Chamber and committees

Amy Wallace submission of 30 September 2021

PE1859/J: Retain falconers rights to practice upland falconry in Scotland

I am the chair of the Female Falconers Club and write on behalf of our Scottish members, myself included, to ask you to carefully consider the petition raised by Barry Blyther. The Female Falconers Club is the second largest falconry club in the UK. 

The changes in legislation will have huge repercussions to falconry birds flown by our members in Scotland, who rely on mountain hare as an integral part of their falconry practice.

These falconry birds, mainly eagles, rely on both unique rugged, mountainous terrain and the mountain hare who live there to hunt in a way that expresses their most natural behaviour (as stated in the five freedoms). Without access to this quarry many birds would be resigned to a long, depressing life in an aviary without proper stimulation and exercise. 

The raptors will be unable to soar freely over the Scottish Hills any longer, as falconers now fear prosecution if their eagle catches a hare unintentionally. Sadly, it is not a simple matter of asking the eagles to hunt alternative species, as they cannot “un-learn” what is already their prey. Other quarry such as stoats are simply unsuitable and unavailable. The falconers strive to provide their falconry birds with the very best welfare conditions and care throughout its entire life (potentially 30+ years). Without suitable free flight opportunities to hunt in their most natural way, the falconers are faced with no alternative solution, and so are left providing inadequate care to their charges.

The practice of falconry is steeped in history (and recognised as a UNESCO intangible heritage of humanity). It would be deeply saddening to see it disappear in Scotland due to a technicality in legislation aimed at an altogether separate issue. To allow the small number of falconers here to continue to practice this type of falconry would have a considerable positive impact on the welfare and lives of our long lived raptors, whilst not making a discernible impact on the wider hare populations at all.