Cape Nature Conservation
The Boland Falconry Club resides under Cape Nature Conservation (better known as Cape Nature) as the majority of our members reside in the Western Cape. How does Cape Nature fit into falconry?
As birds of prey is used in the art of falconry and raptors in general are world wide threatened, strict conservation and control measures are implemented due to the conservation status of raptors.
At the formation of the Boland Falconry Club certain terms and conditions are prevalent in the practice of falconry. Permits and hunting protocol is strictly followed as determined by legislation as set out by Cape Nature. Every falcon/hawk is kept under a designated permit as issued by Cape Nature. The Boland Falconry club maintains a register of birds that are being held by its members, and annually submit to Cape Nature an annual hunting report as well as an updated register of raptors being held by members. Raptor rehabilitation records are also submitted by each member. Together we can do more than individually. For specific details follow the link to Cape Nature:
As other hunters, falconers are also governed by a “hunting season” Usually for hunters other than falconers the hunting season usually starts on the 1st of May and ends at the end of August. Falconers fall under the same rules accepts that there are a few exceptions. Falconers may hunt throughout the year but are only allowed to remove the quarry of the falcons/hawks in the “hunting season”. Outside the hunting season the trained falcon is allowed to feed a full crop from the carcass, but the carcass my not be removed from the field.
Falconers have a longer hunting season but usually as soon as the raptors start to moult, active flying and hunting is halted , allowing their birds to moult to form fine and well developed feathers for the next hunting season. Usually moulting annually takes place between October and March. No flying takes place in the summer months due to the high temperatures, and the fact that quarry species are left to breed.
As falconers are specialists where it comes to raptors assistance is offered by the Boland Falconry Club to Cape Nature. Throughout the year part of a falconers tasks are to conserve and educate the public on Raptors. Often injured raptors are received by members of our club, treated and then released back into the wild. This partnership between the Boland Falconry Club and Cape nature ensures that the fundamentals of birds of prey conservation
Should any member of the Boland Falconry Club wish to travel with his falcons to another province applications for permits needs to be submitted to the local conservation authority through which areas such falconer travels.
Due to the sensitive nature of falconry,raptors and conservation we at the Boland Falconry Club have opted to differently approach club membership. We deem ourselves as responsible and accountable. To read more go to the membership.
