International Association for Falconry

[IFF Moderator]

http://www.i-a-f.org/

International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey

The IAF dedicated to the preservation of the ancient art of falconry and conservation of birds of prey.

[Gary Timbrell]

I am happy to have been invited to join you all and look forward to taking part.

Gary Timbrell,
Public Relations officer for IAF.

[Shaun Byrne]

Welcome Gary, do you fly anything at the moment? Beautiful part of the world you come from! Enjoy the site.

Shaun

[Gary Timbrell]

I'll post an introduction in the section, Shaun. Thanks for the reply.

Gary Timbrell
PRO for IAF

[Hawkmaster]

Can you tell us more about the IAF, that we may not know about or be able to read on the site?

Looking for an exclusive, I am? :lol:

[Gary Timbrell]

Hard to do this without writing an essay.
A major point that is often misunderstood about IAF is that it represents falconers - that is only people who hunt with their hawks.
Falconry is as about as universal a fieldsport as you can get and IAF is made up of forty countries where falconry is practiced. Many international laws and conventions affect all of us and IAF monitors and fights these where appropriate. Those countries with a large number of active falconers, friendly biologists and ecologists may have the resources to fight international battles e.g., USA, UK, UAE, Germany, etc., but there is always a stronger point to be made when other countries join in. There are also a large number of countries with only a small number of falconers e.g. Brazil, Bulgaria, Ireland etc. and a few countries with many falconers, but no resources e.g., Kazakhstan, Turkey, Tunisia.
This combination of countries and cultures is very important in IAF; contributions are made by all the members and often arguments can be made in favour falconry by a lesser known nation that would be missed by the big players. An obvious one being the importance of an active falconry culture, bordering on a subsistence level in countries like Georgia and Turkmenistan where falconry puts food on the table. This is a much stronger argument in favour of falconry than the countries where falconry is merely a pastime or hobby.
I'll stop there. I'm involved in IAF since 2000 and it has become one of my passions. It could have something to do with by only meeting friends once a year it is hard to fall out with them! IAF will have a stand at the UK Falconers' Fair and you can come in a pump me for an exclusive then.

Gary.

[Hawkmaster]

Thanks Gary!

[Peregrynne]

Gary,

I am just wanting to clarify something here and by no means is this meant as an attack.

You were saying that this is for practicing falconers only? Is that correct. I am very interested in the group, but as of yet do not have a bird and am just wondering if I have to wait to make inquiries?

Like I said, it is only for information and not meant as anything else.

[Gary Timbrell]

Sorry,

What I meant was that IAF represents falconers and not other people and organisations that may be interested in raptors, for example zoos, rehabilitation organisations, breeders, flying display teams, pet keepers etc. There are other organisations to look after those interests, IAF has a big enough brief as it is. The term "falconer" has become blurred through modern usage and is sometimes used for anyone who keeps a hawk. Unfortunately it is difficult to differentiate in a single sentence.

IAF represents its member nations through their falconry clubs and does not have individual people as members. The delegate to IAF for the US is supplied by NAFA, last year this was Dr. Alberto Palleroni. National Delegates represent and report decisions of the Council and activities of the IAF to their home clubs and they report, timely, to the IAF any official problem arising in the country they represent including all alterations of the existing regulations concerning falconry in their country. All the work of the IAF is voluntary and is done either by current national delegates or by former delegates who have taken on extra responsibilities and have had to give over some of their workload to a new delegate. It's a good system and means the organisation has fresh new blood from time to time!

Gary

[Shaun Byrne]

Are you (the IFF) at Woodhall Spa this year? If you can spare the time and fancy a couple of hours flying, give me a shout, I'm only about 15 minutes up the road.

[Gary Timbrell]

Thanks for the invitation, the last Woodhall Spa was brilliant. This year's IAF AGM will be in Opocno, Czech Republic, at the start of October and although I'd like to do both I know it won't be practical. Perhaps we can persuade the BFC to invite us to Woodhall for the next one. Drop in to us at the Falconers' Fair, though, I'll be running between the IAF stand (new thing) and the Irish Hawking Club.

Gary.

[tony19th]

Is there a falconry club,based in thailandhttp://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/icons/icon5.gif
http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/icons/icon7.gif
Tony19th

[Ben C]

Is there a falconry club,based in thailandhttp://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/icons/icon5.gif
http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/icons/icon7.gif
Tony19th

No its illegal there.............