Bert's Treatise of Hawkes and Hawking

Bert's Treatise of Hawkes and Hawking by Edmund Bert is a vivid, practical masterclass in early modern falconry that brings the lost art of hawking vividly to life. Divided into three focused books, Bert lays out step-by-step instruction on making a short-winged hawk fit and obedient, reclaiming birds from poor condition, and treating the full range of known ailments and griefs that beset raptors. Rich with hands-on technique, period detail, and the author's own field experience—from Collier Row near Romford to the downs of Sussex—this treatise describes training the goshawk, hunting habits, and the realities of animal care in Tudor–Stuart England. Part how-to manual, part natural-history account, the text reveals the relationship between falconer and bird, practical remedies, and the rhythms of countryside sport. Its language and anecdotes illuminate historical practices while offering surprisingly applicable lessons for modern bird-keepers. Ideal for falconry enthusiasts, historians of animals, naturalists, and anyone fascinated by rural life in early England, this Animals-genre audiobook is both a technical guide and a colorful window into the world of hawks and hawking.