Getting Hooked

Hi I'm Maya and I've decided to write a blog about my experience of training to be a Falconer!

My journey began on a camping trip to the  Thistledown campsite in Gloucestershire. On the second day of the camp we were surprised with a falconry experience. The first bird we met was Samara a beautiful peregrine falcon. The peregrine is the fastest animal on the planet and has been recorded at speeds of over 200 mph. To be able to fly at these great speed they have many unique adaptations:

• in the nostrils they have a bone, called the baffle, with which they are able to control the air intake.  You don't want air going into your lungs at 200mph - they'd be ripped to shreds!
• they also have a complex respiratory system this includes 8 air sacs in addition to the lungs, 
• a third clear eyelid called the nictitating membrane which stops air particles entering the eyes
• they also have pair of moustachial stripes that act as sunglasses and cut down glare.

After Samara we met and got to fly a Harris Hawk, JJ.  We  went on a woodland walk  and JJ came swooping down to take pieces of day old chick that were place on my glove. It was wonderful to be so up close and handle the birds, you can't be much closer to nature than that!

JJ - on my glove

The next bird we flew was a cute kestrel called Spike born that year, who turned out to have the same birthday as me :) He was only part way through his training so he was nervous about flying with new people. When he decided to fly, he flew to me first. I think  this was the point my soft spot for Spike began!

Last but not least we were introduced to Tony a Barn Owl. He is just about as white specimen as you will see, not a speck of colour on his chest. We learnt that they have asymmetric hearing which enables the to pin point exactly where their prey is, not only the distance but also how high it is. Another  of there other weapons is silent flight: their feathers they have a trailing edge fringe which cuts out the sound. Their prey doesn't stand a chance of escaping!!

JJ swoops in 

So that was me hooked - just a couple of captivating hours and I knew I had to find out more.

                                                  Thank you X