History of Falconry Timeline

As shotguns made hunting more efficient, falconry fell out of favor across much of Europe. By the 18th century it survived mainly at royal courts such as those of France and Austria, practiced by small groups of enthusiasts keeping older traditions alive.

The Old Hawking Club was established in England to revive traditional long-winged hawking with peregrines over game. Its members helped preserve practical falconry knowledge during the Victorian revival of the sport.

The British Falconers' Club was founded to promote and protect the practice of falconry in Britain. It became one of the world's leading falconry organizations, publishing journals and setting standards for the ethical treatment of hawks.

Image source: Lorant de Bastyai

Gerald Lascelles published The Lure of the Falcon, a popular account of modern falconry that introduced the sport to a wide audience and inspired new generations of falconers between the wars.

Image source: Gerald William Lascelles

Inspired by European traditions and books such as The Art of Falconry, American falconers organized rapidly after World War II. Figures like Frank Beebe in Canada and early US clubs laid the groundwork for regulated falconry in North America.

Advances in artificial insemination and captive propagation allowed falconers to fly captive-bred birds rather than wild-taken ones. Today the vast majority of falconry birds in Europe and North America are captive bred, reducing pressure on wild populations.

Image source: Captive breeding

Over recent decades, most European countries formalized legal frameworks for falconry, balancing access to birds with welfare standards and wildlife protections. National associations worked to harmonize regulations while preserving traditional practices.

Falconry literature and scholarship expanded in the mid-20th century, culminating in dedicated archives and publications. The Archives of Falconry, now housed at The Peregrine Fund in Idaho, preserves historic books, equipment, and correspondence from falconers worldwide.

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring drew attention to DDT's devastating effects on birds of prey. Peregrine and bald eagle populations collapsed across North America and Europe, threatening both wild raptors and the raw material of falconry itself.

Image source: Silent Spring

Founded in 1968, the International Association for Falconry grew into a global federation representing falconry clubs on every inhabited continent, coordinating conservation advocacy and defending sustainable use of raptors.

Following the peregrine population crash, conservationists including falconers began breeding peregrines in captivity. Techniques pioneered by falconers, such as artificial insemination and imprinting, proved essential to restoring wild populations.

Image source: Peregrine falcon

Founded by Cornell professor Tom Cade, The Peregrine Fund launched captive breeding programs that released thousands of peregrines across North America. The organization demonstrated how falconry expertise could drive large-scale raptor conservation.

Amendments and regulations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act formally permitted falconry in the United States under strict permitting. Apprenticeship systems, inspections, and reporting requirements created one of the world's most regulated falconry frameworks.

After decades of recovery driven by pesticide bans and captive breeding, the American peregrine falcon was delisted from the US Endangered Species Act. The success is celebrated as one of conservation's great achievements, with falconers playing a key role.

UNESCO inscribed falconry on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing it as a living tradition shared by many nations. The multinational nomination was led by the UAE along with several European and Asian countries.

The art of eagle hunting among Kazakh and Kyrgyz communities received UNESCO recognition, honoring the ancient Central Asian practice of hunting with golden eagles from horseback. Festivals like the Golden Eagle Festival in Mongolia showcase this heritage.

Image source: Golden Eagle Festival

The Festival of Falconry, first held in England and later hosted in the UAE, brought together falconers from dozens of nations. Abu Dhabi became a major hub, hosting events celebrating the sport's heritage alongside modern conservation initiatives.

Growing demand for sakers in Gulf falconry prompted international action against illegal trapping and trade. Under the Convention on Migratory Species, range states adopted a global action plan combining sustainable-use quotas with anti-poaching measures.

Image source: Saker falcon

Saudi Arabia established the Saudi Falcons Club to promote falconry heritage, host international auctions and competitions, and support conservation programs. The club runs the annual King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, one of the largest falconry events in the world.

Image source: Team Falcons

Today falconry is practiced on six continents by tens of thousands of licensed falconers. From Kazakh eagle hunters to Emirati saker specialists and American apprentices, the sport blends ancient tradition with modern science and remains a powerful force for raptor conservation.