New Book: European Sparrowhawks

[Rocky]

I think the future of falconry literature will be specific in nature. The day of the beginner's manual or all inclusive falconry book is hopefully a thing of the past. The audience has become more sophisticated, and is demanding literature more reflective of that. We have specialised in our pursuits in falconry and we expect our books the mirror those choices. I applaud Ben for taking on the challenge of the small accipiter, and it appears that he has made the effort to encompass the full spectrum of his subject. I look forward to my copy of his labors.

Rocky

[Ben Crane]

I think the future of falconry literature will be specific in nature. The day of the beginner's manual or all inclusive falconry book is hopefully a thing of the past. The audience has become more sophisticated, and is demanding literature more reflective of that. We have specialised in our pursuits in falconry and we expect our books the mirror those choices. I applaud Ben for taking on the challenge of the small accipiter, and it appears that he has made the effort to encompass the full spectrum of his subject. I look forward to my copy of his labors.

Rocky

Thanks Rocky, that is generous. I agree as well. However being specific will also mean a lot more self publication. This book would not be in print without the crowood press in the UK, whom I cannot thank enough.

[Ben Crane]

What I will add is that there are at least 20 sparviters who have included their thoughts and ideas and experiences. The main thrust of the book was to collate various 'voices' that form a coherent whole whether they be 'old timers' or 'beginners'. This runs the gamute from those legally allowed to take from the wild, rehabbers, breeders, trappers, people who imprint, people who fly creche reared and PR hawks FROM the complete geographical range of accipiter nisus. The main idea was to lesson the prescriptive and instructive in order to allow the reader to explore and develop their own processes. In mine and others experiences EACH individual hawk behaves slightly differently. There is no point having a dogmatic approach and only one train of thought for the myriade of issues sparrowhawks throw up. I firmly believe the best sparrowhawks evolve from drawing out specific characteristics of the hawk which is so variable that any book would continuously have to be updated on a weekly basis. This book is EXACTLY hat it says, a 'guide' for the reader to use as a springboard from which to be successful.

Hell! To this very morning my musket has behaved in a way which has confounded me and taught me small but valuable lessons which I would have now like to have put in the book....alas it is not to be.

[Ryan English]

Any update on this book's release Ben? Looking forward to it.