What I've learned in the last three months

Study, Study, Study

While I know I said that I was going to use this blog as a means of studying, and I do still intend to, I've found that studying is a ton of work for this kind of lifestyle. I've been told by many that it is not a hobby, but a lifestyle bordering on obsession. This has become very obvious to me and I'm just scratching the surface.

I've learned so much over the past two months, but I also feel that I have learned no where near enough to take the falconers exam. I have been graciously provided with study books from both the California Hawking Club (CHC) and other clubs and states exams. I've been told by many that the CHC has one of the best manuals out there so I have been reading it voraciously when I get the opportunity, I've made it through once now and plan on reading at least one more time if not two or three, haha.

I've also been picking up on terms, definitions, and anatomy. I've been using digital flash cards, website glossaries and any other source list that I can find.

I know that I am making good progress and that I will be well prepared, but I'm still anxious and really ready to move forward soon.

Making friends (kind of) 

I know that I have mentioned this before, but I've always heard that Falconers were a tight knit group, and that they were hard to find, hard to impress, and nearly impossible to be accepted by. Boy is this ever wrong. I think with the evolution of social media, it is easier than ever to find a group of like minded individual, no matter what hobby or interests you have. I found several groups on Facebook and have connected with hundreds of people around the world. It is really a great experience adn very rewarding and encouraging to have so many people behind me. 

There is no sort of falconer

This is by far the most important thing, this is a long process and a very involved process. I have been at this for three months and I've not even made a dent. This has to be a passion for it to work in your life, that doesn't mean you spend every minute with it but it does mean that you work hard on a regular basis (by regular I mean daily).

This is a process, but I know that in time it will become reality.

Raptor Profiles, Apprentice Level Birds: American Kestrel

This is just a primer for what is to come, in this and the next post I am going to profile in detail the two mos common Raptors that are available to the apprentice falconer, these are the birds that I will come to know the best over the next several years

For my own benefit after introducing the bird by its common name, I will be using the scientific name to help it sink into my brain.

American Kestrel (falco sparverius)

Full Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
   Phylum: Chordata
      Class: Aves
         Order: Falconiformes
            Family: Falconidae
               Genus: Falco
                  Species: Sparverius 

Physical Description:

The smallest of all the true falcons that is native to North America and the second smallest true falcon on earth, Falco Sparverius is known to be between 9-12" in length, with a wing span of just under two feet. Falco Sparverius is roughly comparable in size to a Blue Jay, having sharp wings typical of the falconidae family, as well as a long tail. Males exhibit slate gray coloring on the wings and head, and a beautiful rust coloration along the back and tail. The females of the species on the other hand exhibit the red coloring across the majority of the body. Both sexes exhibit the tear drop and mustache markings on the face that so characteristically defines falcons as well.

Juvenile plumage is largely very similar to that of the adult sometimes making passage birds difficult to identify.  

Nesting and Environmental Status:

Though these birds share a wide variety of habitats, they tend to have very similar nesting habits across the board. Falco Sparverius,  though a falcon, tends to prefer more secure and secretive nesting locations as opposed to the scrape, ledge, or exposed nest that other falcons prefer. They often find hollows in trees, woodpecker holes, or other crevices. They are also known for nesting in large bird houses as well. Falco Sparverius lay four to five eggs in a clutch, rarely is it more or less and only ever by one or two either way. Incubation is 29-31 days. Kestrel eggs are small, oval, and tend to be primarily white or cream in color, sometimes tending toward pink, with brown, or tan, spots or dots across the surface.

Falco Sparverius is considered a low risk bird environmentally speaking as it is the most populous raptor in the country, with an estimated 4 million individuals of breeding age world wide. 

Habitat and Range:

Falco Sparverius has a local range that encapsulates the majority of the North American continent in some way or another, with a migratory range reaching well into northern Canada and Alaska as well as deep into southern Mexico and beyond. They have a permanent range that covers most of the lower 48 states. As well they are very wide spread birds really inhabiting a large majority of the two American continents.

Falco Sparverius lives in a large variety of habitats given its vast range. However, it is most comfortable and likely to be found in open fields and meadows, often spotted sitting on power lines along the side of the road, or frequenting the fairways of golf courses.

Hunting Style:

Falco Sparverius typically hunts small insects, mice, and song birds. It is know for utilizing different hunting styles based on the quarry it is hunting. Fully capable of taking down birds on the wing, hunting in a more falcon like fashion. As well as stationary hunting from a perch or air-born hover, taking its prey on the ground as is more typical of the hawk and eagle families. 



  

Everything I was hoping for and More

I can't believe how lucky I am. I was able to make it to the inaugural meeting of the Kentucky Falconry Association (KFA) on the third of January. It was all I was hoping for and then some, I was able to meet all sorts of men and women and make some great contacts.

The meeting kicked off with introductions and a brief "why are you here." Many of the guys there have been in the sport for many years, some as much as 40 years, others are still under apprenticeship, and others were simply visiting the park and were interested in seeing all the birds.

I have to admit I was really worried about being "an outsider", a lot of what I have read about becoming an apprentice has lead me to believe that falconers are an elite group and that it is hard to get "in" with them. While they are few in number (55 in KY, and about 7,000 nationwide)) that is simply crap, at least here in KY it is. Every single person I talked to was so enthusiastic about the sport that I felt right at home.

There really wasn't much exciting about the meeting, we simply discussed what the mission of the group was going to be, established a president, the interest in a summer family picnic and a winter meet (hunt) for later this year, as well as establishing dues so that we can have some finances for meeting space rental, etc.

The second most exciting part for me at least, not being around these magnificent creatures was when we took our break. Since we were at a public park, using a nature center of sorts, a few of the guys had agreed to do an education briefing for the public. It was a great excuse for anyone that had brought a bird to get them out and allow them to stretch their wings. It was so amazing, every single person there had brought a different species of bird and it was so incredible to see the wide variety of creatures that I will eventually be able to work with.

Birds from left to right, Back: Sharp Shinned Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Harris' Hawk, Front: Red-tailed Hawk, Screech Owl, and Saker falcon

The most exciting part though came after the meeting had been dismissed. This was the opportunity to talk and catch up for old friends, or to make great new contacts for the guys like me. I ended up speaking with a guy I will call D, he is a gentleman that has been in the sport for multiple decades and brought with him a Richardson's Merlin (falco columbarius richardsonii). After most of the folks had left, it was down to D, two other gentlemen, and myself. D got his Merlin out, and was going to show her off a little since none of us had seen her hunting style before.

At one point he needed both his hands to get all his gear together but the bird was already out on his hand, he looked right at me knowing my experience and simply said "ya want her," took off his glove, and let me take responsibility of his bird. He let me handle her our entire walk down to an open area, and then he took the lead off that kept the bird safely secured to the glove and let me release her for free flight while he set up to work a lure he brought. It may have only been a small sampling but I cannot explain how amazing that was, it was a pure adrenaline rush like nothing I have experienced before.  

A Long Road Ahead

The Opportunity of a lifetime

I'm a dreamer, I love the idea of being able to tackle every hobby or idea that pops into my head; woodworking, horsemanship, r/c car racing, helicopter piloting, and entrepreneurship just to name a few of my more "realistic" dreams that linger or have come to pass. However, there has been one dream of mine that I have held onto since the fifth grade. We were required to read a book called "My Side of the Mountain," about a boy who runs away from home into the woods, and for survival takes a peregrine falcon eyas (nestling) from an aerie (nest) to use as a hunting companion.

This of course is illegal on many levels, from permitting, to the age of the bird that was taken from the nest, etc. However, when  I was young the idea of working with such a powerful animal in a mutual relationship captured my attention and I have had an interest in this ancient art form ever since.

Recently in my poking around the internet in a renewed interest, I came across a group of falconers in Kentucky who are attempting to resurrect a club of sorts called the Kentucky Falconry Association (KFA) They are having an inaugural meeting at the beginning of the new year, and after talking with several members in an attempt simply to get to know them I learned that it was an open meeting and that I was more than welcome to attend. This I have found is one of the most difficult parts of the journey that I know of yet, making contact with the fine men and women already in the sport.

This of course is but the first step of a very long process, of studying, learning, observing, testing, and then finally beginning a two year apprenticeship under an experienced falconer if one is willing and able to take the time and effort to help in my training.

For now, this blog is going to be my study guide, as I progress through this journey the blog of course will evolve. I find the best study methods for my self is to write the information that I am attempting to learn. Many posts will be nothing but law and regulations, or taxonomical names and descriptions of birds, habitats, etc.

This is certain to be a long, hard, and crazy ride. My hope is that at least some of you will gain from this in one way or another, be it simply an awareness of nature around you or kindling an interest in this wonderful sport.