Svenska Falkenerarförbundet

Code Of Conduct

I – General

Falconry is the sport of taking wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of trained hawks.

1. The keeping of hawks as pets is not falconry, and is contrary to the policy of the IAF.
2. Falconers must endeavor by all means to promote the welfare, the study and future survival of birds of prey in the wild state in a world where modern developments are increasingly unfavorable to their future.

II – Observance of the law

Falconers are under both a legal and a moral obligation to observe the laws and customs of their own and foreign countries with regard to the taking, import and export of hawks, the taking of quarry species, and the right of access to land in the country concerned.

III – Ethics of care and training of birds of prey

Persons should not keep birds of prey for which they have not the adequate experience.

1. No more birds of prey should be kept than can be properly cared for in accordance with the availability of sporting grounds and wild quarry. Birds of prey must be flown regularly to be fit.
2. Birds of prey must be properly housed, fed, equipped and trained.

They should be marked to facilitate their identification and restoration to their owner if recovered after loss.(Every endevour must be made to recover a lost hawk and to cure a sick one). Birds of prey should be flown with equipment which will not endanger their survival in the wild. It is also recommended that Radio Tracking be used.

3. Bird of prey that are no longer required must either be handed on to a falconer who will treat them in accordance with this code or be returned to the wild. In the latter case, the hawk must be in good feather, in high condition and reasonably capable of killing for itself. In case of doubt it must be hacked back. Bird of prey should not be released or hacked back in an unsuitable habitat and on no account should species not idigenous to the country be returned to the wild.
4. IAF expects every falconer to inform his national club of the birds of prey he keeps and their state of welfare.

V – Publicity

Falconers should consider carefully before they give interviews to the press, television or sound broadcasting interests, or before they provide written material for publishing or take part in films or plays or give lectures. They should remember that any of these can later be altered so as to show falconry in an unfavourable light and they should consult their national association before reaching a decision. IAF does not approve of any sort of publicity with the sole purpose of making financial profit.

VI – Breeding

Captive breeding shall only be undertaken by dedicated hawk keepers with a good chance of success.

1. All birds of prey bred by falconers shall be ringed or otherwise marked so that they can be identified and full proper records shall be kept.
2. Falconers shall not support the captive breeding of birds of prey for falconry in numbers beyond the reasonable requirement of falconers who will fly them in accordance with this code.

VII – Enforcement

The breach of any of the provisions of this code by a member of a club or association shall be deemed to be an action injurous to the interests of falconry. The club or association concerned shall be required to investigate the matter and take appropriate disciplinary action against the person concerned. They shall report their action to the IAF.