Summary of the meeting of the Hawk Board held on 24th October 2007,

The Old Town Hall, Kennington Road, London.

This was the first meeting of the newly elected board. Present were: Pete Eldrett(PE), Brian Morris(BM), Jim Chick(JC), Terry Large(TL), Karl Leadley(KL), John Hill(JH), Andrew Knowles-Brown(AKB), Nick Fox(NF), Nick Kester(NK), Derek Stotton(DS), Steve Halsall(SH), Bob Edwards(BE), Dean White(DW), David Horobin(DH), Pete Barratt(PB),and Mike Clowes(MC).

Elections: There were no other nominations so JC was elected and took the chair. He thanked everyone then asked for nominations for the position of Vice Chairman. NF was proposed and seconded. He accepted and suggested that two Vice Chairmen should be elected to bring in new blood. MC pointed out that there was nothing in the Constitution to prevent this so NF proposed AKB and he was seconded and elected.

MC asked if Mike Nicholls and Dee Mitchell were to remain as members of the Education WG. This was agreed.

Treasurers Report: MC firstly reported on the CFF accounts. The current account held £6701.65p and the Capital Reserve £15,928.57p. There were no questions. He then moved on to the HB accounts. The current account held £7,950.61p and the Bonus Saver £37,492.76p.

He went on to say that there were still 3 Clubs who had not paid their subs. One is having problems with changing signatories and will pay shortly. The other two are the Irish Hawking Club and the Shropshire Hawking Club. MC has made numerous attempts to arrange payment without receiving any reply from the Irish. He had spoken to the President of the Shropshire without result. MC will send letters to each club suspending their affiliation at the end of October.

Animal Health: PB informed the meeting that he was attending for John Hounslow who had been called to Brussels and began with Cites fees stating that the consultation was on track to finish before Christmas with the results ready by the end of March, 2008. Dominic Whitmee is handling this within Animal Health (policy). NK (and Neil Fowler from the IBR) attended a workshop in Reading on 9th October. There were 2 groups present, stakeholders and conservationists (including those who administer the legislation: police, HM Customs). Unusually, both came to similar conclusions: that the fees served little purpose for conservation; would often drive trade underground; and were considered an unnecessary tax on legitimate keepers of birds of prey. This was a preliminary meeting prior to a full consultation on Cites charges to commence in 2008.

The Schedule 4 species review (the need to register certain species) is still being considered. Officials from the three countries (England, Wales and Scotland) have met and it is hoped any changes will be in place by October 2008. RSPB have already canvassed the Minister, Joan Ruddock. There was some debate about the board making a similar approach and following a meeting with key Defra policy officers a letter supporting the board’s original submission was sent (after the meeting).

The Ports of Entry consultation closed on 12th October. The summary will be on the Defra website by the end of the year, decision by October 2008

Conference on Migratory Birds: NF stated that there were already a number of agreements in place at the meeting going on in Scotland. Nick Williams of AH asked for assistance with finance so UAE money is in place and the follow up meeting will be held in Abu Dhabi. We are classed as the Afro-Eurasian region. Numerous working groups have been formed at the meeting, most of which do not affect falconry in the UK. Sweden, with a few others, is trying to restrict the production and use of hybrids. However they withdrew their amendments after it became apparent that the Arab money would disappear if they continued.

Nick Williams and David Stroud from JNCC have been very helpful with a clause in the conference summary which says: “Seek to promote approved programmes of captive breeding to take pressure off wild raptors”.

Hybrids: JC had received a letter from a Jon Franklin, backed by Mike Nicholls, with regard to an escaped tri-bred tiercel breeding with a wild peregrine in 2005. It suggested a voluntary ban on the flying of hybrids in the UK. The meeting noted the tri-bred was shot and the progeny died. NF pointed out that the HB already has guidelines out covering hacking. NK suggested hybrids wore red rings but DS mentioned that the colours of the standard ring type can wear off very quickly. NF finally suggested that AH copy the HB guidelines onto their headed paper and send them to all hybrid keepers.

Education: Dee Mitchell handed out copies of the new Lantra Beginning Falconry Workbook. She mentioned other documents are still to be circulated. There was some debate on who is qualified to be an assessor and it was agreed that it should be based upon occupational competence.

Festival/Unesco: NF- The UAE will be making a submission to UNESCO to have falconry put on the cultural heritage list. Once a country is a signatory it can put forward a submission. It is suggested that the UAE make a multi submission which will carry other signatory countries with it to shorten the process. This will be the only chance for a lot of countries in our lifetime. If the UAE agree it will delay their submission by a couple of years as there is a lot of work involved.

Britain is 3 countries. The Welsh UNESCO delegate was in Austria last week at their meeting following her thoroughly enjoyable time at the Festival. She is on side for Wales and will put falconry on the Welsh inventory list and register it in Paris. The Welsh Hawking Club and other Welsh falconry personnel need to link up with Gwyneth Edwards. Inventory is an assessment of worth. TL will oversee what is required

A colour photo booklet is being prepared to take to the UAE to see if they are interested in supporting another Festival in either 2009 or 2010. The booklet will also be used to look for corporate backing and finance.

Affiliation of the Northamptonshire Falconry Club: MC had received a request for affiliation along with all the necessary documents. He has verified sufficient of the membership list, checked the constitution and rules and everything was in order. It was agreed unanimously to have the Northamptonshire Club affiliate.

CFF Update: TL told the meeting that he was very pleased with the income from recent visits from Fairs and clubs but needed to modernise his equipment. He requested a laptop and a projector to replace the old slide show. This was agreed and once he has found what is required he will send the invoice to MC for payment. He informed the meeting that Ann Beckett-Bradshaw had stood down from the Campaign after many years of support for personal reasons. He wanted to record his thanks and asked for a letter of thanks to be sent. JC volunteered to do this.

A.O.B.

The CA have new lawyers and he thought it advisable to visit Bristol to brief them about the HB, Agreed.

There is an article in the International Falconer called Eagles & Hounds. It is to be used by the CA to assist in the defence in the I.O.W. Court case.

The 216 frequency used by a lot of falconers in their telemetry has been sold by Offcom to a digital radio station. Therefore falconers may receive music over their telemetry in the near future. More importantly, falconers bleeps may affect the normal transmission of the station and if discovered they will lose their telemetry and be fined. Change to 173 asap.

There is no mention on the main Lantra website of falconry. MC will contact them.

BFC membership was on the increase, they have increased the number of field meets, and their AGM is in November. They have money in the bank and are looking to giving a grant to a conservation project. He handed out 2007 calendars which were gratefully received.

The NEFC have their 40th anniversary in December.

The Falconry Heritage Trust has received a £1,000,000 grant. The electronic archives are up and running and old falconers are being canvassed to see if they can assist with old articles, items.