Falconry Lesson
CJ and I signed up for a basic Falconry Lesson from West Coast Sky Falconry held today at the Torrey Pines Glider Port in La Jolla. It was a really great experience. As we walked up from the dirt parking lot we could see Curt and Denise setting up. Three birds were on short perches behind a table holding a pile of leather gloves. With our cameras around our necks we approached and Denise greeted us. She welcomed us and asked if CJ would like a chair as there would be 30 minutes of introduction before we would "fly" the birds. As other people had started to join us this led to a procession off to get chairs. Denise said they had never brought chairs up for people to sit in before.
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After getting paperwork out of the way, Eric and Denise started giving us information about the birds of prey used in Falconry. Today they had brought three of their Harris Hawks and they used two of them to demonstrate aspects of what they talked about. The Harris Hawks will hunt together, are cooperative, fly low to the ground, and like being around people. Denise brought the gloves around and told us about keeping them down when we weren't calling a bird. Eric smeared a small amount of chicken on each glove between thumb and forefinger. Then it was time to get in a circle and call the male bird from person to person. It is an odd feeling to stand with your arm out and call the name of a bird especially if the bird does not react. With a little encouragement from Eric and Denise the bird flew to each person's outstretched hand and claimed the chicken. The hawks don't have to come when called or even stay around. It is up to them to decide to stay and do what you want. So "HeyDude" the hawk, would not always come when called but when he wanted to.
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We stood in a line and Eric put some chicken on a person's shoe. "HeyDude" would walk to the shoe and eat the chicken. Eric got him to walk along the whole line and then back. Our last activity was also the most exciting. We formed a line and one person at a time walked out in front. With a gloved arm held up "HeyDude" was called. After the hawk landed the person would turn to face the line. The "Glider Port" photographer would take pictures. Then Eric would call "HeyDude" and the bird would fly toward the line coming very close to our heads. It was an exciting time in line when the bird wings would brush by and you could feel the wind they created. When the hawk is on your hand, it is amazing that you are that close to a wild bird of prey.
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Afterwards we stopped at the Glider Port concession stand for some very good sandwiches. We ate at a table while watching people practice getting their para-glider sails in the air. It takes a bit to get the sail up and keep it from getting out of control. An instructor's pointers were easy to overhear as we sat at our table 30 feet away.
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