We would like to introduce you to a special volunteer that is currently helping us with some of our raptor training. Sarah is a licensed falconer that has brought some new training techniques to our program. We asked her a few questions and are excited to share her answers with you.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I began my Falconry journey 4 years ago. During the turbulence of the COVID pandemic, I was afforded an opportunity to step back from a 20-year career and take a sabbatical to focus on becoming a Falconer. I earned my state and federal Falconry licenses and continue to seek out as much knowledge and experience as possible by attending falconry events across the U.S., as well as working with several mentors. I hope to travel overseas when possible, to witness Falconry in other cultures. During the last 4 years I have had the privilege of working with 4 different facilities, over 50 individual raptors across 15 species.
In addition to my personal falconry birds, I also have 4 dogs. We have a full house!! Three of the dogs are hunting dogs and they go out into the field with the birds and I. Judy, Field-bred English cocker spaniel, chases rabbits with the Red-tailed hawk and Bodie and Boomer, German short-haired pointers, point pheasants for the Gyrfalcon.
When I am not at the Wildlife Clinic or out in the field with my dogs and birds, you may find me practicing my bowling game for an upcoming bowling tournament. I need a lot of practice! I am also very active in my local church and am currently serving on several boards of trustees.
What is your favorite avian species to work with? And do you have a favorite bird in general?
My favorite species to work with is a tough choice. Each bird, regardless of species, is an individual with its own specific personality. I enjoy getting to know the individual bird and figuring out how we can best work together. Some standout species I have had fun working with have been Harris’s Hawks, Eurasian Eagle Owls and Lanner Falcons. Of all the birds I have worked with, the species that has given me the most joy AND the greatest heartache has been the Red-tailed Hawk.
What do you like about working with the ambassadors here at the Wildlife Medical Clinic? What are some projects you are currently working on?
I love working with ALL the ambassador animals at the Wildlife Clinic! I look forward to the time spent caring for them, observing their behaviors and researching ways to enhance their experience. We have been working with Ruby, resident Red-tailed Hawk ambassador, to fly on a creance (A creance is a long line that allows the bird to fly ‘free” in a controlled setting). Ruby loves playing the creance game and we hope to be able to reveal her flying skills to a wider audience soon.
We have also recently completed a renovation of an outdoor enclosure to a raptor safe free flight chamber. This enclosure will allow avian wildlife patients in recovery to build up their flight muscles before release back to the wild. We will also be using the creance with certain flighted patients as additional exercise to get them back into shape after their stay at the Wildlife Clinic. This is a new program to the Wildlife Clinic and I am extremely excited to be a part of it.
What do you like the most about Falconry?
My favorite part about falconry is the ability to work with and form a relationship with a wild animal. This relationship is always temporary as their permanent place is in the wild. Once our journey together is finished, I get the privilege of releasing them back into the wild and treasure the memory of our time together.
Written By: Sarah, volunteer and YiYing, co-chair and Class of 2026
