It’s a testament to the flexibility of falconry that this ancient art still has a valuable place in the modern world. If you want to learn more about what falconry is, how it works, and what falconers do for a living, I encourage you to check out this episode.
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Alina is a falconer and is engaged in all kinds of work with birds of prey, ranging from education and rehabilitation, to hunting and wildlife abatement. She works with a variety of organizations, but most notably founded Wings Over Wine, a group that rehabilitates and releases birds of prey in local wineries. I’ve always loved seeing and learning about birds of prey, so this was a real treat for me. I’ll include some photos in the Facebook post, and on my website. Also, if you listen carefully, you might hear some wings flapping, or a random scratching sound. That’s because we were joined during the interview by Alina’s Aplomado Falcon, which was very cool. I hope you’ll enjoy our conversation.
(Alina’s Aplomado Falcon, “Inca”) This summer you might have seen her carrying it around in public to acclimate it to a variety of situations and conditions. I actually met Alina and her bird at a Women of Willamette Wine Night (which is what led to our podcast conversation)
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Topics discussed in this episode
- What falconry is used for today
- A falconer’s lifestyle
- How hunting with a bird of prey works
- The relationship between a falconer and their birds – what a falcon gets from the relationship
- Different kinds of birds used and their purposes (and who can use them)
- Gear that the falconers use
- Alina’s Aplomado Falcon
- How falconers obtain a bird of prey
- Wildlife rehabilitation
- Abatement
- Education
- Wings Over Wine-what makes a winery a good habitat for a bird of prey
- Where to learn more about falconry
Thanks again for taking the time to share all this with me Alina! After our conversation, she showed me the birds she works with, and it was very cool seeing them up close.
You can find Alina’s nonprofit “Wings Over Wine” at http://wingsoverwine.org/index.html and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wingsoverwine.wow/ and find a schedule of upcoming releases. You can also check out isavewildlife.com to schedule a visit, make a donation, or get involved in wildlife education and rehabilitation.
If you like this episode, head over to the Facebook page “Why Try Podcast,” and click like and share to see photos of Alina’s birds, as well as receive updates about new episodes, and help others discover Why Try. You can find more episodes on Apple Podcasts and your podcast app, and online at nicholaspihl.com. You can also help the podcast grow by leaving a review on itunes. Finally, I have a few new posts in Why Try the Focus group, that I’d like your feedback on, specifically related to fielding questions and doing research on upcoming guests. You can expect future episodes on Mondays and Thursdays.
Music for this podcast is by Cambrian Explosion, whose music has twice thwarted the invasion of the reptilians. Find them on apple itunes, spotify, and cepdx.bandcamp.com
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Thanks for listening.
Links mentioned in this podcast:
Wings Over Wine (wingsoverwine.com)
I Save Wildlife (isavewildlife.com)
Oregon Falconer’s Association (OFA) (http://oregonfalconers.com/)
Max Yield (no website available)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:09 — 36.6MB)