As you would probably know I…

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019-1806

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As you would probably know I am an avid falconer.

I’m hoping that you can help me by taking a minute or two to provide a positive comment to a proposal posted by the Ministry of Natural Resources that would expand access of wild raptors to qualified falconers only - one raptor per year.

The second part of the proposal is the addition of a particular species of raptor that is not on the current list to be accessed – the raptor species is the Goshawk. It is proposed that only 5 will be allowed to be accessed per year.

This proposal would be in line with regulations already established in BC, AB, SK, MB and QC.

1)      More than 75% of first year immature raptors will die of starvation during their first winter. It is from this population onlypopulation only that raptors would be accessed by falconers. Wild taken raptors are routinely released by falconers back to the wild after a year or two of successful hunting which will significantly increase their chances of survival.

2)      Falconry was recently recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity tradition. The proposal will further support this designation and bring it in line with most other international jurisdictions including five other Canadian provinces that permit the limited access of wild raptors by qualified falconers.

3)      Intimate knowledge gained through access to wild raptors by falconers can, and has, had important benefits. As an example- the most successful reintroduction of a species, the Peregrine Falcon, was led primarily by falconers.

   Supporting evidence provided by Ontario falconers through annual nesting surveys, has led the MNRF to add the Goshawk to the list of those raptors to be accessed (limit of 5 total for4)      The species to be accessed by falconers are stable and will have no impact on wild populations. These include the RedTailed Hawk, Coopers Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin and with this proposal the Goshawk.

   The limited access to wild raptors by falconers has been extensively studied concluding that this activity has no impact on wild raptor populations and should therefore be permitted as outlined in the proposal.