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USAFA Falconry
By SSgt Franklin E. S. Harris Jr.
2nd Audiovisual Squadron
Hill Air Force Base, UTAH - Cold winds blow over the Cedar Mountains to rise under the wings of a peregrine falcon flying one thousand feet above the ground. The falcon circles the area, waiting for a target when two pigeons are released. The crowd murmurs in anticipation as the falcon dives at the speed of 98 mph, knocking one of the pigeons into the ground. It bounces back into the air and escapes. The falcon lands on the hand of a falconer and the crowd cheers, excited by the display at Utah Sky Trials.
“Falconry has been a huge part of the Academy since its creation,” said Cadet 2nd Class Ryan Messer, Academy Falconer. “We chose the falcon as our mascot for its air superiority. We get to see these falcons knock pigeons out of the air. It's inspiring because we are the Air Force and we strive air dominance.”
The Academy’s first graduating class of 1959 chose the falcon as the official mascot due to its speed, power, courage and agility. These are characteristics that cadets strive to embody and the falconry team gets to witness first-hand as they train and care for 11 falcons.
“The Academy’s mascot is a white phase gyrfalcon named Nova,” said Messer. “When you join the falconry team, you get to choose which bird you work with. I chose Ziva, a Gyr-saker falcon. It’s my team’s job to make sure she is fed, trained and that she knows all the procedures. Each team does that for each falcon and our seniors do the flying at events. ”
These birds of prey are taught one of oldest methods of hunting by the future military leaders. Only four cadets are accepted into the falconry team every year, where they learn the techniques and the history of the sport.
“It dates way back into the early years of Asia and slowly came into America,” said Messer. “It’s kind of weird to call it a sport, but the sport factor is actually hunting with falcons. That's why we come to competitions--to see them hunting and watch the connection between falconer and falcon. It gives us more information to share when we are at football games or public affairs events.”
The cadet’s falcons are not used for hunting; they are presentation and flier falcons. Fliers demonstrate speed and capabilities at football games and large events. Presentation falcons go to public events to share knowledge about falcons and promote the U.S. Air Force Academy. While these presentations are meant to inform the audience, they also inform the falconers.
“Sometimes you lose sight of how unique falconry is and how cool falcons are,” said Cadet 1st Class Alexandra Paxton, Academy Falconer. “I really appreciate the opportunity to work at big events like the Air Force vs Navy game as well as more personal events. For example, I did a presentation in an intensive care unit at a children’s hospital. It was really nice to bring them a little bit of joy and provide them time to be children.”
Before a falconer can bring a bird of prey into these events, they must spend time training themselves and the falcons. Training a wild animal does not happen overnight.
“These falcons can endure up to 20 G-forces,” said Messer. “They are incredible, wild animals and they don’t have to listen to you. It takes a lot of patience to build a connection with each falcon and endurance to keep trying over and over again. But, once you see them in action and in front of a crowd, it's worth it.”
Falconry cadets learn valuable leadership lessons : discipline, patience and connection. The Academy trains, educates and inspires cadets to lead in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Although the cadets don’t compete in the sky trials, it gives the cadets an opportunity to see falcons hunt after years of training, guided by professional falconers--leaders.
| Date Taken: | 02.28.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2023 09:32 |
| Story ID: | 439417 |
| Location: | HILL AFB, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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