Malta, still a killing field for migrating birds

See the video on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0SgNMBvVoQ&feature=player_embedded#

www.birdlifemalta.org

What a foolish practice.

Migration Studies of Peregrines

The longest running peregrine falcon migration studies have been done by a group of falconers.
Here is their website:
www.earthspan.org

I just spoke with Bill Seegar, Ph.D. He is one of the group who just finished their 40th year of migration studies of peregrines. We were both agreeing as to how anyone involved in the peregrine recovery program were falconers at some time in their lives. I sort of say, once a falconer, always falconer, whether currently practicing or not.

Peregrine Managment Meeting June 29th, 2009

I went to Tallahassee to the peregrine management meeting. The purpose is to discuss the approval of a template for a managment plan for a 2010 take of passage peregrines. Eric Edwards, NAFA SE Director, American Falconry Conservancy Director, Florida Falconry Association and Florida Hawking Fraternity member and the other falconers present also suggested that the plan adopted in Texas is a well-thought out and would be a good model for Florida falconers as well. The next meetings are in September. So, we will be working out the final details for a 2010 take.

Personally, I've only seen one 'Beach' peregrine in my lifetime. It was 'Honeycomb'. It was the late Alva Nye's lovely bird which he flew for 15 years.

Hawk Mountain Celebrates their 75th Year

Hawk Mountain was well-known for the concentration of migrating raptors. Shooters (I DON'T call them hunters). Would shoot raptors by the thousands. It was considered 'good' conservation practice back then. It was distressing to see in the book: "Hawks Aloft: The Story of Hawk Mountain" the dead and dying raptors lined up like sardines. I'm so glad that that this misguided and sad era is now over in the United States. But, such practices are still around in regions of Europe, which is so distressing to hear about. Austria, Sweden, Malta are among several countries where legal hawk killing and persecution still occur. Falconers are striving to stop the practice.

http://hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=Chronology

De-Listing Meeting in Tallahassee, 4/15/09

The meeting went well. There will be no passage take in the fall of 2009. But, the peregrine will be de-listed in Florida. A management plan which includes a fall take of peregrines by falconers will be developed.