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Falconry Equipment Falconry equipment is not
available from high street shops. It must either be purchased from specialist
suppliers or made by the falconer himself. The most important items are: Weighing
machine The best type is a
traditional balance scale. A birds weight is crucial – to perform properly it
must be at its “flying weight” which varies with age and experience. Glove Most falconers carry their
birds on the left hand, so only a left hand glove is worn. Made of leather,
ideally buckskin, the larger the bird, the thicker the glove required. For large
birds a gauntlet style with three or four thicknesses of leather is needed. Transmitter
and Receiver The best way to insure
against losing a bird is to fit a light radio transmitter which can be tracked
over distance. This needs to be light
weight, hardy and washable, with several compartments to keep equipment separate
in case it is needed in a hurry. In
the Bag Creance A light line on which the
bird is flown during training before it is ready to be flown free. The line is
attached to s stick by winding it around in a figure of eight. Lure As its name suggests, used
to tempt the bird back. Made in many ways, lures are designed to resemble the
quarry the bird is being taught to hunt. It is attached to a line and swung,
using a special technique, around the falconers head to attract the bird. Jesses Short leather straps tied
loosely around the feet which enable the bird to safely be tied to a perch. Swivels These prevent the jessies
from becoming tangled Bells Attached either to the
jesse or the birds tail, they assist in finding a lost bird or tracking one in
cover. Hoods These are used to fool the
bird that it is night – literally to “hoodwink” it. Most animals sit still
in complete darkness and the hood serves to prevent a bird from damaging itself
by becoming agitated in a stimulating environment. |