Terminator
Falconry - success and trauma
In May 2009, something happened that should change our basic way of thinking. It was on a shining spring morning, the sun breaking through the clouds, when a Falco sparverius saw the light of the day. Great care and nurturing made it outstandingly strong; almost unbeatable one might think. Back then, no one might have assumed that one day he could be this cruel.
On the day when it was fully fledged, we passed it on to nature allowing it to fly freely. We hoped to turn it into a delicate flyer and successful hunter. Every once in a while we saw it hunting goshawks, sparrowhawks, and also larger hawks without any mercy. It also participated in all of our gyrfalcon’s lure trainings. However, something followed that should always be burnt into our memories.
It happened in the morning, right after we got out of bed. A rapid flash of light. Not until then had we seen his extremely rapid flight; fast, agile, unrivaled. Strike by strike he mauled something that should be his prey. A final strike ended the play and we started to breathe again. Strange noises and some unrecognizable bustling implied a tough fight on the ground
Equipped with a falconry-knife we rushed to the event to help our fellow just like any good falconer would do. However, we came too late. Even worse - we didn’t have to interfere any more. Our kestrel had already finished its prey. We felt thunderstruck when we slowly realized our criminal act.
That morning it killed a rare animal. Huge, equipped with excellent pliers that could have made great trophies, however - ”strictly protected”. We paid our last respects to this great green bush-cricket and laid it to rest on the spot. Afflicted with pricks of conscience and all doubts, we went back to the camp. What was to be done, now?
Wistfulness overcame Leo, as he gave an account: ”For a falconer who wants to walk through his long falconer-life with a clear conscience, there is only one solution: Self-indictment! Expecting the most bitter of all constitutional punishments that has to be taken - more than justified - due to the action by ”Terminator”, which is what we named it, according to tradition, on the day of its first prey. Terminator, yes, this name seems worthy to me. Falknersheil!”
