IAF July 2019 eBulletin

Thanks to volunteer translators, this eBulletin is available in other languages. If you would like to take part, email muehle@iaf.org . If your language does not appear, we load  late translations onto the Facebook page

Second International Falconry Meet in Paraguay

The 2nd International Falconry Meeting in Paraguay was held between the 8th and the 15th of July. Falconers from Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Ireland, the United States and a veterinarian from Brazil attended.

The week commenced with a falconry mass and was filled with a variety of activities. The Paraguayan IAF member ACCAPP provided the participants with the opportunities to see bat falcons, Ornate hawk eagles and forest falcons hunting a variety of prey in their native habitat. In the middle of the week, an expedition to the Misiones region of Paraguay was undertaken to hunt hares with a golden eagle and to test the agility of the bat falcons on snipe.

This was followed by the First International Falconry and Conservationist Conference of Paraguay on the 12th of July. During this event, several falconers, veterinarians and rehabilitators spoke on a range of issues affecting falconers and wild raptors in the region. IAF representatives held presentations covering a range of topics including the positive role of falconers in the world, the cultural dimensions of falconry, raptor electrocution and the IAF education program.

Later that day, the 2nd IAF Latin America WG (GTLA) meeting was chaired by GTLA Chairman Leonardo Vargas and was well attended by regional IAF member representatives. A focus of this meeting was the restructuring of GTLA into different commissions, each of which are chaired by a specialist in this field. The week ended with a falconry excursion close to Asunción, where the native giant wood rail (Aramides ypecaha) and creamy-bellied thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus) were hunted with an ornate hawk eagle and a forest falcon. The last night the game which had been caught during the week was cooked and everyone exchanged thoughts about the week's hawking.

Below: Members and observers at the 2nd IAF Latin America WG (GTLA) meeting

2019 Council of Delegates Meeting 1st-6th December, Carmona, Spain

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Egyptian kestrel rescue project

The Egyptian Association for Conservation of Wild Birds (ACW) and the Raptors Club of Egypt are collaborating on a project to rescue kestrels. This project seeks to address the large-scale illegal hunting and poaching of kestrel chicks which are especially susceptible to this due to their increasing propensity to nest in residential areas. Studies have found that kestrels are being put under further pressure due to the use of agricultural chemicals which lead to liver diseases and reduced weights. This project aims to increase kestrel populations by:

- Assisting government authorities in the collection of illegally kept birds from markets and releasing them in specially designated protected areas.
- Creating artificial nests in the wilds to assist kestrels in their breeding efforts.
- Raising awareness of the importance of this falcon’s ecological role.
- Raising awareness of the use of chemical pesticides in areas with large raptor populations.
- Continuous research and inspections to further assess this situation.

You may share any ideas or comments which you may have with us via acw.egypt@gmail.com. Any help which you may give us, be it your time as a volunteer, financial support or distributing awareness of this cause would be greatly appreciated.

New Slovak Legislation - falconers exempted from the draft implementing decree on the breeding of dangerous animals

Based on expert knowledge and practical experience, it is proposed in Slovakia to classify all species from the Falconiformes order and all species from the Strigiformes order, i.e. all birds of prey, as dangerous animal species. This law is primarily designed to restrict primates and raccoon species etc.. Furthermore, it is proposed that specific requirements for the breeding or keeping of selected species and for the establishments breeding them be laid down in the annex.

Those specific requirements include a specific exemption for licenced falconers who belong to a state registered falconry organization. From its inception, the Slovak falconry club worked on this legislation with the ministry and the falconers are very happy with the result. There is a similar piece of legislation and a similar exemption in Russia.

This is an example of falconers being pro-active when it comes to legal changes, which is great for the art of falconry. IAF  is strongly supportive of falconers' exams/qualification and of well-controlled hunting-falconry. This article began "Based on expert knowledge .." Legislation happens in all countries, usually copying from neighbouring countries. Please, all falconers take note that such "expert knowledge” should include FALCONERS' expert knowledge.

Individual Subscribers

Individual Subscribers assist IAF financially, there are a number of options beiginning at €30. They receive a copy of the annual International Journal of Falconry (see above) and can attend the Council of Delegates Meetings of IAF, where they have automatic Observer status. Please click on the green button.

They receive log-in details to the IAF members page on www.iaf.org to access areas of the site not open to non-IAF. 

A new page for donations is now open and member organizations, non members and individual subscribers a can all can make donations to specific projects in which IAF is directly involved: .General purposes, DOD's, Saker Falcons, Preventing Electrocutions, Pedix Portal, Schools Links Project and Vultures

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