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 ensure against losing a bird is to fit a light radio transmitter which can be tracked over distance.
Hawking Bag
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 jesses 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.