Training Falcon (day 2)

The first training sessions, the falcon master swings a ball with feathers just out of reach of the falcon. A process that requires split second timing and intuition. The falcons can reach speeds of up to 100 mph in a dive. After a few passes the falcon master will reward the falcon with a treat. This process helps re-enforce in the falcon that it is the falcon master that feeds them. When on an actual hunt the falcon brings down prey and then waits for the falconer to arrive. (You want to make sure that the falcon doesn’t eat what you’re hunting, but only what you provide for it).


Interesting fact, the art of falconry was dated back to around 700 BC and has several modern-day applications outside of recreational hunting. Falcons are often used at major airports to chase away birds in the area that can easily get caught in jet engines. Modern day falcons are also used to control gull populations over landfills.