Early July 2024| Practical Self Reliance

Falconry and Fireworks

July in Vermont is one of those times when it seems like everything is happening at once. You can hear the hum of haying equipment every afternoon, as the farmer’s get to work, making hay while the sun shines…as the saying goes.

This year was no different, with so much to see, smell, taste and do…hiking, harvesting, preserving, campfire cooking, homemade ice cream, and of course, afternoon dips in the pond.

And this year, an extra special 4th of July trip to New England Falconry in Woodstock Vermont for a once in a lifetime experience.

In our family, we prioritize experiences over physical things.

We drive a 14 year old car that’s just coming up on 200,000 miles. We live in a one room cabin rather than a big suburban house. We cook food from scratch at home rather than eating out…

But when there’s something truly amazing to experience in this part of the world, you can bet your bottom dollar we’ll be there.

When I heard that not too far from us there’s a little known spot where you can fly a falcon for the afternoon, we signed right up.

The weather was perfect, and I can think of no better way to celebrate the 4th of July (or, Treason Day, as the monarchists would say).

The littles snuggle geese, barn cats, salamanders, snakes and snails the rest of the summer, but hands-on time with falcons and owls was really something else.

Falconry goes back millenia, and humans and falcons have been working together as hunting teams since 2000 BC. Somehow, in the Middle Ages, it became a fancy sport of kings and court ladies, where the well off earned accolades for the prowess of their birds.

And still, to this day, falcons are kept by subsistence hunters and nomads in places like Mongolia.

Usually, it’s me making puppy dog eyes at my husband, saying, “Honey, please…can we get another goat? Maybe a goose or two? Did you see the baby blue eyes on that kitten?”

This time, the tables were turned, and he was the one asking what it takes to keep a Falcon.

Hold an owl just once, and you’ll find yourself wondering what you can do to build more habitat for these incredible creatures.

Anything for a chance to see the cinematic flight of one of these birds just a few feet from your fingertips.

I can think of no better way to encourage conservation of these species than giving people hands on experiences with them.

The chance to hold one of these creatures, and look an owl in the eye, is truly beyond words.

All owls and falcons kept for falconry are bred in captivity and hand-raised, so they’re acclimated to working with humans.

This lovely lady is named Alba, and she was hand raised by a man with a beard. Owls, like cats or dogs, bond with those that raise them, and see them as their flock.

After impringing in her youth, Alba she sees bearded men as her flock and this little lady had a special fondness for my bearded husband.

A few dramatic laps around the field, and she’s back to perch right on his glove.

What have you done to bring a little magic into your life this year? We’re only half way through 2024, and there’s still so much more to experience before this year ends.

Until Next Time,

Ashley at Practical Self Reliance