NAFA President, 1964-1965

DONORS:

Cynthia Avery, Alan and Sally Jenkins, Robert B. and

Carol S. Berry, The North American Falconers’ Association

E. W. “Bill” Jameson Jr. was a professor, an expert zoologist,

an author and — a dedicated falconer.

Born in Buffalo, NY, Bill graduated from Cornell University in 1943 with a

degree in zoology. After spending time as a Navy ofﬁcer in WWII, he earned

his masters degree at the University of Kansas and then returned to Cornell

for his PhD.

He studied mice in California, and then studied chiggers and ﬂeas in Japan,

Taiwan and Korea. He even became a worldwide expert on chiggers.

He was an expert on a variety of mammal parasites, demonstrating, for

example, the similarities and differences of the squirrels of Taiwan with those

of mainland China through the study of parasites. With his expertise, it was

not unusual for him to receive vials of parasites from around the world for

him to help identify.

Jameson then spent 40 years as a zoology professor at UC Davis, where he

also studied mice and lizards and published numerous articles in his ﬁeld.

He was an accomplished author on subjects that included zoology, falconry,

California mammals and even Chinese characters. Prior to his death, at age

89, he was working on yet another book, on the evolution of North

American mammals.

The book “Mammals of California,” ﬁrst published in 1989 by the

University of California Press, is still in print and is the standard ﬁeld guide

for wildlife enthusiasts.

Other zoology books of his include “Patterns of Vertebrate Biology” and

“The Natural History of the Prairie Vole.” Probably not books found on your

bedside bookshelf.

Jameson’s falconry books include “An Introduction to Hawking,” “American

Hawking — A General Account of Falconry in the New World” (both with

illustrations by renowned wildlife artist Hans Peeters), “Shortwinged Hawks

— A Review of Ancient and Modern Hawking” and “The Hawking of Japan:

The History and Development of Japanese Falconry,” a work translated by his

wife, which he then updated and published. That book was ﬁrst printed in

1962 (500 copies) and then reprinted in 1976. Long out of print, it is a valued

collector’s item worth several hundred dollars. Jameson, himself, was an avid

collector of books dealing with falconry.

Peeters and Jameson were very busy over the years. For the “American

Hawking” book, Peeters was the senior editor and Jameson the junior editor.

For “Mammals of California,” those roles were reversed. Peeters is an author

in his own right, with books that include “Raptors of California” and “Owls

of California and the West.” His artwork can be found in many

places and publications, even on Mexican postal stamps.

But it was falconry that ﬁrst brought them together in 1956

and kept them in constant contact throughout the years.

Peeters, also a zoology professor in California, found Jameson

to be a “splendid and generous” individual. Like the time

Peeters admired one of Jameson’s birds.

“He spontaneously offered me the Sparrowhawk,” he said. It

would not be the last bird given to him by Jameson.

Meanwhile, Jameson was extremely fond of Hawk Eagles.

His favorite was “a beautiful, beautiful animal” that came

originally from South America and that he had for 13 years,

Peeters said. Jameson was one of those who tended to ﬁnd

falcons somewhat faithless, but those Hawk Eagles were a

delight to him.

And the open countryside around Davis was ideal for falconry,

teeming with jackrabbits and pheasants.

“Falconry-wise, he lived in heaven,” Peeters said.

As a falconer, Jameson was largely self-taught. He came from

the era when falconers did everything for themselves, even

making their own equipment. His lifelong interest in the sport

started back in the 1940s with his ﬁrst hawks while a student

at Cornell.

Jameson had many other interests, as well. There was more

in his life than Hawk Eagles, squirrels and chiggers. Married

twice, with ﬁve daughters, some might be surprised to learn

that he built his own homes — from adobe bricks he made

by hand. The second home was a large, impressive two-story

house. He even made hawk houses of mud bricks. Brick-

making takes an immense amount of work and dedication, an

attribute that deﬁned much of his life.

There was even a period in his life when he made his own

wine. Davis, of course, is smack in the middle of wine-growing

country and, as an agricultural-based school, the university

has a strong program. One of Jameson’s sherries, which was

“quite undrinkable,” according to Peeters, nonetheless won an

award in the late 1950s. (Which might say more about the state

of winemaking in California at that time than it does about

Jameson’s winemaking skills.)

But his love of falconry was never far away. He even did a stint

as president of the North American Falconers Association

(NAFA) from 1964-65.

Although his interest in falconry was mostly a personal hobby

— and he was a purist with the sport — he was astute in

making good connections with Fish & Game ofﬁcials.

Jameson was another California

falConer who played an important role

in legitimizing the sport through the

rules and regulations when they were

first established in the early 1960s in

the state. sinCe that time, falConry has

greatly inCreased in interest around the

Country and the world, and the romanCe

has reaChed into many, many homes.

And although Jameson was all scientist, Peeters believes there

was a bit more behind his love for falconry:

“I suspect there might have been a romantic shadow in the

background that led him down the path of falconry.”

— Reminiscences: Hans Peeters

Bill was an accomplished author on subjects that included zoology, falconry,

California mammals and even Chinese characters.

Excerpt from Bill’s letter to a friend 24 Oct 1990:

PROFESSOR E. W. JAMESON

Bill Jameson was a fine falconer. In his many years of experience in

the sport, Bill had become addicted to short-wings. His successes over

some 13 years flying an Ornate Hawk Eagle are legendary. He had little

if any use for long-wings to the point where one could say that Jameson

clearly “disdained” the “true” falcons; he would have nothing to do

with them. With Hans Peeters as senior author and illustrator, he also

co-authored, their book American

Hawking in 1970.

At the head of their introductory

chapter describing falconry history,

Peeters, depicted a falconer clad

in sixteenth century dress. The

sketch more than slightly resembles

Holbein’s classic portrait of Robert

Cheseman, falconer to Henry VIII.

Like the Holbein, Peeters’ figure

holds a magnificent gyrfalcon. Given

the chapter’s subject, the portrait

seems appropriate. Appropriate, that

is, until one recognizes the person

depicted in such courtly garb is

none other than Bill Jameson, holding this most-prized of his despised

long-wings.

s.k.c.

The Hawking of Japan: The History and

Development of Japanese Falconry, a

work translated by his wife, was first

printed in 1962 (500 copies) and then

reprinted in 1976. Long out of print,

it is a valued collector’s item worth

several hundred dollars. Jameson,

himself, was an avid collector of books

dealing with falconry.

… except for frequent contact with Hans,

I have no knowledge of falconers today.

(In response to your request for a photo)

I could ﬁnd one picture from the days of

active hawking. Some time ago, I thought it

would be fun to ﬂy birds from horseback. I

took riding classes for several years and had

3 horses, the last of which was a big superb

fellow… the gos in the picture has just

emerged from a pond in an effort to catch a

duck. She was a female I ﬂew for six years…

Cheers,

Bill