JARAK

FALCONRY

The falconry allows for the natural selection to determine which individual will win in the hunt, will it be the raptor or the hunted game. This is typical only for the falconry, where it is not important whether the game will be caught. What matters the most is the very dramatic moment when the raptor struggles to catch the prey and the prey itself has many options to save itself and to reach to the shelter. If compared with the hunt with fowlingpiece, the falconry is far less productive given the bird of prey can catch the weakest but never the ALPHA individuals which are chosen by natural selection to pass on the genes to the next generation. Unfortunately this is not the case in hunt with fowlingpiece. Simply because, nobody is faster than the bullet.

During the hunt with trained birds of prey most often used is the Goshawk (Accipiter gentillis), the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), the saker falcon (Falco cherrug) and the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos ). The game hunted most often are partridges, pheasants, hares and foxes

Noteworthy is the fact that every devoted falconer should also take with him a hunting dog, most often form the family of bird dogs. The dog helps the falconer to locate the game, which is followed by an adrenaline chase typical for the hunt with hawk or the fantastic fall from the sky (stoop) with enormous speed of over 300 km/h typical for the hunt with peregrine falcon.

This confirms the fact that if someone wants to become a falconer he / she should above all be a nature lover and should enjoy long walks. He / she should also know about the nature of the bird of prey and its hunting style. Namely, the hawk is a bird with potential to hunt in the forests and the falcon is the “prince of the sky” and he needs a lot of space without trees when hunting with him.

The falcon hunts its prey only in the air and never on the ground. The hawk, on the other hand, is an opportunist and hunts the prey wherever he can, even on the ground.

Hence, everyone has the opportunity to choose the respective bird of prey for this fabulous way of hunting, depending on the conditions on the ground. In all, falconry is relaxing and exciting rather then productive when comparing it with the other types of hunting.

History

The hunt with birds of prey most probably originates form the time of the nomad peoples that lived in Asia. The nomad peoples used the birds of prey in their efforts to provide the food that was necessary for their survival. This was probably one of the most ancient way of hunting in the history of mankind.

Gradually, the falconry became sport and this fascinating cooperation between the man and the bird became one of the oldest activities in the nature. For a long time the falconry was treated as noble art. In Middle age Europe the hunt with birds of prey was aristocratic party. Thus there was special feudal legislation and religious orders related with the breeding and training of the birds of prey. The trained falcons represented precious gifts of significant value and were often used for diplomatic purposes.

A detail from sarcophagus
The Samoil Church of St. Achilles in Prespa region, 986-990

One of the oldest written data that confirms the importance of this art in hunting and that gives a detailed description of the rapture training and the hunt with special types of raptures dates from XIII century. It was written on Latin language by Fridrich II - De Arte Venandi cum Avibus or "The art of Falconry".

In Macedonia there is very limited data confirming the presence of falconry in the past. Some recent data we managed to find prove that the hunt of herons with falcons used to be conducted.

The Representations of Predatory Birds in the Cultural Heritage of Republic of Macedonia

The predatory birds present in the pictorial and archaeological artifacts are not a prerogative of one country. These motifs can be found in a large chronological and territorial range. At the same time it should be noted that birds such as falcons and eagles, often acquire symbolical, hierarchal and even religious meaning in the process of artistic elaboration. Thus, if interpreting, we are obliged to reconsider all these possibilities.
However, the representations of predatory birds in the material culture of one particular land/country could direct toward their real presence during the prehistoric and historic periods, as well as toward their popularity among the population.  
The presence of falcon and eagle images in the material culture from Republic of Macedonia can be traced back to prehistoric times. On this occasion we will give a brief survey which will include only one part of the artifacts originating from this territory.

Fig.1 – coins of the Paionian ruler Audoleon (315-286/5), the Macedonian rulers Ptolemy I (323-305), and Alexander III (336-323)

One of the first representations of a predatory bird (eagle) can be seen on the coins of the Paeonian ruler Audoleon (315-286/5 BC). The bird is depicted standing on the arm of the supreme deity Zeus. The very same reverse design will be applied on the coins of the Macedonian rulers (Alexander III, Ptolemy I).  Although in this case the eagle represents an attribute of the deity, as well as an imperial emblem, its presence can be intertwined with the fauna species of the time, as well as with the anthropomorphic background of the pantheon i.e. the humanization of the gods. 

Fig. 2 – plates from the sarcophagus from the Samuil`c church of St. Achilles, Prespa Lake, c.986-900

Another representation of predatory birds (falcons or eagles) can be seen on the plates of the sarcophagus discovered in the deaconicon of the Samuil`s church of St. Achilles on the Prespa Lake. These plates are dated in 986-900. It is interesting that within these compositions the birds are depicted attacking animals (a camel in one, and a water bird in the other case). It must be noted that the iconography of the plates surely possessed some religious and symbolical meaning, but it should also be emphasized that the gesture of the predatory birds indicates a real and objective behavior of these birds while hunting. Thus, we can suppose that the artist observed these birds in his environment, whether wild or “domesticated”.

Fig. 3 – scene from the wooden casket from Terachina, c.IX century
(Possible Macedonian origin)

The “attacking” act also appears in one composition of the wooden casket from Terachina, Italy, dated c.IX century. Although there are several hypotheses about its origin, some scholars attribute it to the Balkan i.e. Macedonian territory. The eagle is represented standing on, or grabbing an animal which resembles a deer.

Fig. 4 – Altar plates from St. Sophia, Ohrid, c.1037-1045

The practice of depicting eagles/falcons in the religious art repeats in the two parapetted marble plates from the altar of the church St. Sophia in Ohrid, which are dated c.1037-1045. In these examples the birds are represented in the moment of raising or carrying a plunder. On the first marble plate the bird carries a snake, which can be interpreted as a symbolical Christian motif, while on the second plate the claws hold a rabbit. Again, although primarily symbolical, these compositions possess profound artistic elaboration which speaks of some kind of direct observing of the birds behavior or possible falconry activities.

Fig. 5 – golden earrings from Crkvishte, Gorno Orizari – Kocani, XIV century

The eagle or falcon motif is present even in the secular material culture of the medieval period in Macedonia. There exists a large repertoire of depictions of these birds on media such as jewelry, especially on rings and on some luxurious specimens of earrings. All these finds are dated between the XI-XV centuries and mostly represent grave offerings. Thus, it becomes clear that they belonged to concrete individuals. Whether their depiction was result of fashion, religious or hierarch signalization, still it should be noted that scholars leave an open possibility that the medieval jewelry in general, could indicate a corporation membership.

In the end we would like to point to one example - the representation of a falcon breeder in the liturgical roll from the monastery of St. John on Patmos, dated in the XII century. Although far from the territory of Republic of Macedonia, this island in the mentioned time frame belonged to the Byzantine Empire, which also included Macedonia. If an example of a falconer exists in the XII century on Patmos, it is not exaggerating to suppose that contemporary or later falconers also existed in other parts of the Byzantine Empire.     

Fig. 6 – Liturgical roll, Monastery of St. John, Patmos, XII century

 

 

References and illustrations: V. Lilčić, Antiquity, in Macedonian Cultural Heritage, Skopje, 1995, 46-89, 50; Н. Sheldarov, V. Lilčić, Kings of Antique Macedonia and their monets / coins in Republic of Macedonia, Skopje 1994, 64; P. Miljković-Pepek, Medieval Decorative Sculpture in Stone and Metal, in Macedonian National Treasures, Skopje, 1989, 199-210; Н. Chausidis, Dualistick paintings, Skopje, 2003, 273-275; Heaven on Earth – Art and the Church in Byzantium, ed. By Linda Safran, Pennsylvania, 2002, 200

Falconry as a safety measure at airports, as well as a protection measure from other birds at vinyards, orchards and buildings, monuments and other important objects

Falconry has more often been used as a safety measure at airports, and as well as protection measure in vineyards, orchards and important objects. Falconry is the most natural and successful way of bird control. Collisions between birds and aircraft can cause extensive damage and threaten the safety of crew and passengers on board. Raptor presence deters birds from certain area, making the use of a falcon environmentally friendly.

Useful links:
cybercity
nationalgeographic
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westernsporting
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