The Falconry Village,
Midland Game Fair.
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Rosemary Rachael Hart.
John Dowling was fund-raising for a cause more
important than most of us realise.
Human life can depend on creatures we are rapidly driving to extinction, yet we often ignore their
plight
because they don't appeal to our concepts of beauty... Does appearance matter so much? People show concern for
tigers, elephants,
rhinos, whales, pandas... but not vultures... Yet however much the first five need our help, to
John and
like-minded people, overlooking vultures couldn't be more serious.
Human ideas of good looks can lead to problems like dogs who can't breathe properly because of their
squashed-flat
faces. But I have yet to see an ugly vulture... when I had the privilege of seeing
nine of the Old World's sixteen species in the wild, I saw only birds who are wonderfully evolved to
perform a critically important task. What's the use of feathers on your head if you are a carcass disposal
expert? You are only going to get them fouled up! Why not have a long neck if it means you can reach further,
so get more to eat? That's the way evolution works. Yet once you are on the wing, only an experienced birder
can distinguish you from an eagle, and eagles have the “correct” public image! And the Bearded Vulture with
its feathered head is one of the most magnificent of all great flying birds.
The vultures' decline began in India, where cattle are sacred, so allowed to die natural deaths. Vultures
disposed of them, with their powerful stomach acids destroying all the pathogens. Then someone discovered a
new anti-inflammatory drug – diclofenac – and cattle carcasses proved so poisonous to vultures that overnight
they nearly became extinct. In their absence rats and feral dogs carrying rabies have less powerful stomach
acids so the pathogens thrive – to the detriment of people! Deaths from rabies and other horrible diseases
have multiplied...
India has learned its lesson, so you would think other countries would take note. Sadly no! Although there are safe alternatives, countries with vultures permit the sale of diclofenac. Worse still are the much despised poachers. Vultures are the first to spot their crimes and circle in the sky, attracting rangers so more poachers are arrested. To stop this, poachers now commit double murder by poisoning the carcasses to kill vultures. Many African species are now critically endangered and John promotes the charity that supports them, Vulpro.
More power to its arm!
In the ring of the Falconry village John flew Lydon, his Indian Eagle Owl, who had a huge wing span
with beautiful chestnut markings. When I met Lydon later I could admire the most striking feature
of eagle owls; their wonderful golden eyes. On his stand John had an interesting selection of birds.
There was a lovely Tawny Owl called Wobble after one of John's favourite musicians. Tawny owls vary
in colour – Wobble was truly tawny – a rich golden-brown that made me want to paint him.
John also had an immature Great Grey Owl with the unlikely name of Dave. Unlikely because his
Latin name, Strix nebulosa, gives a better idea of the Great Grey Owl, the seldom-seen spirit of the far northern forests that floats silently on huge wings. Its sense of hearing is so acute that it can pounce on small mammals hidden in tunnels under the snow. Like far too many birds, it is rare, and captive breeding, far from producing miserable prisoners, gives it a better chance of survival. (Owls are not wise – they are in fact much less intelligent than parrots, but they suffer just as much from people ignorant of their needs buying them as pets.) Dave mostly rested out of sight, a show being a new experience for him, but John's assistant Michaela allowed me the privilege of meeting him.
One of John's two falcons present was Zalli, a hybrid between a peregrine and the Aplomado falcon of South America. Her full name was Quetzalli – the Aztec word for “beautiful feather” – and she certainly had beautiful feathers.
Nearby I watched Solstice the Golden Eagle having her beak trimmed. She gained her name because the solstice was when her
owner, Adam, bought her. In the wild she would sharpen her beak on on stones and the bones of her prey. Her beak is made of keratin, the same as our fingernails and careful beak trimming was no more painful for her than cutting your nails.
Young birds in training flew in the ring. A Red-tailed Hawk still flew on a creance, a long line attached to leather straps (jesses) on her legs. The Peregrine x American Kestrel hybrid who followed had progressed to flying free, but twice took off on an agenda of her own before deciding to return.
Friendly women in The Female Falconers Club explained the support
they give to women falconers. If I was planning to keep a bird of prey I'd join like a shot, but I go away so much
it would be wrong to inflict my lifestyle on any bird or animal at all.
I've made a resolve – if I ever become unable to drive – but then I wouldn't have anywhere to fly a bird of prey. A
few chickens and a rescue bird from Potty Parrots would be much happier with me than a hawk or falcon.