well I’m a falconer I happen to be probably the most blessed guy on the
probably the most blessed guy on the
probably the most blessed guy on the planet the way I look at it first of all
planet the way I look at it first of all
planet the way I look at it first of all you saw a Falconeri the sport of kings I
you saw a Falconeri the sport of kings I
you saw a Falconeri the sport of kings I went ahead and got that off of there in
went ahead and got that off of there in
went ahead and got that off of there in a hurry because a lot of people see that
a hurry because a lot of people see that
a hurry because a lot of people see that and they go oh we didn’t bow to him
and they go oh we didn’t bow to him
and they go oh we didn’t bow to him you’re gonna have that opportunity later
you’re gonna have that opportunity later
you’re gonna have that opportunity later I don’t know if everybody knows what a
I don’t know if everybody knows what a
I don’t know if everybody knows what a falconer is but I kind of want to give
falconer is but I kind of want to give
falconer is but I kind of want to give you an idea the definition of falconry
you an idea the definition of falconry
you an idea the definition of falconry is the art or the sport of training and
is the art or the sport of training and
is the art or the sport of training and hunting with birds of prey it’s pretty
hunting with birds of prey it’s pretty
hunting with birds of prey it’s pretty awesome huh
awesome huh
awesome huh some of y’all going whoa like that well
some of y’all going whoa like that well
some of y’all going whoa like that well scooby-doo so I get to go out every day
scooby-doo so I get to go out every day
scooby-doo so I get to go out every day and I train birds and I go out in the
and I train birds and I go out in the
and I train birds and I go out in the woods and I hunt with them but I kind of
woods and I hunt with them but I kind of
woods and I hunt with them but I kind of want to tell you how that started I used
want to tell you how that started I used
want to tell you how that started I used to own a pet store and it was in my
to own a pet store and it was in my
to own a pet store and it was in my store one day and a guy walked in he was
store one day and a guy walked in he was
store one day and a guy walked in he was like any other day and he wanted to buy
like any other day and he wanted to buy
like any other day and he wanted to buy some mice to feed something and as I’m
some mice to feed something and as I’m
some mice to feed something and as I’m over there getting mice out of this tank
over there getting mice out of this tank
over there getting mice out of this tank for the guy I looked at him and I asked
for the guy I looked at him and I asked
for the guy I looked at him and I asked a question and at the time I had no idea
a question and at the time I had no idea
a question and at the time I had no idea asking this simple question that I asked
asking this simple question that I asked
asking this simple question that I asked hundreds of other people that it would
hundreds of other people that it would
hundreds of other people that it would change my world he would flip my life
change my world he would flip my life
change my world he would flip my life upside down and that question was simple
upside down and that question was simple
upside down and that question was simple I looked at him and I said what are you
I looked at him and I said what are you
I looked at him and I said what are you feeding and he looked back at me and he
feeding and he looked back at me and he
feeding and he looked back at me and he said a red-tailed hawk now I had all
said a red-tailed hawk now I had all
said a red-tailed hawk now I had all kinds of stuff in the store and I knew
kinds of stuff in the store and I knew
kinds of stuff in the store and I knew about birds but I had no idea about
about birds but I had no idea about
about birds but I had no idea about birds of prey so my first thought was
birds of prey so my first thought was
birds of prey so my first thought was what are you doing with a red-tailed
what are you doing with a red-tailed
what are you doing with a red-tailed hawk and he says you want to see it I
hawk and he says you want to see it I
hawk and he says you want to see it I said sure
said sure
said sure so we go outside he brings out this
so we go outside he brings out this
so we go outside he brings out this red-tailed hawk look very similar I’ll
red-tailed hawk look very similar I’ll
red-tailed hawk look very similar I’ll give you a better visual will bring out
give you a better visual will bring out
give you a better visual will bring out a real one how about that and see one up
a real one how about that and see one up
a real one how about that and see one up close so he shows me this red-tailed
close so he shows me this red-tailed
close so he shows me this red-tailed hawk the next thing he asked me was do
hawk the next thing he asked me was do
hawk the next thing he asked me was do you want to go hunting with me all right
you want to go hunting with me all right
you want to go hunting with me all right this open this good and Falconer he’s
this open this good and Falconer he’s
this open this good and Falconer he’s also done a lot of things for me landing
also done a lot of things for me landing
also done a lot of things for me landing me that hot wife right there too
so he asked me if I want to go hunting
so he asked me if I want to go hunting and I’m like yeah I mean I hunted anyway
and I’m like yeah I mean I hunted anyway
and I’m like yeah I mean I hunted anyway but I was like sure whatever this is
but I was like sure whatever this is
but I was like sure whatever this is about he takes me out there and the next
about he takes me out there and the next
about he takes me out there and the next thing I happen to see and this is a
thing I happen to see and this is a
thing I happen to see and this is a short clip of what I saw that day that
short clip of what I saw that day that
short clip of what I saw that day that just gave me goose bumps this is what I
just gave me goose bumps this is what I
just gave me goose bumps this is what I saw
saw
saw strength charisma but grace and beauty
strength charisma but grace and beauty
strength charisma but grace and beauty all combined into one I was hooked but
all combined into one I was hooked but
all combined into one I was hooked but for the next 4 years or so I just hunted
for the next 4 years or so I just hunted
for the next 4 years or so I just hunted with him he was my friend with the boat
with him he was my friend with the boat
with him he was my friend with the boat you know the old adage it’s a better
you know the old adage it’s a better
you know the old adage it’s a better thing actually owning the boats having a
thing actually owning the boats having a
thing actually owning the boats having a friend that owns the boat he was my
friend that owns the boat he was my
friend that owns the boat he was my friend with the bird so I hunted with
friend with the bird so I hunted with
friend with the bird so I hunted with him as much as I possibly could and then
him as much as I possibly could and then
him as much as I possibly could and then one day I decided to get a bird of my
one day I decided to get a bird of my
one day I decided to get a bird of my own and at the time I was just intrigued
own and at the time I was just intrigued
own and at the time I was just intrigued with the hunting aspect of these birds
with the hunting aspect of these birds
with the hunting aspect of these birds little did I know until I got deeper
little did I know until I got deeper
little did I know until I got deeper into this the historical impacts that
into this the historical impacts that
into this the historical impacts that Falconeri has had on our world we’re not
Falconeri has had on our world we’re not
Falconeri has had on our world we’re not sure exactly where falconry began but we
sure exactly where falconry began but we
sure exactly where falconry began but we believe it began somewhere in the far
believe it began somewhere in the far
believe it began somewhere in the far east there’s actually documentation of
east there’s actually documentation of
east there’s actually documentation of the Chinese having birds of prey 680 BC
the Chinese having birds of prey 680 BC
the Chinese having birds of prey 680 BC that’s like over 4,000 years ago there’s
that’s like over 4,000 years ago there’s
that’s like over 4,000 years ago there’s a story that an arab king saw a bird of
a story that an arab king saw a bird of
a story that an arab king saw a bird of prey take game in the desert and ordered
prey take game in the desert and ordered
prey take game in the desert and ordered his men to catch that bird maybe out of
his men to catch that bird maybe out of
his men to catch that bird maybe out of necessity maybe they’re hungry and they
necessity maybe they’re hungry and they
necessity maybe they’re hungry and they figured hey I can get hold of that bird
figured hey I can get hold of that bird
figured hey I can get hold of that bird I can catch food every day nobody really
I can catch food every day nobody really
I can catch food every day nobody really knows but we find throughout history
knows but we find throughout history
knows but we find throughout history that it was popular in Japan and
that it was popular in Japan and
that it was popular in Japan and Kazakhstan and Mongolia and all these
Kazakhstan and Mongolia and all these
Kazakhstan and Mongolia and all these different places but where it really had
different places but where it really had
different places but where it really had its biggest impact was in medieval
its biggest impact was in medieval
its biggest impact was in medieval society now we all know about we’ve
society now we all know about we’ve
society now we all know about we’ve heard of the Renaissance era the
heard of the Renaissance era the
heard of the Renaissance era the Crusades that happened and that’s
Crusades that happened and that’s
Crusades that happened and that’s probably when it became popular in in in
probably when it became popular in in in
probably when it became popular in in in Europe this is Henry the eighth he was a
Europe this is Henry the eighth he was a
Europe this is Henry the eighth he was a huge falconer loved falconry frederick
huge falconer loved falconry frederick
huge falconer loved falconry frederick ii also a falconer many people
ii also a falconer many people
ii also a falconer many people throughout history you will find were
throughout history you will find were
throughout history you will find were falconers Genghis Khan Elizabeth the
falconers Genghis Khan Elizabeth the
falconers Genghis Khan Elizabeth the first
first
first Edward the Confessor he was a huge
Edward the Confessor he was a huge
Edward the Confessor he was a huge their society and so now as a falconer
their society and so now as a falconer
their society and so now as a falconer I’m beginning to look and think man I’m
I’m beginning to look and think man I’m
I’m beginning to look and think man I’m not just a guy out in the woods flying a
not just a guy out in the woods flying a
not just a guy out in the woods flying a bird around every day I’m part of
bird around every day I’m part of
bird around every day I’m part of something I’m part of something that has
something I’m part of something that has
something I’m part of something that has been going on for over 4000 years that
been going on for over 4000 years that
been going on for over 4000 years that kind of gives me chills just thinking
kind of gives me chills just thinking
kind of gives me chills just thinking about it now it’s pretty awesome this is
about it now it’s pretty awesome this is
about it now it’s pretty awesome this is my view everyday this is what I see when
my view everyday this is what I see when
my view everyday this is what I see when I look up into the sky of these birds
I look up into the sky of these birds
I look up into the sky of these birds was the years went on and on and on I
was the years went on and on and on I
was the years went on and on and on I decided you know I need to do something
decided you know I need to do something
decided you know I need to do something more with these birds because the more I
more with these birds because the more I
more with these birds because the more I studied the more I found that being in
studied the more I found that being in
studied the more I found that being in the woods with these guys like this is
the woods with these guys like this is
the woods with these guys like this is almost spiritual and I spend about five
almost spiritual and I spend about five
almost spiritual and I spend about five or six days doing this every week but I
or six days doing this every week but I
or six days doing this every week but I need to do something a little more I
need to do something a little more I
need to do something a little more I need to share this because I am so
need to share this because I am so
need to share this because I am so blessed it would be selfish and wrong
blessed it would be selfish and wrong
blessed it would be selfish and wrong and sinful almost if I were to keep it
and sinful almost if I were to keep it
and sinful almost if I were to keep it to myself how can we share this so I
to myself how can we share this so I
to myself how can we share this so I figured out a couple of ways let’s start
figured out a couple of ways let’s start
figured out a couple of ways let’s start a business I want to do factory every
a business I want to do factory every
a business I want to do factory every day I don’t work for somebody I want to
day I don’t work for somebody I want to
day I don’t work for somebody I want to play in the woods all day with my birds
play in the woods all day with my birds
play in the woods all day with my birds so let’s figure out a way to make some
so let’s figure out a way to make some
so let’s figure out a way to make some money of this thing a guy told me he
money of this thing a guy told me he
money of this thing a guy told me he said I can tell you how you gonna make
said I can tell you how you gonna make
said I can tell you how you gonna make money start out with a million dollars
money start out with a million dollars
money start out with a million dollars or start out with two million dollars
or start out with two million dollars
or start out with two million dollars rather you end up with a million cuz
rather you end up with a million cuz
rather you end up with a million cuz you’re gonna lose this this venture but
you’re gonna lose this this venture but
you’re gonna lose this this venture but we started doing some things guided
we started doing some things guided
we started doing some things guided hunts taking people out oh this is
hunts taking people out oh this is
hunts taking people out oh this is something I got talked into the first
something I got talked into the first
something I got talked into the first and only time I ever put tights on but
and only time I ever put tights on but
and only time I ever put tights on but that was an event and actually tights
that was an event and actually tights
that was an event and actually tights aren’t that uncomfortable never again
aren’t that uncomfortable never again
aren’t that uncomfortable never again let’s get off that but taking people out
let’s get off that but taking people out
let’s get off that but taking people out on hunts and looking at their faces and
on hunts and looking at their faces and
on hunts and looking at their faces and and and knowing what they’re feeling
and and knowing what they’re feeling
and and knowing what they’re feeling inside to see these birds what I do is
inside to see these birds what I do is
inside to see these birds what I do is like walking into a National Geographic
like walking into a National Geographic
like walking into a National Geographic episode every day its life I’m a
episode every day its life I’m a
episode every day its life I’m a participant the difference is whenever I
participant the difference is whenever I
participant the difference is whenever I get done I pack up my actors and go home
get done I pack up my actors and go home
get done I pack up my actors and go home and then I start the episode all over
and then I start the episode all over
and then I start the episode all over again tomorrow it’s pretty fascinating
again tomorrow it’s pretty fascinating
again tomorrow it’s pretty fascinating education we’d love to educate people
education we’d love to educate people
education we’d love to educate people and that brings me to my next thing a
and that brings me to my next thing a
and that brings me to my next thing a lot of people have trouble comprehending
lot of people have trouble comprehending
lot of people have trouble comprehending why we would take a bird like Payton say
why we would take a bird like Payton say
why we would take a bird like Payton say hey and she has a hood on so she can’t
hey and she has a hood on so she can’t
hey and she has a hood on so she can’t see you guys
see you guys
see you guys y’all might scare her so she’s just
y’all might scare her so she’s just
y’all might scare her so she’s just staying calm but to take a bird like her
staying calm but to take a bird like her
staying calm but to take a bird like her and out of the wild and utilize her some
and out of the wild and utilize her some
and out of the wild and utilize her some people have a problem with that so I
people have a problem with that so I
people have a problem with that so I want to explain it like this these birds
want to explain it like this these birds
want to explain it like this these birds red-tail Hawks most common bird of prey
red-tail Hawks most common bird of prey
red-tail Hawks most common bird of prey in North America they have a 90%
in North America they have a 90%
in North America they have a 90% mortality rate their first year of life
mortality rate their first year of life
mortality rate their first year of life was for those who aren’t mathematicians
was for those who aren’t mathematicians
was for those who aren’t mathematicians that’s out of every hundred ninety die
that’s out of every hundred ninety die
that’s out of every hundred ninety die before they reach maturity that actually
before they reach maturity that actually
before they reach maturity that actually goes up and you may end up with only
goes up and you may end up with only
goes up and you may end up with only like five that make it to adulthood
like five that make it to adulthood
like five that make it to adulthood well this bird eats about 2,000 rodents
well this bird eats about 2,000 rodents
well this bird eats about 2,000 rodents a year that’s significant that’s great
a year that’s significant that’s great
a year that’s significant that’s great for our environment right without them
for our environment right without them
for our environment right without them we would be in a mess but there’s four
we would be in a mess but there’s four
we would be in a mess but there’s four main causes of death they get hit by
main causes of death they get hit by
main causes of death they get hit by cars they get electrocuted people shoot
cars they get electrocuted people shoot
cars they get electrocuted people shoot them and they die starvation because of
them and they die starvation because of
them and they die starvation because of lack of habitat no one of those four
lack of habitat no one of those four
lack of habitat no one of those four things have in common
things have in common
things have in common us when I take a bird of prey out of the
us when I take a bird of prey out of the
us when I take a bird of prey out of the wild I train her
wild I train her
wild I train her I make sure physically she sounds she’s
I make sure physically she sounds she’s
I make sure physically she sounds she’s in good shape and I’m gonna keep her and
in good shape and I’m gonna keep her and
in good shape and I’m gonna keep her and hunt her and hunt her until she reaches
hunt her and hunt her until she reaches
hunt her and hunt her until she reaches maturity this is Peyton’s last year with
maturity this is Peyton’s last year with
maturity this is Peyton’s last year with me this spring she’ll be released after
me this spring she’ll be released after
me this spring she’ll be released after eight years of being with me she don’t
eight years of being with me she don’t
eight years of being with me she don’t care
care
care [Applause]
you know um there’s some days I don’t
you know um there’s some days I don’t care either so I’m gonna release her
care either so I’m gonna release her
care either so I’m gonna release her back to the wild she’s mature now she’s
back to the wild she’s mature now she’s
back to the wild she’s mature now she’s over that juvenile hump she’s gonna go
over that juvenile hump she’s gonna go
over that juvenile hump she’s gonna go out and start having babies hopefully
out and start having babies hopefully
out and start having babies hopefully those babies will make it but
those babies will make it but
those babies will make it but statistically her mother never would
statistically her mother never would
statistically her mother never would have made it she would have been part of
have made it she would have been part of
have made it she would have been part of that 90% but now we’ve taken her we’ve
that 90% but now we’ve taken her we’ve
that 90% but now we’ve taken her we’ve put her back her babies grow up they
put her back her babies grow up they
put her back her babies grow up they start eating tons and tons of rodents
start eating tons and tons of rodents
start eating tons and tons of rodents every year those are babies in the wild
every year those are babies in the wild
every year those are babies in the wild that never would have been there had we
that never would have been there had we
that never would have been there had we not put her mother in captivity to start
not put her mother in captivity to start
not put her mother in captivity to start with so as a falconer I’m also somewhat
with so as a falconer I’m also somewhat
with so as a falconer I’m also somewhat of a conservative if that’s a word but I
of a conservative if that’s a word but I
of a conservative if that’s a word but I believe in taking things only for their
believe in taking things only for their
believe in taking things only for their good putting them back where they belong
good putting them back where they belong
good putting them back where they belong and so I would challenge you this you’re
and so I would challenge you this you’re
and so I would challenge you this you’re not falconers any falconers in the group
not falconers any falconers in the group
not falconers any falconers in the group yeah probably not
yeah probably not
yeah probably not there’s not many weirdoes around here
there’s not many weirdoes around here
there’s not many weirdoes around here it’s me we all think well there’s
it’s me we all think well there’s
it’s me we all think well there’s nothing we can do but in the 1960s when
nothing we can do but in the 1960s when
nothing we can do but in the 1960s when DDT was around the chemical that was
DDT was around the chemical that was
DDT was around the chemical that was killing all the peregrine falcons and
killing all the peregrine falcons and
killing all the peregrine falcons and the thought Eagles it was falconers and
the thought Eagles it was falconers and
the thought Eagles it was falconers and other people who took charge and
other people who took charge and
other people who took charge and actually said we need to do something so
actually said we need to do something so
actually said we need to do something so we did it took peregrine falcons and
we did it took peregrine falcons and
we did it took peregrine falcons and bred them and turned them back loose in
bred them and turned them back loose in
bred them and turned them back loose in the wild but as laypeople what can you
the wild but as laypeople what can you
the wild but as laypeople what can you do it’s Earth Day
do it’s Earth Day
do it’s Earth Day don’t throw your trash on the side of
don’t throw your trash on the side of
don’t throw your trash on the side of the road even biodegradable trash apple
the road even biodegradable trash apple
the road even biodegradable trash apple cores potato chips chewing gum banana
cores potato chips chewing gum banana
cores potato chips chewing gum banana peels what eats that stuff ah now what
peels what eats that stuff ah now what
peels what eats that stuff ah now what have you done there’s a buffet beside
have you done there’s a buffet beside
have you done there’s a buffet beside i-95 for these guys they don’t see the
i-95 for these guys they don’t see the
i-95 for these guys they don’t see the Mack truck coming when they’re headed
Mack truck coming when they’re headed
Mack truck coming when they’re headed for the meeting to catch the rat so it’s
for the meeting to catch the rat so it’s
for the meeting to catch the rat so it’s important for us to pay attention to
important for us to pay attention to
important for us to pay attention to what we do even the things that we think
what we do even the things that we think
what we do even the things that we think are oh it’s no big deal
are oh it’s no big deal
are oh it’s no big deal some will eat that you’re right and be
some will eat that you’re right and be
some will eat that you’re right and be aware and I would challenge you to when
aware and I would challenge you to when
aware and I would challenge you to when you go home today be aware of your
you go home today be aware of your
you go home today be aware of your surroundings just a little bit because
surroundings just a little bit because
surroundings just a little bit because these guys are out there and you might
these guys are out there and you might
these guys are out there and you might just get a chance to see
just get a chance to see
just get a chance to see thank you guys so much
”
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