H is for Hawk

H is for Hawk

by

Helen Macdonald

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on H is for Hawk makes teaching easy.

H is for Hawk Terms

Bate

Bating is when a bird attempts—but is unable—to take flight. Usually, they are prevented because they are attached to a perch or via a creance or because the falconer holds the bird’s jesses firmly in… read analysis of Bate

Calling-off

Calling-off is the falconry term for training a bird to return to the falconer’s fist when called either by a word or a whistle. During calling-off training, the bird remains tethered to its human by… read analysis of Calling-off

Creance

A creance is a long leash or line attached to a bird’s jesses used during calling-off training. read analysis of Creance

Jesses

Jesses are soft leather straps attached semi-permanently attached to a bird’s ankles. The falconer can change them, but they stay on more or less all the time. Jesses allow the falconer to hold on to… read analysis of Jesses

Manning

“Manning” is the term for the phase of a hawk or falcon’s training in which its trainer accustoms it to the presence first of people and then to the hustle and bustle of the human… read analysis of Manning
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Quarry

Quarry is a falconry term for the prey animals—rabbits, squirrels, or prey birds like pheasants—that a tamed hawk hunts and kills. read analysis of Quarry