Senator John Laird (Photo: sd17.senate.ca.gov)
Bill To Allow Peregrine Falcons to be Used for Falconry Signed By Gov. Newsom
Oponents worry that bill may have broader environmental legislation implications
By Evan Symon, September 24, 2022 2:30 am
A bill to allow peregrine falcons to be used for falconry in California was signed into law by Governor Newsom on Thursday.
Senate Bill 945, authored by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), will exempt the capture, possession, or training of an American peregrine falcon in the practice of falconry from the prohibitions against it currently under law. It will also prohibit regulations from being adopted for the possession, training, capture, importation, exportation, or intrastate transfer of American peregrine falcons used in the practice of falconry.
Supporters for the bill noted that, while the falcon, which is the fastest bird in the world, had previously been on the endangered species list starting in 1970, populations improved so much in California that it was taken off the list in 2009. Since then, many issues halted because of the peregrine falcons protected status, from new developments nearby the birds habitat to changing skyscraper regulations in cities where they perch, have been renewed. Amongst them has been allowing them to be used for the sport of falconry.
While there were efforts in the 2010s, the 2020s saw the greatest resurgence in trying to get them to be allowed for falconry. In February, SB 945 was introduced and quickly built up support, with no lawmakers coming out in opposition and only environmental groups speaking out. Last month, the bill passed 75-0 in the Assembly and 39-0 in the Senate, leading the way for it to be signed into law by Governor Newsom on Thursday.
“After a long and arduous process, It is with great pleasure that we announce that Governor Newsom signed our Senate Bill “SB 945” (Laird) this afternoon,” noted the California Hawking Club on Friday. “SB 945 (Laird). SB 945 will exempt the capture, possession, and training of an American peregrine falcon in the practice of falconry from the prohibitions in the fully protected bird statute. SB 945 embraces the history of this impressive bird and their amazing recovery by proposing to restore the use of peregrine falcons in the art and sport of falconry.”
While the passage was cheered by many, some environmental groups said that that the falconry bill, which doesn’t affect the vast majority of Californians, may have overarching impacts.
“Many who have been wanting to chip away at environmental laws in this state have been looking for bills like this to set precedent,” explained Daniel Groom, an environmental legislation consultant, to the Globe on Friday. “SB 945 takes away protections from birds that used to be endangered. This is in place now. New bills may now use this and go a step farther and remove protections from a bird in an area where they are hoping to build. A lot of wind farms and housing developments have been in limbo because of laws like this. Now thee is this law that inches closer to precedent.”
“We’ve seen this happen before in Oregon and New York, and Iowa. One protection no one noticed was taken away, and within 5 years you have several bills removing more protections for bird species, as well as others. This may not seem like an important bill. Like falconry, few people do it. But it has much broader implications than you realize.”
Governor Newsom is expected to sign more bills until law going into next week.
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Wind farms kill birds by the thousands. Laird’s sellout to the pay-to-play wind/solar lobbyists. The more birds left unprotected, the more windmills they can hoist without facing environmental impact lawsuits and delays. Again, this is all about $$$$.
P.S. This type of bill is what a “Trojan Horse” intends to do. That is, allow for the sneak attack introduction of a larger force.
I tend to agree, Raymond.
In an odd way, and maybe as a side benefit, there might be some elitist group’s special interest here who are being served, too. As soon as I saw this article I remembered that, surprisingly, falconry happens to be the beloved hobby of the infamous L.A. County Public Health Officer and Fake Doctor Barbara Ferrer, who now makes $635K a year and has joined the elitist govt ranks. Her hobby choice shows me that not only does she like to keep free humans on a leash, but free birds, too. Maybe the “California Hawking Club” cited in the article has similarly wealthy, elitist, and like-minded members, and they applied pressure to make this law happen.
Birds are Fish
This not even a close call . I emigrated to the USA more than 34 years ago. I was a practising falconer in Scotland.
When I came here you could not use a peregrine for falconry unless you bought a captive bred bird for several
thousand dollars. Falconry cannot be falconry with the use of peregrine falcons. To those less informed I say that the elitists have lost the day. Lest we forget that it was everyday hardworking falconers and a few scientists who pioneered the return of the Peregrine to many states including California. If people would only do some simple research ? Might realize that taking say 30-40 birds from the wild will cause it to return to the bad old days?
For most birds of prey ,the first year is deadly, almost 80% of the young perish in that time (do the math).
Best news i’ve heard in a longtime !