Falconry
Seven Mountains Audubon Society meeting 9/21/2016. Fascinating presentation by Master Falconer Patrick Miller who described what is required to achieve "Master Falconer". Two year apprenticeship with a Master Falconer, pass a 150 question comprehensive written examination with a grade of at least 80% covering all aspects of falconry including related laws, identification and speciation, health related issues pertinent to the birds and other aspects pertinent to the care of the birds, build a facility to house the birds that meets inspection certification standards and then trap and train the birds that you manage. He described his journey through this process in eloquent, interesting detail. His passion for falconry and his expertise were clearly evident to everyone as he engaged the audience in the description and discussion and displayed the red tail hawk and the goshawk which are his own and the peregrine which he borrowed from Zoo America, Hershey, PA where he is employed. He hunts in the field with these birds several times a week and he even has a perch for them on his coffee table in his home. He explained that there are now attachable tracking devices with GPS that can be followed with a cellphone App. He also devised a mini GoPro style helmut cam and has made video recordings of flights from the view of the hawk. He has handled and "flown" several other species including Harris hawks, American Kestrel and a golden eagle. He is truly a Master Falconer and a great speaker and teacher.
Top left and right - Patrick Miller twitter.com/patrick19803870 with his Red tail hawk
Bottom left - Peregrine falcon - the fastest animal on earth with clocked speeds of up to 240 mph in a steep dive
Bottom right - Goshawk
Falconry
Seven Mountains Audubon Society meeting 9/21/2016. Fascinating presentation by Master Falconer Patrick Miller who described what is required to achieve "Master Falconer". Two year apprenticeship with a Master Falconer, pass a 150 question comprehensive written examination with a grade of at least 80% covering all aspects of falconry including related laws, identification and speciation, health related issues pertinent to the birds and other aspects pertinent to the care of the birds, build a facility to house the birds that meets inspection certification standards and then trap and train the birds that you manage. He described his journey through this process in eloquent, interesting detail. His passion for falconry and his expertise were clearly evident to everyone as he engaged the audience in the description and discussion and displayed the red tail hawk and the goshawk which are his own and the peregrine which he borrowed from Zoo America, Hershey, PA where he is employed. He hunts in the field with these birds several times a week and he even has a perch for them on his coffee table in his home. He explained that there are now attachable tracking devices with GPS that can be followed with a cellphone App. He also devised a mini GoPro style helmut cam and has made video recordings of flights from the view of the hawk. He has handled and "flown" several other species including Harris hawks, American Kestrel and a golden eagle. He is truly a Master Falconer and a great speaker and teacher.
Top left and right - Patrick Miller twitter.com/patrick19803870 with his Red tail hawk
Bottom left - Peregrine falcon - the fastest animal on earth with clocked speeds of up to 240 mph in a steep dive
Bottom right - Goshawk