FALCONRY

Falconry is the art of hunting with birds. Strictly speaking, the term means hunting with specially-trained falcons, but hawks, sparrowhawks and eagles are also used. The centuries‑old tradition of the court falconry corps gave rise to a traditional and sustainable form of hunting that takes into account the protection of habitats and is designated as “quiet hunting” because of the natural balance it ensures between predatory birds and their prey. Falconry is considered an animal-friendly form of hunting that complies with animal welfare requirements. Training falcons does not involve “breaking them in” in the strict sense of the term, because hunting is one of the birds’ natural behaviours. Birds only become attached to their handlers on the basis of trust. Falconers have to look after their hawks all year round to ensure they have the best care and let them fly free as often as possible during the hunting season so that trust can be built. As well as hunting, the art of falconry also involved breeding birds of prey. And a specialist language evolved that continues to be written and spoken today. Falconry was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012. Austria is one of 18 states that maintain the tradition.