Forget Scarecrows—Falcons Protect This Farm | National Geographic

we’re kind of like security guards we

we’re kind of like security guards we arrived before the sugar content of the

arrived before the sugar content of the

arrived before the sugar content of the fruit starts going up as the foods ripen

fruit starts going up as the foods ripen

fruit starts going up as the foods ripen the birds are more and more attracted to

the birds are more and more attracted to

the birds are more and more attracted to it so we stand guard ten hours a day in

it so we stand guard ten hours a day in

it so we stand guard ten hours a day in that field until basically the fruit is

that field until basically the fruit is

that field until basically the fruit is harvested and go Birds damage anywhere

harvested and go Birds damage anywhere

harvested and go Birds damage anywhere from five to ten percent of our crops

from five to ten percent of our crops

from five to ten percent of our crops especially blueberries and cherries and

especially blueberries and cherries and

especially blueberries and cherries and apples so we were looking at ecological

apples so we were looking at ecological

apples so we were looking at ecological and more sustainable ways to control it

and more sustainable ways to control it

and more sustainable ways to control it birds that come into our orchard she

birds that come into our orchard she

birds that come into our orchard she likes your job we’re using the natural

likes your job we’re using the natural

likes your job we’re using the natural predator prey relationship of raptors

predator prey relationship of raptors

predator prey relationship of raptors and other birds of prey against pest

and other birds of prey against pest

and other birds of prey against pest species like starlings and pigeons and

species like starlings and pigeons and

species like starlings and pigeons and seagulls we prefer our birds to chase

seagulls we prefer our birds to chase

seagulls we prefer our birds to chase them but break off on command and come

them but break off on command and come

them but break off on command and come back and be fed because these birds are

back and be fed because these birds are

back and be fed because these birds are weight managed they’re like Olympic

weight managed they’re like Olympic

weight managed they’re like Olympic athletes they have a very set weight for

athletes they have a very set weight for

athletes they have a very set weight for which they perform their best so when

which they perform their best so when

which they perform their best so when we’re protecting the cherries and

we’re protecting the cherries and

we’re protecting the cherries and blueberries we get it first thing in the

blueberries we get it first thing in the

blueberries we get it first thing in the morning we want to get out here right

morning we want to get out here right

morning we want to get out here right before the you know all the problem

before the you know all the problem

before the you know all the problem birds come in we really don’t want them

birds come in we really don’t want them

birds come in we really don’t want them to get it you know their meal achieve

to get it you know their meal achieve

to get it you know their meal achieve their meal so we try to block that so

their meal so we try to block that so

their meal so we try to block that so that they’ll be forced to go somewhere

that they’ll be forced to go somewhere

that they’ll be forced to go somewhere else so when we do that we tape

else so when we do that we tape

else so when we do that we tape typically we’ll stay here all day long

typically we’ll stay here all day long

typically we’ll stay here all day long we use the dogs to flush Birds on the

we use the dogs to flush Birds on the

we use the dogs to flush Birds on the ground between the canopy of trees very

ground between the canopy of trees very

ground between the canopy of trees very often we’ll run in with a but the

often we’ll run in with a but the

often we’ll run in with a but the cowbell and they’re going up and down

cowbell and they’re going up and down

cowbell and they’re going up and down the rows scaring off birds while we have

the rows scaring off birds while we have

the rows scaring off birds while we have a falcon up above waiting sometimes

a falcon up above waiting sometimes

a falcon up above waiting sometimes they’ve got a mind of their own is able

they’ve got a mind of their own is able

they’ve got a mind of their own is able to get in a thermal they’ll go up and

to get in a thermal they’ll go up and

to get in a thermal they’ll go up and then they drift off and they cross

then they drift off and they cross

then they drift off and they cross mountains and stuff we have radio

mountains and stuff we have radio

mountains and stuff we have radio transmitters on them we can go retrieve

transmitters on them we can go retrieve

transmitters on them we can go retrieve them

them

them the birds are not pets they’re

the birds are not pets they’re

the birds are not pets they’re companions we work with them seven days

companions we work with them seven days

companions we work with them seven days a week long long hours 14 hours a day we

a week long long hours 14 hours a day we

a week long long hours 14 hours a day we take really good care of them they’re

take really good care of them they’re

take really good care of them they’re very dear to us