If you’re a regular reader of this blog you know that I’ve had some reservations about falconry in the past. After extensive discussion here, with input from falconers, I no longer have many of those concerns. Last night Mark Runnels (one of the falconers involved in that discussion) sent me the link to a video clip that has simply fascinated me and I just had to share it.
Like many others I sometimes fantasize about flight, especially as I watch a raptor soaring on the updrafts. The feeling of freedom and the ever-changing spectacular views that would come with three-dimensional mobility would be such an incredible rush. And if it could be done in silence (without engine noise) so that the only sound would be that of the air rushing by, so much the better.
I’ve often watched raptors playing “tag” with each other on the air currents and wondered what it would be like to join them. Well, this must be pretty close to that experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Link below.
Parahawking
Thanks once again, Mark.
Ron
Love your images and website Ron! I was looking for a way to buy a print from you,a photo of a passage Red-Tailed Hawk, when
I discovered everything else here. Look for me to find you on FB too, lol. I’m a licenced Falconer and have a passion for
the life and health of all BOP(birds of prey). They are creatures of habit, and unfortunately learn bad ones near the
roads and city areas. I trapped Sakura(passage female RT), on a busy hwy. She was learning to hunt from a telephone pole
using the cars as a way find prey. Live by the bumper, die by the bumper. Now she is an ace hunter, and a skilled flyer.
I don’t look forward to releasing her back into wild in 2015. I’m also glad to hear you have learned more about falconry and
have a better opinion of it. I wanted to share a video of Sakura training with myself and the ATV. It’s a great way to build up
thier flight muscles and confidence against bigger prey. Thank you for all the wonderful work you’ve shared here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnd_T4l9R5o
Hi Ron,
Wonderful video indeed. Come on down to the Point of the Mountain and bring your camera. I fly paragliders mainly here in UT and have had the opportunity to fly with dozens of raptors. Red tailed hawks, Coopers, Swainsons, bald eagles, kestrels, black vultures, sharp shinned hawks, golden eagles are some that I have shared the air with. You’d be amazed at how close wild raptors will get to your paraglider… especially the eagles.
I have been so inspired by flying with these birds that I am starting my own falconry apprenticeship this year. Come on down any time, ask for me… I’ll set you up with a tandem flight.
Thanks, Kristjan. I’ve been to the flight park at Point of the Mountain looking for raptors. I know there are often a lot of them there, especially during winter. I wish you luck with your falconry apprenticeship. I know it’s a demanding but very rewarding pasttime. I do appreciate the tandem flight offer but I have a difficult time gettiing on my roof, if you know what I mean…
Lovely post and video. I often think about how clunky we are in our attempts at flight … especially as I watch my local hummingbirds navigate the narrow spaces between my deck railing. Biobabbler mentioned sharing thermals with hawks. There’s a spot in California just north of Pacifica where paragliders leap off the bluffs, and I’ve seen Red-tailed Hawks soar alongside.
That must be quite a sight, Ingrid. I think I’d prefer the view upstairs but the safety downstairs…
I too would love to soar with the eagles. Sadly, the video only played erratically for me, but what I saw was incredible. Thank you.
For similar reasons I would love to swim as a fish/penguin/seal/otter. Something which claims water as its own, and glides through it, free as a bird and as graceful as one too.
Swimming underwater would be quite similar to flying, Elephant’s Child – only slower and through a much more dense substance. Thank you.
Here is some footage from the original parahawking project in Nepal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDG9jXvXhyQ
Hope you enjoy
I did enjoy it, Scott. Thanks for the link.
Cool! My co counter at the Goshutes this past fall was a hang glider. He met many people who fly their falconry birds along with them while paragliding or hang gliding. He also showed me a video he took while hang gliding at the point of the mountain. He had a too close for comfort encounter with a kiting RTHA. I’ll see if I can get him to share it. I would love to fly with the hawks, but to be honest, I am much to afraid of airborne activities.
Me too, Bryce. I’d love to have the experience but I probably don’t have the guts.
Thank you for sharing this. An interesting perspective!
Wonderful video, Ron. Many thanks for sharing it.
What a treat. =) And a surprise treat #2 to get to see Torrey Pines in San Diego (my home town). I have a friend who did parasailing years ago and shared a thermal or two with hawks. It’s pretty amazing to hear him tell the story.
Biobabbler- yes, I recognized the area too since I lived in Escondido and Poway as a kid.
Such a wonderful shot I feel like I’m flying with it!
Thank you, Charlotte.