Not A Tame Falcon

Every now and then someone asks me how I like keeping a hawk or falcon as a pet. I appreciate the sentiment. Pets are popular, and with good reason. They can be loyal. They provide comfort and companionship, even love for many of us. The dictionary defines a pet as "any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately."

I care for my hawk. We develop a close bond. Some might even call it love. But falconers are not pet-keepers. A falconry bird is not a toy ...