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The Hawk Board Press release (for immediate use) Monday, 03 April 2006 Bird of Prey keeping award seeks assessors prior to May launch After a year of careful deliberation, the Hawk Board initiative to create an officially recognised Award in bird of prey keeping has moved to its penultimate stage. Derek Hartshorne, the Lantra executive responsible for this cooperative venture was delighted with the progress. “We now have a draft ‘candidates workbook’ ready for critical appraisal by the Hawk Board and its member clubs. Our plan is to launch at the Falconry Fair in May and we have already received unqualified support and a queue of falconers who want to take part,” said Hartshorne. “But we need to appoint assessors before we launch.” Assessors will be experienced falconers or bird of prey keepers prepared to meet with candidates and approve their receiving the Award. It is in two parts with part one covering Bird of Prey Management and Husbandry. The second, Falconry Basics, assesses training up to moment of free flight but not beyond. Hartshorne says that a great deal of discussion went into deciding what makes a suitable assessor. “We eventually came up with some key questions: How long have you been keeping and flying birds of prey? What are your areas of expertise? Do you have any educational experience, which can be either traditional or falconry related? There are other questions on the application, but these are seen as the essentials.” “Finding good assessors is critical to the future of bird of prey keeping,” emphasised Hawk Board chairman, Jim Chick. “These people will make a huge difference to the welfare of all birds of prey and obviously to falconry, so I urge you to apply. Every day people are attracted to falconry, but not all receive good advice. In the old days you might find a mentor, but despite the increase in popularity this is not so easy today. The Award will help breeders to vet their customers and falconry clubs qualify new members.” The Hawk Board and Lantra expect to appoint assessors throughout the country to minimise travel costs and work load, but as Jim Chick pointed out when the project was first conceived: “With the Animal Welfare Bill now being debated in parliament falconers face two choices. You can either manage bird of prey welfare from within, or have it forced upon you by others. There is no question which I prefer, and I have no doubt others will feel the same.” He also made the point that under the new COTES regulations it falls to the breeder to ensure that a prospective buyer is sufficiently competent to look after the hawk, and if not the breeder could become liable. “This Award will encourage responsible breeders only to sell to capable falconers,” added Chick. Falconers who would like to register an interest in becoming an assessor should contact Lantra (Rachel.powers@lantra.co.uk or telephone 02476 696996) and request an application form, which will be ready shortly. Derek Hartshorne, a new falconer himself, stressed that potential assessors should not be put off by a belief that they lack educational experience. “We can provide this,” he said. “What is much more important is that they want to promote and secure a future for falconry.”
For more information contact: Nick Kester, HB Communications Officer on 01267 281448 Notes for editors:
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