THERE is a fine line between wild and tame with any animal. Hours of patient training can fall apart as instinct takes over at a sudden flap of plastic or bolt of a hare. Yet nowhere is that line more precariously traced than with falconry. No domesticated animal can revert so quickly and successfully to fending for itself in the wild – but then a hawk, however well trained, is never truly domesticated. A horse or hound will visibly enjoy, indeed often reciprocate, an affectionate nuzzle. If you need that sort of validation from your animals, then it may be best to give birds of prey a wide berth.
Nevertheless, for thousands of years man and hawk have forged an intimate partnership everywhere from China to the Middle East and Europe. Then, as now, falconry was invariably a male-dominated pastime but there are plenty of colourful female role models. Japanese falconers trace their roots back to Kochiku, the woman credited with introducing this noble pursuit to her country in the fourth century AD. Eleanor of Arborea not only managed to fend off the King of Aragon to rule most of Sardinia during the late 14th century but was also a keen falconer who implemented perhaps the first ever legislation to protect these birds. The Eleonora’s falcon was named in her honour.
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de The Field.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de The Field.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A sweet-pea Summer
Sweet peas are enjoying an Instagram moment’ but to appreciate fully these charming flowers one must hasten back to the real world, says Ursula Buchan
Top sporting stays
Effortlessly smart and with superb shooting and fishing on the doorstep, these British hotels are the perfect base for fieldsports enthusiasts, says Madeleine Silver
Tradition with a twist
Showcasing the finest British produce from honey, beer and butter to game and venison, this month’s trio of dishes truly encapsulate the taste of Britain, says Philippa Davis
Daylesford
Organic farming at its finest
The best of British breeds
When it comes to developing and establishing the world’s most popular gundog breeds, Britain has a lot to be proud of, says David Tomlinson
Ping and you're winning
An email alert for burgonets coming to auction draws Roger Field’s attention to a promising lot. Meanwhile, a sale from novelist John le Carré’s estate temporarily raises an eyebrow
Saving the queen of flowers
Trailing clouds of glory into your garden, historic roses are as vital a part of British heritage as a Gainsborough painting and must be preserved
Long live the sporting pub
Not just a place to drink, the right kind of country pub is a beacon for fieldsports enthusiasts. The Star Inn in Harome is one such spot
The sole survivors
An increasingly casual attitude to what we wear has given rise to the so-called dress sneaker’ but proper gentlemen's shoes will never go out of fashion
A win in the willow
The cricket bat industry is steeped in tradition yet must move with the times to meet demand, opening a lucrative door for landowners in the process