The Art of Falconry: Insights from a Passionate Falconer, Francis Silva

This morning we had the opportunity to attend a falconry event in Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain. The main purpose of our visit was to meet up with falconer Francis Silva for an interview. Francis is a highly experienced falconer who has been training and working with birds of prey for many years. We were eager to learn more about his work and his passion for falconry. The event was held at the football pitch in Chiclana, where the weather gods smiled upon us: it rained just before and after the event, but during the event itself, the skies were clear and the sun was shining, ideal conditions for a falconry demonstration.

Falconer Francis Silva

The event consisted of two main parts: a competition and a beauty contest. In the competition, the birds of prey had to show their hunting skills by catching an artificial prey. The competition was divided into two rounds. In the first round, the prey was moving at a high velocity, making it difficult for the birds to catch. In the second round, the velocity of the prey was lower, resulting in a higher capture rate.

A Falconer releasing his bird of prey

We were particularly impressed by the second round of the competition. The birds of prey were able to catch the artificial prey with incredible speed and accuracy. It was clear that these birds had been trained to a very high standard.

A Hawk chasing the artificial prey

In the beauty contest, visitors got the chance to take photos of the birds of prey. There were a wide variety of birds on display, including species that we had never seen in real life before. We were particularly impressed by the Snowy Owl, made world-famous by the Harry Potter series.

Snowy Owl on display

A hooded Falcon

After the event, we had time for an interesting chat with falconer Francis.

Francis, how did you become interested in falconry?

It’s a vocation. I have been in love with birds as far as I can remember. When I was eight, a Kestrel arrived at my home and it was love at first sight. I think falconry was the only way to observe birds of prey so close up, without scaring them.

Francis proudly posing with one of his amazing birds

Can you describe the training and bonding process involved in falconry, and how do you establish trust and cooperation with your birds of prey?

If you look up the word ‘falconry’ in the dictionary, you will find ‘the art of taming, training and hunting with birds of prey’. But I think it’s more complex than that. Getting a bird of prey for falconry is like getting married. By training the birds on a daily basis, you create a strong bond and in the end they need you to provide them with food. Mind you, this doesn’t mean starving the bird. In the wild, they eat once a day and with a falconer they follow the same routine. As birds of prey have a very high metabolism, they are weighed daily, which helps us a lot in the training proces.

Males are usually more docile hence easier to train. I prefer females, they are more of a challenge.

Some critics argue that falconry is inhumane and involves cruelty to animals. What are your thoughts on this perspective?

In the USA, falconers have played an important role in the survival of the Peregrine Falcon, which suffered severe losses due to the pesticide DDT. They bred the species in captivity and managed to save it that way. The same thing happened with the New Zealand Falcon. Without any help from the government. Falconry is inscribed on the UNESCO representative list of intangible cultural heritage of Humanity, supported by 23 countries, and currently we have BIC (Bienes de Interés Cultural), something similar in Andalusia. It is a legal hunting technique with a lot of inspections. People who think our animals are not treated well, are misinformed.

Hawk in pursuit of the artificial prey

Flying fast and low ...

... ready to strike

A Harris's Hawk seconds after catching the artificial prey

Some say that the use of birds of prey for hunting may impact local ecosystems.

Falconry is a selective hunting technique. We don’t hunt just anything that moves. The impact on ecosystems is insignificant. I haven’t hunted at all for many years now, because I simply enjoy the mere flight of my birds, practising on artificial prey, like the ones you have seen here today.

Francis with one of the birds of prey

Social media and the internet have increased the visibility of falconry, but it has also led to concerns about irresponsible or unregulated practices. How do you think the falconry community can address these issues effectively?

One of the main problems we’re facing today is that it is so easy to obtain a bird of prey and for very reasonable prices. As a consequence, many people consider themselves to be a falconner. Owning a lawn mover doesn’t mean you’re a gardener, right? Falconry is a long, dedicated process of learning, in which we highly value the well-being of the birds.

Falconry is often perceived as an exclusive and expensive hobby. Can you shed light on the costs and accessibility of falconry for those who are interested in getting involved?

It is true that falconry is an expensive hobby. Telemetry equipment alone costs over 1000€, but it is necessary to locate the bird in case it flies off. Add to that good fresh food, general falconry equipment, travel expenses, adequate housing for the birds, etcetera. There are a lot of costs involved.

What role do falconers play in shaping the conversation around ethical treatment of birds of prey and their use in falconry?

Falconry plays a huge role in scaring away bird fauna around airports, in order to prevent bird strikes hitting planes. We also contribute to environmental education and raise awareness to protect birds in general.

In a world where animal rights and welfare are prominent topics, how do you see the future of falconry in Spain?

Currently there are about 5,000 falconers in Spain, and that number is stable, but I’m not sure about the future. Traditional arts will have a hard time as the next generations will certainly have less interest in them. As many as 25,000 birds of prey are being bred annually in Spain at this moment. We’ll see what the future brings.

Next month, in December, you will be participating in an international Championship held in Dubai, representing Spain. What are your expectations?

First of all, I feel fortunate to be part of my team and represent my country. I would like to go to the Olympics in France in 2024. Falconry is not an Olympic sport at present, but the King of Dubai has the ambition to change that. It would be a great showcase for our sport.

What are your most memorable moments as a falconer?

I have worked as a falconer in various airports and I have used falconry as a technique to assist birds of prey on the Balearic Islands. In general, my knowledge of falconry has allowed me to take part in many conservation projects, which are always satisfactory experiences.

Thanks a lot for your time, and all the best of luck in Dubai!