden inside. The response of the raptor was RESULTS AND DISCUSSION practically instantaneous. Another vari- ant included calling the bird to a glove Training of the birds of prey is aimed at without feed. In this case, the response of improving their physical performance the raptor was also appropriate. The third and at developing habits indispensable variant included an attempt of calling the during cooperation of a falconer and raptor to a falconer’s hand without glove his raptor. The basic training method in- and meat. It resulted in the indifference cludes the calling of a bird to a glove. Af- as well as lack of response and interest 146 R. Tobolová et al. of the bird. The final variant included an was observed in the experiment with attempt of calling the bird to a falconer’s common buzzard. When the owner was hand with feed. Despite reward being calling the bird from behind a building, noticeable to the raptor, this attempt also the raptor who could not see the glove ended with bird’s indifference towards was not responding to signals. When the man. It may, therefore, be concluded falconer emerged from behind the build- that it was the sight of the glove (which ing, the response was instantaneous (as is associated by the bird with reward in the case of goshawk) and the bird was from the beginning of the training) and flying to the trainer. The second variant not of meat that was the stimulus which of the experiment consisted in examining determined raptor’s flight to the falcon- the function of sight of common buzzard er. With time and with growing trust in in conditions unknown to the bird, i.e. bird-owner relation, some modifications stress-inducing conditions. Initially, the may be introduced into trainings. The bird was left on the bus stop at a high- falconer is able to teach the raptor flying traffic street. Seeing the approaching cars through between legs of another person. and buses, the raptor was showing stress The raptor is attempting to execute this responses, which included rapid move- unnatural to it command when it sees the ments of head in various directions and appropriate signal given by the falconer, attempts of escape.