by Angela Hamberg

Granite City IL

 

It was January 15th, 2005.  The temperature was somewhere around 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  I was standing in a field of snow and around me where 20 or so people that I had never met before.  In the tree above us a Goshawk.  On the ground below were rabbits.  Although we hadn't found the rabbits yet, it was our responsibility to find them and get them moving. 

Then in a flash off goes a rabbit, milli-seconds behind it the Gos takes flight.  Only seconds later the Gos catches the rabbit.  My first thought: "Is it always that fast?"  I was amazed and was caught off guard by the speed of it all. 

I was attending a field meet with the Missouri Falconer's Association.  This was the first time I had the opportunity to go hunting with falconers and it did not disappoint me. 

 

I have worked with birds for the past 8 years most of which were trained for free-flight demonstrations or in a breeding program.  Everything from finches, ducks, crows and chickens to hornbills, cranes, parrots and raptors.  I did not apply for my first job with birds because I had an interest in them, it was more of a right place at the right time situation.  But I quickly developed a new respect, love and admiration for birds and their abilities.  I was hooked from the first time I held a bird on the fist (a Barn Owl).  I found myself happy to go to work, excited to call home to tell my family what I was doing and anxious to learn more about these magnificent creatures. 

 

Now at my current job the only bird I have the chance to work with is a Yellow-headed Amazon.  Primarily I work with California Sea Lions.  I am still happy to go to work as these animals also have their own personalities that make them a joy to work with.  But I miss my birds and since that first day working with raptors I have always wondered what being a licensed falconer would be like.  I have many friends who are licensed falconers but always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as I never had the chance to hunt with any of them.  It was my luck that the years I lived near them, they did not fly a bird.  So I have spent allot of time talking about hunting, reading, researching and wishing, but for the first time I was able to observe. 

 

Next up that day were a few red-tails.  They did not catch their prey as quickly as the Gos, but were amazing in their own respect.  Just to be watching the people, the birds, the flights.... it was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.     

 

Later in the day a cast of Harris Hawks were to be flown as well.  They did not seem too appreciative of the bitter cold, but still did their best to catch what they could. 

 

I only spoke with a few people that day, mainly those that approached me to introduce themselves or ask me a question, but I walked away with a new respect for falconers and the birds they fly. 

 

There are two main things I will remember about that first meet.  One being the sense of awe watching the birds and humans work together.  The other being the feeling or should I say lack of feeling in my feet I experienced that day.  I did not wear proper boots and at one point it hurt so much to walk I was not sure I could make it back to my car.  But I was so intrigued by it all I was afraid I would miss something if I left the field before everyone else.

 

Now I am starting my journey to acquire my license.  I am currently awaiting my test score from the state, have been sketching various designs for my mews, looking to obtain all the necessary equipment and continuing to read as much as I can along with all other aspects of working towards getting my license.  All resulting in trapping my own bird sometime next fall.  I will look forward to future MFA meets as I hope to be able to continue to build upon what I already know from my watching, asking and listening to everyone involved in the club.  Every meet there have been new faces which carries with it new experiences, thoughts, techniques and theories.  There is so much to learn from those with years of falconry behind them and I know nothing can beat those years of experience.

 

Thank you to all involved with the MFA and your open-ness to discuss your own experiences.