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.