Word Smith: Fowler

Word Smith: Fowler

Debating with myself whether this is a BIRD post or WORD SMITH post, I discovered that it is difficult to research the word “Fowler” without being swept away with biblical snares. Page after page of any Google search explores the reference to Psalm 91:3-4, where the fowler’s snare is metaphysically and religiously explained. These searches hold some thorough exegesis and persuasive explanations, but they are not what I was looking for.

More simplistically, I sought the root word fowl, which refers to birds. The occupation of fowler describes the practices of a person who hunts birds as prey. Yes, some fowlers are part of the annual count of the birds migrating in parts of the world; however, the fact that someone who hunts birds for food is somehow sinister and demonized in our culture today has become part of our collective blindness and myopia. Shooting clay pigeons for sport is OK, but the hunting and consumption of real pigeons, ducks, and birds are off limits. By extension, the vast majority of us have some evil intent with the hunting of birds for sport or prey.

Looked at in a different way, all of us non-vegetarians who eat chicken (we eat 9 billion of these flightless birds per year in the US) can thank the Perdue and Foster Farms of the country for serving as our fowlers. They have the task of doing our dirty work: they harvest the eggs, they grow the fowl and then they catch, slaughter and clean the birds for our dinner table. They supply the featherless birds to Kentucky Fried Chicken and Popeye’s restaurants. They send the dead birds to Krogers and Walmart to feed our protein hungry citizens. Think of the carcasses that are the residue of all of those chicken thighs and wings from sports bars. And that 9 billion number doesn’t count the turkeys and other seasonal birds we consume without a second thought.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, does it seem odd that the President of the US spends hours every year pardoning a turkey from the death penalty, which adds up to more time than is spent examining the wrongful incarceration and pardoning of the men and women in our prisons? Think about it.

Narrowly spoken, the Fowler uses a trap, net or snare to catch the bird. They also clip the wings and hobble the birds so they are easier to catch. A Fowler can also train another bird of prey, such as a Falcon, to do the dirty work. Using a bird or the appearance or sound of a bird to catch another bird is an ancient practice. Think of all of the duck calls out there. And during every seasonal migration the duck hunters lay out their decoys on the water or field to invite the fellow migratory fliers to “land here,” putting them in close range for target practice for the hunters in the nearby blind.

Falconers are another strain of hunters who more actively train the larger birds to hunt down and kill another animal, usually another bird, that is not easily shot or killed by the human hunters.

Many cultures have birds carcasses sold in public markets for general consumption. The slaughter of these birds has led to the decline of many of the most endangered bird species on the planet. Who sets the rules for the birds we can shoot and eat and those we cannot? Seems quite a conundrum.

Some interesting thoughts for me to ponder. How about you? Are you a fowler, or are you a person who has someone else as a fowler for you?