My first introduction to falconry was at a very young age. My father had just been hired on at a new job and we all had to move. As we were all packing and getting ready for the move with the movers in the house, I was informed that one of them was a practicing falconer. Well I had no clue what that was, so I started in with the typical barrage of kid questions. Once I found out it had anything to do with birds of prey I was sold. The love for the birds had been there since the time I saw my first eagle picture at the ripe old age of four or five. So you can imagine my reaction once I found out that you could have a raptor to interact with.

Most ten-year-olds still have this imagination that tends to run wild on them. I had visions of raptors everywhere and loads of time to be with all of them. Well my father quickly squelched all thoughts I ever had of that. One simple statement was all it took. “What would you do with them?” Is all he said. I knew at that time all my hopes of pursuing this had just been stomped into the ground. Little did I realize that this simple meeting was going to seat a yearning in my heart that would soon become a dream for me to achieve.

It seemed that during the next several years that the birds were following me. Beckoning me to join them. This should have been the first sign to me that there was more to it than just a simple liking of raptors. No matter where I ventured, there was a hawk or some bird of prey waiting there for me. Soaring, sitting on a post by the side of the road, taking off to go hunt, they greeted me in all ways. Still I took no notice of the regularity in which this happened. Not until the first time I saw a raptor up close and could see into its eyes did I realize exactly what these birds held for me.

I had held that thought in my head for another span of years and was then introduced to a man that could help me start chasing my dream. At the age of 27 I was going to be able to start down a path that will ultimately finish my quest. A happen chance meeting in a pet store with a now dear friend offered me the chance my father had never given me. He was offering up knowledge to me that had until now been near impossible to come by.

Dennis was the best thing that could have happened at that point in time for me. He gave me two things that I can never repay him for. First, he showed me where to look and what to look for and how to get started. Second, he introduced me to his female red tailed hawk Cassie. Once again I was spoken to in volumes. She and I exchanged so much in just those few times I held her on my fist and had her fly to me, then any book could ever relate. I also learned as much from him as I could in the short span of time I was able to spend with him. His font of knowledge was the best thing that my foundation could have been built on. Unfortunately our time was cut way too short due to situations beyond our control.

The important part is that I now knew where to begin. No matter where I go I know how to get into the circles of knowledge in the area I am in. For this I will be forever in his debt. My knowledge of the birds has grown 30 fold since I left his influence. Naming them in flight is just as easy as while sitting nearby. The enjoyment I gather from this has increased equally for me as well.

So I enter my next stage of the journey. I have the knowledge I need and I carry that with me wherever I go. They still follow me, beckon to me. They give me my chance to fly. The first birds of prey show that I saw at the San Diego Wild Animal Park was when the conversation started. They have been speaking to me ever since. Once we are settled enough I will spend the rest of my days finishing the conversation. Until then I just look skyward and follow my heart.