Does falconry affect raptor populations?
One question that gets asked from time to time, is the effect of falconry on raptor populations in the wild. It’s an understandable question to ask, for anyone who has a concern about wildlife, and in particular, birds of prey. For those concerned, the good news is, falconry has had no negative impact on raptor populations. Still the question comes up from time to time, and is often fostered by misinformation from long ago. Dating as far back as the early 1900’s, a bit of a propaganda campaign has fostered the belief that falconry or falconers have adversely effected birds of prey. In the early part of the last century, oologists, or egg collectors, put a bit of strain on species like the Peregrine falcon in certain locations throughout the eastern United States. A fued developed between falconers and egg collectors because the birds had begun to disappear. Each side blamed the other for the decline, but unfortunately, egg collectors often got the prize long before the falconers. As ea
