Why are falcons eyes sewn shut?

Answer 1

Oh, dude, falcons' eyes aren't sewn shut! That would be quite the fashion statement for a bird. Falcons actually have a nictitating membrane that helps protect their eyes while they're flying at high speeds. It's like having built-in goggles, but way cooler.

Answer 2

Oh honey, falcons' eyes are not sewn shut. That's just a myth perpetuated by some twisted version of nature. Falcons actually have amazing eyesight, allowing them to spot their prey from great distances. So, no need to worry about any birdie eye surgeries here!

Answer 3

Falconry, the practice of hunting with trained falcons, often involves temporarily sewing a falcon's eyes shut to keep the bird calm and prevent it from becoming overly stressed during transportation or when being handled. This technique is known as "hooding" and is a common practice among falconers to help maintain control over the bird and reduce its visual stimuli. The hood is typically made of soft leather or fabric and is designed to fit comfortably over the bird's head, covering its eyes without causing any harm. Once the falcon is settled and calm, the hood is removed, and the bird's vision is restored.

Answer 4

When a falcon is seeled, the falconer takes a fine linen thread and very fine round needle and carefully sews her eyelids together, temporarily blinding her. This must be done with the utmost care, making sure that the stitches are not too tight or too loose. The falconer must also be careful not to injure the bird's eye with the needle. Once the sewing is finished, the long tails of the threads from both eyes are tied together atop the bird's head, and then carefully hidden beneath the feathers, so the bird does not scratch at them.

Why do we do such a thing? Falcons and hawks are by nature animals that perceive the world through their eyes and they have a natural fear and distrust of man. If we were to try and tame a falcon while she could still see us, she would soon exhaust herself by attempting to flee from what frightens her. It would be cruel to try and force her to accept conditions that are foreign to her while she is screaming and in such terror that she dies from the sheer shock of it.

For, unlike a horse or a hound, a falcon cannot be cowed and forced into obedience by cruel treatment. But, by temporarily blinding her, she cannot perceive all the strange things around her and thus they are less upsetting to her. A properly seeled falcon will sit immobile on her perch and thus, the falconer can accustom her to the sound of his voice and the touch of his hands. She learns that these things won't harm her, and when the seeling threads are removed, she is more accepting of the things around her in the mews, as well as other things such as strangers, dogs and horses.