Hooked on falconry
Visitors take in lesson about an ancient tradition that’s still flying high
Watching a raptor reign supreme over the sky is not something most people get to see but, thanks to Jamie Stride, enthusiasts on Saturday afternoon were treated to a handson birding experience.
Birds of prey, such as falcons and hawks, are often referred to as raptors.
“Falconry is the hunting of wild game with a trained bird of prey,” said Stride, the owner and operator of Island Falconry Services that’s nestled in Albany.
The Saturday presentation was part of P.E.I. 4-H’s the Great Outdoors project.
“We get our birds typically at three months old when they have grown their feathers and are ready to hunt,” remarked Stride, as he balanced a saker falcon called “Sam” on his thick glove.
He noted the birds are very independent creatures. “You invest so much money and time into a creature that doesn’t really want to be with you,” laughed Stride, as he acknowledged the relationship of the bird is based strictly on two things, “It knows I won’t hurt him and that I am the provider of food.”
Falcons can spot their dinner from up to three kilometres away, thanks to eyes that fill 50 per cent of its skull.
“A high-flying falcon will catch a bird in mid-flight at a speed that closely matches a manmade missile. They knock the animal by impact to the ground, which is then followed by a fight (if the bird is still conscious), and the falcon will then grab the neck and snap it.”
Birds have a third clear eyelid, so even in the rain or at swooping high speeds their eyes are protected. “It’s like wearing a pair of goggles,” he noted. The birds are purchased from reputable breeders because it is illegal to trap a wild bird of prey on P.E.I.
After the indoor presentation, the group gathered outside to admire the six birds on site, before their interactive experience with a hawk called “Harris.”
Guests were invited to wear the falconer’s glove and have the bird in free flight land on their glove while holding a tempting morsel of meat.
“It was awesome,” gushed Jacquelyn Harlow, after she got to experience what it was like to be a falconer for the day.
“I’m surprised at how light the bird is too,” she added.