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Understanding the Bird of Prey

By Nick Fox
Reviewed by Steve Heying, Ashland, MO

Seldom does a new book come along that holds an old reader spellbound on subjects that have been “unaltered and around” for years and years in a multitude of books. Understanding the Bird of Prey by Nick Fox is an advanced techno-manual that any being deeply involved with raptors must add to their bookshelf. Starting off with an anatomy and philosophy lesson that puts world authorities to shame in its organization and depth, through the whole story on captive breeding into equipment and behavior concerns of the bird, the dog, horse, and even the falconer, and finishing up with a philosophy lesson that puts to print the ideology that many of us long timers in the sport have felt and understood, but could not verbalize.

As I started to peruse the first chapters, hoping to skip through the “same ol’ stuff” that I was both knowledgeable in and experienced with, I found myself totally absorbed with something in every paragraph as new and uncharted territory. Being one that all my life has demanded to know 1) how does it work, 2) what makes it so, and 3) how do you know? — all are answered in a clean, concise, validated description that is actually fascinating to read! Eyes, digestive system, form and function, differentiating birds of prey, reproduction, and captive breeding — I thought after 20 years of direct experience with breeding Harris’ hawks and a multitude of other species, and having a hawk on the glove for 30 years, I was well informed and quite knowledgeable. But the organization and depth to which Nick Fox covers material has given me new insight and knowledge into facts that I now feel I only had vague conceptions of.

Being formally educated as an engineer, I consider myself somewhat of an equipment Guru. But Mr. Fox gives new meaning to reinventing the wheel, using glue on anklets, inserting an incorporated shock absorber within a leash, button-loop small ring leash, fitting a hood, silicon solution waterproofing a hood, and of great and most notable inventiveness, the local tracking aerial that mounts right to the receiver! All great ideas that are actually in use by the author and work.
The following chapters seem to be closely allied to the author’s professional studies and personal experiences. Though somewhat scientific in nature, the readability and format make retention a snap.
Chapter 4 contains a premo discussion on behavior, outlining inherited and imprinted behaviors in such a way as to make the components and aspects of each type of behavior crystal clear. The subchapter 4.17 on conditioned learning is superb. Which brings us to the overall physical quality of the book.

I think the organization is the best I’ve seen. Chapters and figure identifications both in the list of contents and illustrations in the front of the book and throughout the book as title headings make every subject easy to find. This and the source bibliography and index at the back make it possible to find any subject in a matter of seconds without thumbing one’s way through the entire book.
But I do have to speak up about the down point of the book, the publication quality is not what one should be getting for a fifty dollar book! It just doesn’t live up to the quality within. The cover and outer binding is not the type to stand years of use, and the paper is thin and cheap-feeling!
I live in a climate where the weather goes from 15% to 95% humidity on a regular basis, and when the humidity is up, the pages in this book are wavy and curled. I will say that it is a sewn through page binding that may last the rest of time. But why not a fancy hard cover and a paper slip like all top shelf books!?

The fun part of the book is saved for the next to last two parts, which follow a detailed chapter on training and conditioning that discusses all matters of virtues of both the hawk and falconer, as well as the vices and pitfalls both may fall into. I think the chapter on hunting strategies and hawking give anyone involved in the sport an idea of what to expect when one is in the field with a bird of prey and how to arrange for those expectations. The lands, as in terrain and ownership; the extra supporting staff in ferrets, dogs, horses, invited guests; and the hawk to be used to be successful in various situations are all discussed at length.

The final chapter illuminates every controversy ever taken up having to do with the interface between raptor and man. Falconry, rehabilitation, wild raptor populations, captive breeding and reintroduction genetics, law makers, and anti’s are all put on the table for lack of thought.

All and all, I believe this is one of the most comprehensive falconry books I have ever seen. It’s all here folks, and it’s all easy to read and read again and again. What is said is supported from a large field of experts and experiences, and for one to disagree on any subject is definitely an uphill battle. I do wish it came in a deluxe edition to stand the years of wear and tear it will get, but aside of that one weakness, this is a must have for any falconry bookshelf!

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This review was originally published in American Falconry magazine, and is reprinted with permission.

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