German Falconry Order

The Deutscher Falkenorden – Bund für Falknerei, Greifvogelschutz und Greifvogelkunde e. V. (DFO), rendered in English as the German Falconry Order, is a German registered association dedicated to falconry, the protection of birds of prey and the study of raptors. It was founded in Berlin in 1921 and is described by its own materials and by German Wikipedia as the world's oldest still-existing falconers' association. Its founding conference was held on 26–27 May 1923 in Leipzig. The organisation is a recognised nature-conservation association in Germany and, according to its website, is a state-recognised environmental and nature-protection association under §3 of the German Environmental Appeals Act (Umwelt-Rechtsbehelfsgesetz). The DFO is the umbrella body (Dachverband) of twelve regional associations (Landesverbände), four of which each combine two federal states. It is a non-profit association open to anyone committed to preserving falconry and protecting birds of prey. As of 2019 it had roughly 1,600 members, making it the largest falconry association in Germany; about half of the members practise falconry, while the rest are ornithologists, veterinarians and otherwise interested supporters. The DFO is a member of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF), and its definition of falconry follows the IAF: hunting with a trained bird of prey for free-living game in its natural habitat. The association's activities span practical falconry (Beizjagd), raptor conservation, species-protection projects, the care of injured or orphaned birds of prey, falconer training and examinations, and the promotion of falconry as intangible cultural heritage. It publishes a yearbook, first issued in 1929, and a twice-yearly newsletter, Tinnunculus. It organises a national falconry conference every two years and supports regional hunting meets (Landesbeizen). Some regional associations run preparatory courses for the falconer examination (Falknerprüfung), which can currently be taken in a number of German federal states. The DFO gained particular recognition for breeding and reintroducing peregrine falcons, which had died out in northern and eastern Germany in the 1970s. It is also involved in rescuing, taking in and rehabilitating sick or injured birds of prey. Its name, using the word Orden (order), is said by the association to reflect the spirit of its founding year and has been retained ever since.

The Deutscher Falkenorden was founded in Berlin in 1921 by hunters, ornithologists and cultural scholars interested in falconry. Its founding conference took place on 26–27 May 1923 in Leipzig. The founders aimed to revive the old art of falconry in Germany and to promote the protection of birds of prey. According to the association, the use of the word Orden (order) in its name goes back to the spirit of the founding year and has been retained to the present day. From 1967 to 1972 the DFO was a member of the Deutscher Rat für Vogelschutz (German Council for Bird Protection), the umbrella organisation of bird-protection organisations in Germany. In 1972, after heated debates, including about hunting of birds, the DFO was expelled from the council. In the course of this controversy, the Deutscher Jagdschutz-Verband (DJV) left the DRV in 1974. The DFO has long been the largest falconry association in Germany. The two other larger German falconry associations are the Orden Deutscher Falkoniere (ODF), founded in 1962 and active nationwide, and the Verband deutscher Falkner (VDF), founded in 1990 and active mainly in the eastern German federal states. Besides these three large associations there are several smaller falconry clubs in Germany. The association has published a yearbook since 1929, containing reports on practical falconry (Beizjagd), current raptor research and essays on the current legal situation. The board sends out the newsletter Tinnunculus twice a year with information on current events and internal association matters. In addition to annual regional meets (Landesbeizen) organised by the regional associations, the federal DFO holds a falconry conference every two years, regularly attended by guests from around the world. Some regional associations run courses preparing candidates for the falconer examination. The DFO has gained recognition through the targeted breeding and release of peregrine falcons, which had become extinct in northern and eastern Germany in the 1970s. It is also engaged in the rescue, reception and rehabilitation of sick or injured birds of prey. Like the ODF and VDF, the DFO is a member of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF). In 2022 the association published a commemorative volume, 100 Jahre Deutscher Falkenorden. Eine Festschrift (Neumann-Neudamm, Melsungen), marking its centenary. Earlier, Peter N. Klüh's Bibliotheca Falconaria (1998) documented 75 years of the DFO through its publications.

• 2022

  Centenary commemorative volume 100 Jahre Deutscher Falkenorden published.

• 2019

  Membership stands at about 1,600, the largest falconry association in Germany.

• 1998

  75th anniversary; Peter N. Klüh publishes Bibliotheca Falconaria.

• 1974

  Deutscher Jagdschutz-Verband (DJV) leaves the DRV amid the controversy.

• 1972

  DFO is expelled from the Deutscher Rat für Vogelschutz after heated debates.

• 1967

  DFO becomes a member of the Deutscher Rat für Vogelschutz.

• 1929

  Association begins publishing its yearbook.

• 1923

  Founding conference held on 26–27 May in Leipzig.

• 1921

  Deutscher Falkenorden founded in Berlin by hunters, ornithologists and cultural scholars.

Germany's largest and the world's oldest falconry association; a state-recognised nature-conservation body combining practical falconry with raptor protection and research.

• Jahrbuch für Falknerei, Greifvogelkunde und Greifvogelschutz (yearbook, since 1929)

• Tinnunculus newsletter (twice yearly)

• Falconer examination preparation courses

• Peregrine falcon breeding and reintroduction programme

• Biennial national falconry conference (Ordenstagung)

• Regional meets (Landesbeizen)

1. 1DFO official websited-f-o.de
2. 2DFO | Geschichte der Falknereid-f-o.de
3. 3Deutscher Falkenorden – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
4. 4Deutscher Falkenorden – Wikidatawikidata.org