On Sun, 12 Oct 1997, Don Baccus wrote:

[snip..]

> > Let's not add to the anti-falconry stuff that's already
> > out there..
>
> Why do you construe this as "anti-falconry"?

Don--

well, maybe it isn't exactly anti-falconry...I guess
I reacted to the assumption that if something is
awry or something is different it must be the falconers
tinkering with genetics...


Falconers do cross various
> falcon species, for example gyr x 'grine. So it doesn't seem unreasonable
> to ask if they may cross buteos. He does, after all, describe a very
> strange bird, a red-tail with a mark claimed to be diagnostic by Bill
> Clark (and I checked the Peterson's Hawk Book which he authored, and which
> I presume is Michael's source, and it says just that in no uncertain terms).
>
> So, this distinguishing mark on a red-tail would reasonably lead one to
> speculate regarding hybridization as a possible cause. And since my
source
> claims hybridization in nature has "never been reported" (not the same as
> saying "never happens", of course, but pretty strong), captivity would be
> the only other possibility. And, who other than falconers breed significant
> numbers of raptors?

yup...thanks to Tom Cade and others in the breeding program
the Peregrine falcon was reintroduced east of the Mississippi..


> So, I think it's a reasonable question and can't understand why it comes
> across as being "anti-falconry".

Okay...now that I look at it again, I'll agree that it
could seem like a reasonable question to someone who
hasn't been around falconers...but, there are really no
characteristics of a Rough Leg that would be all that
desireable to someone who wanted a game hawk..unless
of course, one wanted to hunt mice... :)


Tom