Falconry Manual

Frank Lyman Beebe (1914–2008) was one of North America's most influential falconers, artists, and wildlife researchers. Born in Canada, he received his introduction to raptors at the age of ten and went on to dedicate over seven decades to the study, care, and conservation of birds of prey.

Beebe began his professional career as Zoo Curator in Vancouver in 1939 and later served as chief illustrator for the Victoria Provincial Museum, where his detailed wildlife illustrations documented thousands of plant and animal species. He participated in pioneering expeditions to the Queen Charlotte Islands to study and collect specimens of the rare Peale's Peregrine Falcon, becoming one of the world's foremost authorities on this maritime raptor as well as the Gyrfalcon.

In the early 1960s, Beebe achieved groundbreaking success in captive falcon breeding—work that would prove crucial decades later in the recovery of endangered raptor populations. He co-founded the North American Falconers Association with Harold Webster and maintained lifelong ties with the B.C. Falconry Club and the Falconry Club of America.

A prolific author, Beebe's books—including North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks (1960), Hawks, Falcons and Falconry (1976), and The Compleat Falconer (1992)—were instrumental in establishing falconry as a respected sport in North America and provided the first comprehensive guides to raptor capture and training techniques. His lively illustrations enhanced each volume, bringing technical concepts to life with artistic precision. 

More falconers and nature enthusiasts likely owned more original Beebe paintings than those of any other artist, and few have matched his ability to capture the intricate dynamics of predator-prey relationships on canvas. His life’s work represents one of the greatest contributions of any Canadian to our understanding of birds of prey. He flew his last flight on 15 November 2008.