Falconer Techniques
Training begins at two months old. Raptors are conditioned each day by following commands and hitting targets. Bird handlers attempt to replicate wild raptor feeding and hunting habits so raptors can survive in the wild. 
Many bird handlers prefer to limit raptor interaction with humans to keep the raptors wild, and therefore, safe. Some falconers have raptors keep up with an ATV or truck to keep them strong and fast.
Hooding
Many bird handlers make individual hand-sewn leather hoods, which act like horse blinders by blocking peripheral objects and unpredictable movement to reduce raptor stress allowing falconers to handle the raptors more easily. Not all falconers use hoods, but the majority interviewed for this project recommended their use.
Luring or lure flying
Lure flying, also simply called luring, a bird handler blows a whistle or similar device and swings a leather lure in a circular motion. As the airborne raptor dives to grab the lure, the technique creates an important predatory pursuit flight pattern. Known as "stooping the lure", this action causes nearby prey to instinctively flee while maintaining raptor presence in the field.
Pursuit
This is the longest range method that falconers use. A raptor is released and searches for prey and chases without human intervention encourage predatory flight. This familiarizes a raptor with an area and allows the raptor to seek pest birds hidden from the human eye. Some abatement falconers prefer lure flying over pursuit because it allows more control over a raptor’s movements.
Ballooning
Ballooning conditions and strengthens a trained raptor while menacing pest birds. A bird handler releases a tethered weather balloon with an attached bait release system, which hovers hundreds of feet in the air. The raptor is then released and then flies in foraging mode to grab the baited lure. This method works better in large areas than lure flying because pest birds can see the predatory action taking place from farther away.
[Photo from http://www.arc4raptors.org/balloontraining.html]
Copyright 2009 ~