Some might wonder what it’s like being a Falconer’s Wife. Well first off, it’s not a “cute hobby” your spouse might have. Because:
Taking on the endeavor of Falconry is like starting your own farm or having kids. Everything revolves around the birds and their care. Caring for Raptors is almost a science, or, a labor of love. For a Falconer to be able to fly his bird, weight control is a big deal. Now, I’m talking weight control as in like an athlete or body builder would do to keep in shape. You want the bird to have an appetite, but be no where near over hungry. So weighing the bird daily during hunting season is very crucial. Also you need to weigh and keep track of the birds food intake. So you have to make sure you feed the birds and observe them daily, especially in hunting season. My husband Collin is very committed to his passion. So committed in fact he has turned his passion into a paying job!
Did I mention my Husband doesn’t Just do Falconry with the birds?
As if Falconry wasn’t exciting enough, right? Nope! For 8 years, on TOP of being a Falconer, my husband volunteered for a raptor rehab center and helped care for and transport injured raptors. My first month after I moved here to WV, in the middle of having like, 2 feet of fresh snow on the ground, he was called out to go rescue a Great Horned Owl that was nearby where we live. We don’t do the rehab travel as much anymore, we focus more on doing Raptor/Falconry Education programs and teaching people about these amazing birds and their effect on the environment. Collin and I traveled over 10,000 miles and did 50+ programs in all last year! I think we did about 20 just in the month of June alone!
We travel all over WV to do Education Programs too
Hawk Walks are another amazing experience we do
One of the more popular Raptor Experiences my husband does are Hawk Walks. People who sign up go on a one of a kind adventure and get to be up close and have a glimpse into the life of working with these amazing birds. They get to experience watching the hawk fly from tree to tree, following the falconer along through the woods. Or watch as a falcon soars through the open sky at unimaginable speeds!
What does all this have to do with being a falconer’s wife you ask?
Well, I’m right there in the middle of it all. I’m behind the scenes helping take care of the birds, keeping records and helping keep Collin stay focused. I’m helping keep track of bookings, and where we have to go, and planning the trips so we know what time to leave to arrive with plenty of time to set up for presentations. I also manage his website and help with social media and advertising. And since I’m a photographer as well, I’m taking pictures, I’m hiking along and getting shots of him on the Hawk Walks and presentations. I’m taking turns driving with him so he doesn’t get worn out before a presentation. It’s a lot of work but so, so worth it. Want to see some of my work? Check out my socials (located at the side bar and bottom of the website). And check out my Husband’s website and social!
