Birds of Prey and Falconry

Hunting with birds of prey is a tradition dating back some 3,500 years. Since 2016, falconry has been listed as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. This hunting method came to Europe in the wake of the early Migration Period.

It reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Frederick II of the Staufer dynasty in the 13th century. He viewed falconry as the ideal training for a ruler and wrote one of the most famous books on the subject. The first Prussian king practiced falconry, as did Margrave Karl of Brandenburg-Ansbach, who owned Europe’s largest falconry estate in the 18th century. In Brühl in the Rhineland, the Falkenlust hunting lodge commemorates the passion for hunting of Clemens August, Elector and Archbishop of Cologne. Since the 19th century, falconry—once reserved for the nobility—has declined sharply. Today, this form of hunting remains important at airports, where falcons are used to disperse flocks of birds that might otherwise pose a danger to aircraft.

In Germany, falconer training includes not only the regular hunting exam but also a special falconry exam. There are three major falconry associations representing approximately 2,000 members. Hunting is conducted exclusively with captive-bred birds.

Andrea Badouin, SPSG, has been practicing falconry since 1991 and will introduce herself to the audience with her goshawk, Thora. She will be supported by other falconers, who will also provide insights into this unique hunting method, which is based on a close bond of trust between human and animal. The various hunting methods specific to the birds will be presented.

IN GERMAN