I would like to submit my…

I would like to submit my full support for the proposal. I myself am a licensed falconer, and all emotions set aside, I think that there is a clear rationale as to why the proposal should fairly pass.

1. The proposal enhances an important part of falconry heritage, which is recognized by UNESCO as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.

In the past and still to this day, falconers have and do play an important role in raptor conservation. Species conservation is, to the core, in our greatest interest. By allowing more falconers to have access to wild birds, the MNRF is encouraging more active conservation and citizen science. The wild take allows a falconer to train a wild bird to hunt through its first year, giving it a remarkably higher chance of survival in the wild once released, and in turn, a substantial addition to the wild breeding population.

Eliminating the draw is a huge improvement. It enables all apprentice falconers to be able to trap their first bird of prey. Not only does the apprentice gain experience trapping, but they can release their bird back to the wild at the end of the hunting season, knowing that they'll be able to trap a new bird for the next season. This is the way that falconry has been practiced for thousands of years. Releasing birds back to the wild to breed in the spring, and trapping a young bird the next fall season are an important falconry tradition. In this way, the effect of falconry on the wild raptor population is inconsequential.

2. The Ontario Hawking Club has been very active in monitoring goshawks, and their active nest sites in Ontario. As this new data has become available, I strongly support the proposal to allow adjustment of the numbers of goshawks taken. This will encourage further efforts to monitor and study this species of raptor.

I sincerely hope that the MNRF can make an educated and fair decision in regards to the proposal and we can see an improved future of raptor research, conservation and public education among the falconry community in Ontario.

Thank you.