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A TIME OF CHANGE

Written by Gina Pike

Falconry in Australia, this subject is shadowed in rumor and misunderstanding across the country and the world. Not just a hobby or passing interest, for those who undertake falconry, it is a passion and vocation. Despite this, the falconry community in Australia is fragmented with little to no contact between practitioners, leaving those working with these birds with limited support and isolated. The lack of a cohesive community leads to many people being forced to “have a go” at rehabilitating these very specialized creatures. Without quality resources and support, people with the best of intentions can end up following bad advice or develop inappropriate practices which cause unintended, but long lasting harm and damage. Further complicating the matter, the regulatory and legal framework surrounding falconry is unclear, leaving practitioners in a legal grey area which discourages them from positively engaging with each other, regulatory authorities and veterinary services. However, the passion and devotion of those practicing falconry represents a great asset to wildlife and conservation efforts in Australia and globally.  

A great example of how easy it was in Australia to be thrust into a position of responsibility without adequate knowledge, training and support, can be found in the story of my own entry into falconry and the rehabilitation of birds of prey. Like with many, my own personal journey started by accident, when I needed to source some mice for a tawny frogmouth I was raising. I contacted a “local raptor rescue guy” through the vet I worked at, and was given the opportunity to have a look around his facilities while collecting the mice. When it was time to leave, he turned to me and said, “Now you know where I am, come and give me a hand.” Without further ado, I started going one day a week, in January 2013 and was inducted into the world of raptor rehabilitation.

It was there that I received my basic education and learned what I thought to be some of the founding principles of falconry. I learnt how most people or “rehabbers” run their rescue and rehabilitation facilities, and it almost goes without saying that I spent a lot of time cleaning aviaries, rats and mice plus dealing with the particular eating habits of birds of prey. Occasionally I was able to do a small amount of handling and had the opportunity to rehabilitate an Australian little falcon at home using free flight techniques, which was later a successful release.

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After only one short year my teacher was forced to retire due to health reasons. Sadly, his departure left 12 birds with no one to care for them. These particular birds, classed as un-releasable, were static display education birds. Unable to find anyone with more expertise or experience, the other volunteer at the center, Renae Downer, and I stepped up and took on the responsibility of these birds. I primarily cared for a mal-imprint, wedge tailed eagle and a mal-imprint nankeen kestrel and Renae took on the rest. For a short time, we did the best we could, however it was quite clear to us that as a result of our limited training and lack of support, our knowledge and skills were woefully inadequate. We constantly questioned everything we did, wanting to do the best for the birds, but unable to find accurate and trustworthy information during this extremely challenging time. Concerning, this type of situation was common for people starting to take an interest in raptors in Australia, and it leads to many caring and passionate people inadvertently using techniques, equipment and facilities that were inappropriate and even harmful.

Matt Lamb & Gina Pike, Apprentice workbook

Matt Lamb & Renae Downer, Apprentice workbook

Thankfully, soon after we had accepted the responsibility of these birds, Renae and I were fortunate enough to meet Michael Calvin, who is an excellent falconer and an advocate for better standards in the care and rehabilitation of raptors. Through his stewardship, we learned more advanced falconry techniques, and moved away from any less helpful methods that we had been using. He also pointed us in the direction of quality information sources like the Dr. Nick Fox Management Series. These new found skills and resources gave us the confidence to invest in some much needed quality equipment, such as telemetry, and hoods and we threw away some of the older equipment that we now know was inappropriate. Importantly, as we improved, so did the health and wellbeing of the birds that were under our care.

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At this stage, Michael had already been quietly trying to improve the standards of care for raptors in Australia for about 4 or 5 years, particularly focusing on Western Australia as each state follows its own legislation. Finally, in March 2015 Michael got a small group of falconers and rehabilitators together to officially decide to incorporate the first state-wide group concerned with birds of prey specifically using falconry techniques for rehabilitation, the Raptor Rehabilitation Association of Western Australia. A list of clear objectives was put together to help guide its evolution over time (listed at the end of this article). It was time to start formally petitioning to make the changes required to improve standards of care for Raptors in Western Australia, and ensure that everyone dealing with birds of prey had access to quality information and support.

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So, how can a beginner contribute to something so important? Someone who has only free flown one raptor and never caught anything bigger than a grasshopper or spider, granted the spiders here are massive, this is Australia. But what can I do with my limited education? Learn, support and show the government departments what good systems and protocols can produce in a person and the birds in care. This is the role I play to catch us up to the rest of the world, and I took on the task to process the paperwork to incorporate the association.

HACK BOX BUILD, Crew in pictures, Matt Lamb, Michael Calvin, Tom Calvin, Will Goodwin, Daniel Chapman-Stone

Without a doubt, Michael Calvin does a huge percentage of all the work for the group, his falconry and legislation knowledge is insurmountable. In the two years since its inception the member base of the RRAWA has steadily worked together with each other and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in regards to government legislation and the member’s work caring for and rehabilitating birds. Through this close relationship we have gained permission from the DBCA to free fly rehabilitation birds without a license including allowing the birds to take hunting opportunities should they arise while in our care. Also, there has been much needed legal change and the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 is replacing the outdated Wildlife Conservation act 1950, partly in response to calls from the RRAWA.

These objectives will fit in with the new attitude of sustainable use of wildlife in Australia and deliver improvements on how animals are rehabilitated and held in captivity. In response RRAWA has updated their constitution and their name and are now known as the Raptor Flies Association of Western Australia (RFAWA). The change to the act is an excellent example of the advocacy work of RFAWA and will work to clarify how the policies are meant to be put into practice and encourage those working with Raptors to practice with transparency.

The capabilities of RFAWA have come a long way from the first small group of falconers and rehabilitators and there has been much change in the care and rehabilitation of Birds of Prey in Western Australia. We have developed a raptor reporting system and a digital member database to enhance traceability and accountability, this will also create a history of our work that can be called upon at any time. Connections have been made with other rehabilitators around Australia and with leaders in research, falconry and veterinary science both locally and from around the world.  RFAWA has also achieved the status of an associate member of the International Association for Falconers and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF). To help new members and support those just starting out in their journey with birds of prey the organization has drafted recommended protocols, codes of practice and ethical standards. Matt Lamb and Michael have put together a comprehensive apprentice work book which I have completed and submitted back to my mentors with an easy pass. This is now used as an example for future apprentices’ and to present to DBCA when the time comes. Finally, the organization now has an active presence on the internet with our own website (www.rrawa.com), Facebook pages and Facebook groups and some of our members have also attended and represented Australia at international falconry festivals and meetings.

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All the while my own story in falconry has been quietly continuing. After finding a community and having confidence that those around me could ensure that all the animals in my care were fit, healthy and happy, my husband purchased 10 hectares of land to set up as a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Our own personal goals include maintaining a hospital room, flight aviary, rehab aviaries and the breeding quality food like quails. We are committed to the rehabilitation of birds of prey using only the very best of modern falconry techniques, which includes, for example, erecting a hack box on my property for 3 orphan peregrines that came into care November 2017. Of course, in the spirit of community these facilities and resources are at the full disposal of the Raptor Fliers Association of W.A.

 

I am not able to call myself a falconer yet, but I can see a light shining at the end of the tunnel. The work that is being done by RFAWA moves us closer to our goal every day through tenacity and dedication to the cause. Words cannot express the appreciation I have for the guidance provided to Renae and I by Matt Lamb and Michael Calvin during the rehabilitation of serval patients and through our whole journey. They have certainly changed our lives and the lives of the birds in our care so much for the better. One day, hopefully soon, I can legally call myself an Australian Falconer.

 

The goals and guiding principles of the Raptor Fliers Association of Western Australia

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  1. To establish and maintain within Western Australia, and to function as a recognised and credible Association within whose membership includes individuals with the facilities for the appropriate housing, possession and use of the most suitable equipment, legal access to exercise grounds and a proven level of competence and expertise to undertake ‘hands on’ training and free exercise flying of raptors for the purpose of rehabilitation, general exercise and well-being where appropriate in the circumstances, and for public educational display purposes.

  2. To build, maintain and record a formal history of the above.

  3. To become an affiliate of, and to support the aims, goals and principles of any future similar national organisation or and sub groups thereof from other Australian States and Territories, and to support and assist in any of the above groups or associations becoming a full member nation of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF).

  4. To establish, develop and maintain within the Association a process of mentoring, training and accreditation of all members, and to apply uniform criteria with respect to grading of membership categories.

  5. To provide guidance on, and to encourage compliance with the relevant laws and regulations, to all persons within WA who wish to free exercise fly Birds of Prey for any reason, and to encourage a strong culture of ‘proven competency first’.

  6. To adopt, support and encourage co-operation with other raptor rehabilitation/falconry groups or individuals who use similar free flying techniques, for the purpose of sharing best practice, to facilitate an effective forum and exchange of information, and to disseminate news and information to interested parties including the relevant authorities. 

  7. Under the appropriate licensing where required, to promote, initiate and assist in scientific studies of raptor species including captive breeding, their care whilst in captivity for any reason, their welfare, training, free exercise flying and assessment of suitability for release to the wild, including encouraging the use of appropriate available technology to monitor release outcomes.

  8. To serve as a source of accurate and objective information to the wider general public on the role and value of falconry in the conservation of raptors, including where appropriate, and by those suitably qualified and approved by the Committee, the provision of approved educational programmes to schools and other establishments.

  9. To promote and encourage the conservation of all Birds of Prey and their natural habitat.

Thank you!

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