A Bond With The Wild: A Celebration of American Falconry

A Bond With The Wild celebrates North American falconry in an unprecedented way. Rather than describing the techniques of falconry, the two dozen writers explore the falconer's passion for hawks and falcons, the quarry, the land, the chase, the ecology, their families and even their mishaps, The writers have created the first anthology of falconry prose that includes humor, satire, fiction, stories, personal experiences and hunting sketches. This falconry panorama begins with author Tim Cahill and his outsider's view of falconers, and closes with a wild peregrine falcon story by Dan O'Brien, the falconer and award-winning fiction author of Eminent Domain and Spirit Of The Hills. Between Cahill and O'Brien you will fly to many of North American falconry's exotic locations. Journey to capture peregrine falcons on the beach of Assateague Island, lure hawks on Pennsylvania's Hawk Mountain, pursue goshawks in the north woods, chase quarry in midwestern suburbia, fly falcons over the vast Canadian plains, climb the Rocky Mountains, pursue sage grouse on Idaho's black lava desert, trace an explosive Cooper's hawk in the southwest desert brush, and sense the chill of the Alaskan wind. After reading this book, you will understand why modern adventurers still pursue this ancient sport – falconry. A Bond With The Wild was published by the North American Falconers' Association (NAFA), which includes United States, Canadian and Mexican membership. NAFA is the only nationwide falconry organization in these countries. NAFA has been dedicated to improving, assisting and encouraging competency in the art and enjoyment of the practice of falconry since its inception in 1961. Throughout its history, NAFA has sought to encourage traditions which would aid, perpetuate and further the welfare of the sport and the raptors – birds of prey – this sport employs. In addition, as a nonprofit fraternal organization, NAFA has been at the vanguard in promoting scientific study of raptorial species, their care, welfare, captive breeding and training. Further, NAFA has supported re-introduction efforts, as well as the promotion and appreciation of the value of raptors in nature and in wildlife conservation programs. No, falconry is not dead. In fact, it is practiced legally, efficiently and with tremendous pride throughout North America. Although twentieth-century life has become self-absorbed with technology and modernism, men and women continue to hunt with their birds and have what can only be termed as "just plain fun" with the outdoors and nature. A Bond With The Wild published by North American Falconers' Association www.n-a-f-a.com Read more