Falconer flock takes hunting into Valley skies

By Bob Dunn
Staff Writer

Published on November 24, 2006

HADLEY - When he was a boy, Chris Davis got a glimpse of falconry in action and was hooked. "I thought it was the greatest thing a person could do," he said.

Years later, Davis not only gets to do it - but to educate others in how it's done.

Davis owns and operates New England Falconry in Hadley, which educates participants about birds of prey and allows them to have the experience of handling a raptor. Falconry is both a sport and an art that is over 4,000 years old. Techniques used then have remained largely unchanged, Davis said.

Davis is a master falconer and has been licensed since 1979. Becoming licensed involves, among other things, serving as an apprentice.

Davis works mostly with Harris' Hawks, birds native to the American Southwest and Central and South America, which he breeds at a facility at his home.

The Harris' Hawks, Davis said, are easy to train and more amenable to working with people they're not familiar with. "They have a more flexible outlook on life," Davis said.

The bird got its name from James Audubon, who named the species after his friend, Edward Harris.

Getting a bird of prey ready for falconry is called "manning" the bird, conditioning it not only to the presence of people, but to environmental distractions such as cars and dogs.

Then, of course, there's the trick of being able to get the birds back once they're released.

That involves training the bird to jump to the heavy falconer's glove and then gradually increasing the distance until the bird is ready to go out on its own.

To help ensure the bird's return, Davis tries to keep the birds at an optimal flying weight, "with just an edge of appetite," Davis said.

"Once a bird is full, it may not come back," he said.

Tracking birds

Keeping track of the birds once they are out of the handler's control is accomplished through both low- and high-tech means.

Bells are attached to the birds' feet and tails to increase the chances of hearing nearby birds. Radio transmitters are also secured to their legs or tails in the event a bird gets out of visual or audio range.

Davis said the birds quickly get used to the bells and transmitters on their bodies. "It's like jewelry," Davis said.

"You put it on and you forget about it."

Davis demonstrated the bird's hunting technique with some of his Harris' Hawks.

The birds communicate through distinctive cries.

They issue "scolds" when unhappy about a nearby tractor, as well as particular cries when food is spotted. There is a distinct sound of courtship.

The birds feed on prey such as mice, squirrels and snakes, but can also take down larger prey such as rabbits, quail, duck and pheasant.

Even being effective hunters, though, doesn't ensure longevity. Raptors do have natural predators in the wild.

"Just because you're a hawk or a falcon doesn't mean something bigger won't eat you," Davis said.

Great Horned Owls are one local threat to birds of prey, said Davis.

Birds are also subject to other hazards. Davis said he lost one bird when it flew into a power line. Davis doesn't name the birds he works with, in order to reinforce the idea that these animals aren't pets.

He identifies them by the last two numbers on the identification bands placed around the base of their legs.

The male Harris' Hawk tends to be quite a bit smaller than its female counterparts.

Davis has a 4-year-old male that weighs in at just under a pound and a half, while the females typically run closer to 21/2 pounds.

The birds appear quite a bit heavier than that, due to their thick plumage and three- to four-foot wingspan.

Davis said that despite the sport being called falconry, participants are split between those that use falcons and those that use hawks.

Falcons, he said, have a different hunting style and will attack prey that's been flushed out either by a human or a hunting dog.

Hawks tend to hunt in smaller areas and have a more "rough and tumble" hunting style.

Davis demonstrated how a bird will come when directed, by raising a gloved hand with a small piece of beef tucked under the thumb.

One of the hawks spied the prize and swooped down from its perch in the trees surrounding the field, skimmed inches off the ground and swooped up, landing perfectly on the end of his outstretched arm and plucked the meat off of his glove.

When hunting in the wild, hawks will operate in a four-step cycle of chase, catch, kill and feed.

Once the prey is caught, the birds will kill it through a method of constriction with its talons before feeding.

The birds, said Davis, live a "feast and fast" lifestyle and once fed, may not hunt again for days which is why it's so important to maintain their flying weight for falconry.

Davis offers introductory and full-fledged hunting sessions that combine interacting with the raptors and learning about them and their environments.

Exploring sport

Sarah Goodwin of Greenfield has been working with Davis for over a year and a half, she said. Goodwin said she's been fascinated with falconry and birds of prey since reading "My Side of the Mountain" as a child.

"It made me want to explore the sport more," she said.

Becoming licensed in the United States takes a great deal of time. Goodwin said that the licensing process benefits both the falconer and the birds.

"In England, you can just go out and buy a falcon," she said.

"The process in the States prevents people from getting into something they don't understand."

Goodwin lauded Davis' educational style.

"He's fantastic, so knowledgeable but a really calm mentor," she said.

"A lot of falconers have a well-deserved sense of ego. He's really modest."

She said that anyone who goes out for a session with Davis will not only get a taste of falconry but knowledge about the birds themselves.

"He's an excellent teacher," Goodwin said. Having no control over the birds one they are released is part of the draw of the sport for Davis.

"That's part of the fun, the unpredictable dynamic," he said. "It's an interesting way to make a living."