mountain_adventures's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
This is an excellent book if you want to understand the how and whys of falconry without picking up a falconry textbook and getting really far into the technical aspects.
However, her first bird's name is Injun. She addressed why she named the bird that and why she felt it was not insensitive, but some readers may find it offensive.
However, her first bird's name is Injun. She addressed why she named the bird that and why she felt it was not insensitive, but some readers may find it offensive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Car accident
chocodile28's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
libbyajt's review against another edition
4.0
This book really helped me to understand the fascinated world of falconry. I've been interested in this since I was a child, and it was incredible to learn first hand about these birds and their care. I highly recommend this book to anybody who's interested in falconry or just wants a step away from what you usually read.
My one critique is that the author's first bird is named Injun. While she does address the racial insensitivity of the name somewhat in the book, it did slightly tarnish my enjoyment of the book overall. Besides this, I found it to be a riveting and lovely read.
My one critique is that the author's first bird is named Injun. While she does address the racial insensitivity of the name somewhat in the book, it did slightly tarnish my enjoyment of the book overall. Besides this, I found it to be a riveting and lovely read.
jkkb's review against another edition
4.0
This book made me want to become a master falconer. Cowan does a great job of relaying how majestic and magical birds of prey are and you can't help but envy the connection she has with them.
sbletham's review against another edition
5.0
Delightful. A must read for beginner falconers and those considering it. While the book is not a "how to" guide, the processes are included. More important are the lessons about how falconry would change your life. A good read for nature lovers.
discocrow's review against another edition
4.0
More books about falconry, you ask? Why, of course. I'll happily dig into each and every one I find and I'm pretty sure I'll be amassing a vast collection over the years. I really can't get enough of learning about raptors.
While the book is titled [b: Peregrine Spring|26544549|Peregrine Spring A Master Falconer's Extraordinary Life with Birds of Prey|Nancy Cowan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450653371s/26544549.jpg|46543818] I believe [a: Nancy Cowan|5994082|Nancy Cowan|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] spends much more time with Harris's Hawks than peregrine's throughout the pages. It's understandable, given how good Harris's Hawks can be with newcomers - and having manned one myself now, I can say that I read through those pages with a bit of a smile on my face remembering how he felt on my glove, how welcoming he was to me feeling his keel, etc. It was an electrifying feeling when he bated, and I was very aware of the predator that close to me, but he was also easy to read. You don't let your guard down, but you can feel comfortable. Falconry is about the raptor and you becoming extensions of one another, after all. This book showed that connection especially well.
This book isn't as much a full story as [b: H is for Hawk|18803640|H is for Hawk|Helen Macdonald|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442151714s/18803640.jpg|26732095] is, and it is a bit unfair to compare the two. This book is more a collection of essays or conversational pieces about the legalization of falconry in New Hampshire, learning falconry and about the birds, and eventually rehabilitating birds and the highs and lows that comes with it. This is more a book for a novice than someone deep into falconry unless they are simply looking for a fun thing to read from a fellow master. Terms are defined more than they were in [b: H is for Hawk|18803640|H is for Hawk|Helen Macdonald|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442151714s/18803640.jpg|26732095] and the writer is more interested in explaining the why's of falconry and its importance and appeal than the process of it all itself
The books are very different, but both are very good. Reading this made me appreciate living with the corvid I do and look forward to a life full of strange and interesting birds and all they can share with us. There's definitely something healing about being in the presence of something so wild and different and earning its trust.
While the book is titled [b: Peregrine Spring|26544549|Peregrine Spring A Master Falconer's Extraordinary Life with Birds of Prey|Nancy Cowan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450653371s/26544549.jpg|46543818] I believe [a: Nancy Cowan|5994082|Nancy Cowan|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] spends much more time with Harris's Hawks than peregrine's throughout the pages. It's understandable, given how good Harris's Hawks can be with newcomers - and having manned one myself now, I can say that I read through those pages with a bit of a smile on my face remembering how he felt on my glove, how welcoming he was to me feeling his keel, etc. It was an electrifying feeling when he bated, and I was very aware of the predator that close to me, but he was also easy to read. You don't let your guard down, but you can feel comfortable. Falconry is about the raptor and you becoming extensions of one another, after all. This book showed that connection especially well.
This book isn't as much a full story as [b: H is for Hawk|18803640|H is for Hawk|Helen Macdonald|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442151714s/18803640.jpg|26732095] is, and it is a bit unfair to compare the two. This book is more a collection of essays or conversational pieces about the legalization of falconry in New Hampshire, learning falconry and about the birds, and eventually rehabilitating birds and the highs and lows that comes with it. This is more a book for a novice than someone deep into falconry unless they are simply looking for a fun thing to read from a fellow master. Terms are defined more than they were in [b: H is for Hawk|18803640|H is for Hawk|Helen Macdonald|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442151714s/18803640.jpg|26732095] and the writer is more interested in explaining the why's of falconry and its importance and appeal than the process of it all itself
The books are very different, but both are very good. Reading this made me appreciate living with the corvid I do and look forward to a life full of strange and interesting birds and all they can share with us. There's definitely something healing about being in the presence of something so wild and different and earning its trust.
readingpenguin's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Earlier this month I read H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, and because that is so fresh in my mind it's impossible not to compare the two. They are both memoirs about falconry, and they are both reasonably accessible to a non-falconer such as myself. But where H is for Hawk has a psychological journey and literary tone to it, Peregrine Spring reads a lot like a (well written, thoughtful) blog journaling the author's various experiences with many birds of prey throughout the years. It's...chattier. And the thing is, I think I liked it better and found it more relatable for that very reason. Your mileage may vary.
I think the portion of this book that I found the most interesting was the couple of cases where Cowan takes on a wild bird for rehabilitation with the goal of releasing back into the wild. She was fairly open about the pros and cons of rerelease, and she made me aware of flaws in the laws regarding these practices.
The only thing that held me back from a higher rating was the sheer number of birds being discussed--you as the reader don't get much time to know if love any particular bird before Cowan's relationship with it ends for one reason or another. I tend to like a slightly more personal story, but obviously that is a preference thing.
Earlier this month I read H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, and because that is so fresh in my mind it's impossible not to compare the two. They are both memoirs about falconry, and they are both reasonably accessible to a non-falconer such as myself. But where H is for Hawk has a psychological journey and literary tone to it, Peregrine Spring reads a lot like a (well written, thoughtful) blog journaling the author's various experiences with many birds of prey throughout the years. It's...chattier. And the thing is, I think I liked it better and found it more relatable for that very reason. Your mileage may vary.
I think the portion of this book that I found the most interesting was the couple of cases where Cowan takes on a wild bird for rehabilitation with the goal of releasing back into the wild. She was fairly open about the pros and cons of rerelease, and she made me aware of flaws in the laws regarding these practices.
The only thing that held me back from a higher rating was the sheer number of birds being discussed--you as the reader don't get much time to know if love any particular bird before Cowan's relationship with it ends for one reason or another. I tend to like a slightly more personal story, but obviously that is a preference thing.
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