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Call for questions: FALCONS! (Patreon)

Published:
2023-03-31 00:08:59
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Alright so I’m in Boise and heard about a raptor preserve nearby and now I’m heading over to chat with an expert in FALCONS.

Do you have falcon questions? Peregrines? Hunters? Bring it on.

Yay,

Ward

Comments

Average_pi

Does how fast they dive affect there eyes? How are in terms of population health?

Laura Springer

What's your favorite species of falcon?

Esohn

I have heard falcons are distantly related to the lovable pigeon. Is that true?

Rockyt

How much are the little helmets that falcons wear?

The other Ally

How long, on average, does it take to train a falcon?

Feather Evans

I once heard that if youre training in falconry, that at the end of your classes you have to find and tame your own falcon. Is that true?😅 Also id love to know more about their temperament!

Tara McNee

How can osprey take off from water?!?!! 🤯

Neal Sorensen

Why buildings? In cities, falcons seem to nest high up on buildings.

Jae Steinbacher

FTQA here: I want to know their favorite media depictions of falconry/falconeers (as well as who did it really badly!)

Heather Brower

How do you become a falconer and or find one to be your mentor?

Seán Thomas Kane

Where did falcons evolve? Are there falcon species that are native to the Americas?

Alanna Richman

Do falcons hunt smaller species of non-predatory birds? Also, are falcons a species of hawk? Or vice versa? Or are they just separate?

Steven Shelley

What are your views on falconers? (I.e. people that use falcons for hunting purposes) Do you think the process of obtaining them can be problematic to falcon populations or no?

Erin Nansel

How can their eyes and nostrils handle the super quick descents? And in addition how the heck do they possibly get up to 240mph? Like how? What?

Emma Seidler

From how far away can they see prey? Slightly related follow up question would be how high can they fly?? P.s. my elementary school mascot was a falcon

Heather Brower

Also what falcons are the best/ most fun to hunt with?

Erin Nansel

Or is 240mph just a myth?

Diana Teeter

No specific question but I would love to learn more about the diving speed of peregrine-just toss fun facts to me at top speed (about a top speed bird)

Dan

Bibi and dan first time question askers! Falcons have great vision - but what would that look like? Would it be like having telescopes for eyes or just a zoomable lens or much higher definition that us .. like we are watching a video at low red and they are 4k streaming the world and we are not. Sub question for ali- how do you get so many pop culture audio injects!? They are great. Thanks Ali! Keep doing you.

rabskoolkat

FTQA here: should I be worried about my cats when a falcon is around? I have one 10lb cat and one that’s beefier at 15lbs. My mom always joked to watch out for falcons when I brought them out on leashes but was curious if they actually would do this.

Colin Maydahl

How often do they eat pets and are the Safty/Spikey/reflective vests work?

Pavka34

I have to ask, what do they think of the Marvel super hero Falcon? Are they a fan?

Eli Davis

How exactly are they (the falcons) able to learn from like falconry training. Like for dogs it’s reward based but is it the same for falcons?

Shannon Peterson Baschke

We have to protect our chickens from the birds of prey around our house. Do hawks eat chickens often? Is it because they are “easy pickings?” Or do they prefer chickens? How secure do I need to keep my backyard chickens? We have red tail hawks, bald eagles, paragon falcons and owls around our house.

Lily

I want to know about their ability to stabilize their head and keep it stationary while hovering. It looks so crazy, like they are their own gimbal or something!! How do they do it!? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OT8WWw6ViBE

Lizzy Martinez

A friend during college raises and trains falcons to hunt, aka falconry! When did falconry first begin in the US?

Emily Staw-fur

Are there characteristics that separate hunting birds from other birds? Like brain size, eye size, wing shape?

Matt Thompson

Ah! My hometown!! My question is, what is the greatest height difference a falcon has been recorded diving on its prey?

Alex Glow

How have falcons adapted to urban landscapes, highways, skyscrapers, ect. ?

Derek Peloquin

My favorite animal! How does their body survive going at such great speeds during their dives?

Margi F

I am a FTQA who loves the Raptor center in Boise! There's another one in Eugene, OR you might like. Where do peregrines nest? I keep trying to find the nest that I know exists nearby but I can't find it! What's the difference between a prairie and peregrine? How big are kestrels? What about merlins? I keep seeing them, but not next to other birds for comparison. How are these murder birbs so cute?!

Laura Kinney

Falcon sex hats. What? Why? Who invented this? Isn’t there a better way to breed birds that doesn’t involve a bird humping your head?

Blue Poems

FTQA, is it possible to befriend and train a falcon in the wild, like you might do with crows/corvids?

Nicole S

Why are they called falcons?

Katie Hultman

Have people ever trained falcons to commit crime?

aa.brown.bb

In your opinion, what's the most misunderstood falcon?

Ann Birney

My smologite friend Griffin (age 6) loves birds and has many questions: How do falcons glide without falling cause smaller birds need to flap their wings all the time? How many different kinds of falcons are there in the world? What's the first thing strong enough that a falcon claw cannot squeeze through completely? How painful will it be if a falcon landed on your arm without you wearing protection? (We are both first time question askers.)

Emily Staw-fur

What is it about falcons that makes them trainable?

.

Some raptors have vision like polarized glasses - do falcons? And why do so many raptors sound like seagulls (looking at you, ospreys in my neighborhood)?

Megan

FTQA and shoot dang, Boise??! My old stomping grounds! The Birds of Prey Center is amazing and I loved going there as a wee child. Anywho, question: will a bird of prey really snatch a small dog out of a yard? Is that a thing they'll do?

Emily Staw-fur

What is the historical relationship between humans and falcons? I believe they have been used in hunting for a very long time

Brie Stewart

How much weight can a falcon carry?

Emily Staw-fur

If they have only one mate for life, how do they know where to meet up?

Christine Yocum

What's their favorite species of falcon and why?

Heather Horton Whedon

When was the first falcon documented/observed? Are any falcons mentioned in mythology, sort of like Athene’s “Athene Noctua”(Little Owl)? Thank you! Heather Horton Whedon

Emily Staw-fur

Have things like marvel's Falcon or the football team had any effect on falcons?

Will

What’s the difference between a hawk and a falcon? How can I tell them apart when I see them while I’m driving down the highway?

Adam Foote

I'm so interested in this topic! I think I've seen a few in my area but I don't know much about falcons. How do they fly so fast, and what adaptations do they have to help them react and survive at those speeds? Why do they like cliffs so much? Do they like people? What's the deal with falconry - is it humane? Are they smart like corvids? Most important: how do I get one to become my best friend?

Emily Krieger

I am a bird nerd, and I'd love to know some basic differences between a falcon and hawks. Is there a way to tell them apart when you spot one in the air or on a branch. Thanks! Keeeee-rah!

Nathan Faulkner

Not a question but my last name, I believe, originated from falconeers. Faulkner. :)

Melissa Berger

What are the ethics of falconry? Also, yay Boise!

Jess Loeffler

How are raptors doing with human expansion? I feel like the most I see are sitting on top of power-line poles. Also how do raptors deal with snow in the winter when the little rodents can hide?

Will

Are glass buildings really as much of a threat to birds as I’ve heard? As in, dangerous because the birds often ran into the building? What can be done to make windows safer for birds?

Jess Loeffler

do raptors cough up pellets? or is that just owls? they're still eating all the bones and fur too, right?

Anfauglir

How many falcon species live in North America?

ChimeWitch

I heard from a trainer once that peregrines literally falcon punch their prey. Is this true? Do any other falcons do this?

Annalise De Young

Why do some raptors have such silly, squeaky sounding calls? (Looking at you, bald eagle)

Sam Bringman

How is climate change affecting falcons? Did people historically use hunting falcons in the Americas?

Melanie Lee

Let's talk about the metropolitan peregrines! Are these populations thriving and how can we support them?

Melanie Lee

I've heard most raptors suffer broken bones from crashing into their prey/foliage during their lifetimes. How does this affect their lifespan/hunting abilities?

Deacon Raid

Can we talk about convergent evolution of raptors? My understanding is that falcons are more closely related to parrots than to hawks? And condors are storks?

BB

In the late 70's I was part of a small group of biologist who monitored Peregrine nests 24/7 during the breeding season. Back then, eggshell thinning had driven the west coast population down to something like 16 pairs. Since then the banning of DDT has helped to dramatically reverse the trend and Peregrines are now seen hanging out on local bridges and chasing pigeons around the city here in Portland. But the big question is what do current populations look like and what is the biggest current threat to this species.

Karlie V

They look pointier than most birds? Like I can normally tell a hawk from a falcon by how pointy they are? Why?

Deacon Raid

I hope this gets covered because it’s super interesting. They do have pellets. I’ve met a falconer and her bird spat up a pellet right in front of me. She let me have it and it smelled awful. Top 5 worst smells for me I think.

Lindsay Mayer

If you don’t mind an answer not from an ologist, yes they do. I work at a wildlife hospital and I work with the education animals and both our red-shouldered hawk and our American kestrel (smallest Falcon in N. America) make pellets every day.

Camille Eckel

How far toward each poles to falcons go? Are there abominable snow falcons?

Sara Edgar

I grew up in idaho and in school the Birds of Pray would come by to the school to show us different birds! They have a great program to help people learn! 🩵 What kind of jobs are they able to train the birds to do?

Jessi

Are peregrines eyes really so good that they could read a newspaper from a mile away?

Camille Eckel

What’s up with the little caps falcons have to wear when they are being falconed (is that the verb?) by people doing falconry?

Jessi

Yes, and how do they breathe when going 200 mph?

Justin Saucedo

Is that video of a falcon(?) decapitating a duck real?

Maddie Rodriguez

I am so happy right now. I love all birds and I am STOKED for this episode! I'm sure there will be lots of Peregrine Falcon questions (because they are a marvel of nature, of course) but I'm wondering: how exactly do Peregrine Falcons not just like shatter from the impact of attacking their prey when they're in their 200+ mph dives?! Do they like pump the breaks just before impact somehow?!

Lindsay Mayer

Do falcons have tube shaped eyes like owls or can they turn them? Do they also have 14 neck vertebrae? Do all of the falcons have ansiodactyl feet? Why is the caracara so different from other falcons?

Joel Henderson

Smuggling. Ask the ologist about falcon egg smuggling. I’ve heard some wild stories.

Rachel M

I’ve heard that falconry as a hobby can help populations of raptors because juvenile birds are raised to adulthood safely and then released, but is that true?

Sydonie S.

How large are peregrine falcons terretories? Are their territories expanding or contracting with changes in climate and urbanization?

Mandii Smith

How the heck did people learn we could train falcons?

Pavka34

Gyrfalcon vs Falcon vs Hawk. How related are they? Is a Gyrfalcon just a particular kind of Falcon?

Will Clark

What about falcons in mythology?

Pavka34

I want to know as well.

Alex Morales

Who figured out how to use flacons as airborne attack dogs? With the damage they can inflict, I have to image trying to train the first one was a bloody affair

Jess Loeffler

That totally makes sense! Thanks for answering!

David Clark

FTQA - Are hawks actually strong enough to carry away an adult chicken? Asking for some feathery friends...

Sarah Mabel

Have you ever read My Side of the Mountain? We loved Frightful! Would a peregrine falcon really hunt for someone?

Riley McInnis

What’s the best name for a falcon you’ve ever heard?

Maddie S.

Why do trained falcons wear those little hats?

EMILY666

Can you talk more about inter-species interaction? I recently saw a photo of a red winged blackbird pulling tail feathers from a bald eagle!!!! The crows and RWBB seem to caw other hawks out of the neighborhood too - what’s this all about?

Diana Staresinic-Deane

How do hawks manage to comfortably stand on top of things that seem like they would be very uncomfortable.. like highway signs and fence and sign posts?

Jennifer Anderson

Which falcons have the strongest grip strength? I used to watch osprey swoop down where we were fishing and just pluck the wriggling trout out of the water. I only saw a fish be dropped once.

Sharon

Can the falconer control what prey the falcon catches, or does it decide on its own? After the falcons are released back into the wild do they ever return to the falconer? Is there a bond between them? Do they ever choose to stay with the falconer? Are they loyal to one falconer, or can anyone use the bird to hunt?

Keri Overall

This is my question as well! What's the difference between falcons, hawks, and kestrel?

Rachel Cannon

My friend found a little raptor in his chicken coop that he thought was a baby falcon...but it was an adult, just a tiny one...maybe taking advantage of the mice? What is the tiniest falcon? The largest? What is the difference between a falcon and a hawk?

Aimee Martin

i know hawks and falcons are different, but how different are they? also, please please please tell me anything and everything about red tailed hawks. we have one that lives in our backyard and she's lowkey a badass ngl

Pacheecha

I was hiking last summer above tree line and it was so windy that I could barely walk. I'm pretty sure I saw a peregrine falcon hunting and it was simply just hovering in a spot pretty high off the ground and then dive bombing on its prey at an insanely high speed. How in the world could it hover in that wind?! It was absolutely mind blowing!

Joel Kubo

First time q for me: I've heard that a lot of high end hotels have falcons on retainer to keep undesirable birds away such as seagulls and pigeons. How common of a practice is this, how long has this practice been around, and most importantly do the falcons enjoy the work?

Allegra Favila

Can you tell us more about falcons and imprinting? Why/when does falconry end in release (of the bird)? Thanks!!

Dantooine

where do falcons typically dwell?

Dantooine

Who would win in a fight, a falcon or eagle?

Timmy H.

Why was there discourse during my childhood about whether or not the peregrine falcon was “the fastest bird on earth”?

Dantooine

Is the millennium falcon named after the bird? If so, why?

Timmy H.

Are falcons actually reliable messengers?

Dantooine

what is their wing span?

Timmy H.

Are falcons keystone species?

Dantooine

is a falcon the same as a hawk?

Dantooine

do falcons have death rituals like crows?

Laura McLean

Can the Ologist speak to falcon family life? Are they solitary, do they mate for life, do they mourn (a la their corvid cousins)? I am SO PUMPED for this episode!!!

Sara Rocero

I’ve read that American kestrels can see uv light, in which it reflects off rodent urine. Is this specific to falcons or all raptors?

Sara Rocero

What’s your opinion about the ethics of falconry?

Mary Long

Why so cute if they are so deadly?!??

Heidi Stooshnoff

What makes them so fast when they’re diving compared to other birds?

Kasey Crouse

Does falconry still pair best on horseback, or do modern falconers use motor vehicles instead?

Isabelle Leclerc

I went to see a falcon and eagle "show" at an animal conservation center in a European country. This experience made me wonder about the birds, and if they enjoy doing the shows (as they seemed to love diving for the bait)? And how they fare in captivity? Are they miserable? The experience left me feeling torn; they seem so fucking intelligent, but they didn't seem to balk at their captivity situation...

Michael Heiker

Best Movie with Falcons ? Say Ladyhawke 😉

cash.ruska

What's up with the shape of their beaks?

Dylan V

What make's Captain Falcon's Falcon Punch so strong?

Patricia Brewster

Wow! I am a Master Falconer and fly a Harris Hawk. Welcome to my neck of the woods, just a 150 miles away in the high desert of Eastern Oregon, which in this part of the world is about a block and a half.... Enjoy your time at the Birds of Prey Center on the snake river, don't forget to spit in the river so you will come back.... Check out the wall of our fallen falconers that are flying high now. The archives are amazing. Lots of good questions here, answered a few. Can't believe I'm the only Ology junkie here that's a Falconer..... In a few days headed to our neck of the woods, Camino!

Patricia Brewster

Falconry is a lifestyle, a passion you live and breathe.

Taylah

No question, just hope you give a shout out to the live feed of the falcon family that has lived on a building in the middle of Melbourne city! (Google Melbourne Falcons and you'll find it - 367 Collins). There's been some falcon family drama over the years that the local ABC radio station covers like it's the Real Housewives

Patricia Brewster

It's called abatement. Used in agriculture, airports, armed forces and anywhere there is a need to protect property, planes or crops.

Olga

Why do people put blinders on a falcon to train them? Also, what are some cool things can you train a falcon to do?

Jadine Lannon

First time question-asker! (First name is pronounced Jay-deen--I know it's not an intuitive pronunciation!) Also have a question about the ethics of falconry. Is it...okay? Is there an ethical/respectful way to work with falcons in this way?

Beau Jarvis

I’ve got a few questions 🤓😌 1. How smart are they? 2. What are some of the craziest things they can be trained to do? 3. Why should we care about falcons?

Beau Jarvis

I wondered about this too…

Beau Jarvis

Was thinking about this as well

Mark Eliason

I'm a newbie, to your Patreon anyway. LOVE the topic, raptors in general. Can't wait to hear the episode!! We have a red tail hawk that hunts in our neighborhood regularly, "Zzhawk". I've started at the beginning episodes and am binging my way through in order, but I'll break ranks for this one when it drops. Love your podcast ... at 69 yo I'm proving that it's never too late to learn new stuff! You find experts who are not only knowledgeable but "listenable". Keep up the great work! Question: What is the difference between a falcon and a hawk?

Olivier Calas

Are falcon populations around the world stable?

Maya Roopnarine

I've heard that falcons are the dumbest birds of prey because their brains are really small to make space for their gigantic eyeballs... is this true? Also would loveeee to hear a bit about caracaras which are technically in the falcon family but seem to be their own crazy thing (I think they alone could be the focus of a whole episode tbh!!!!!!)

Maya Roopnarine

Another question haha! I've seen that some falcons make "nests" that are just a few sticks and a rock on things like building ledges or other vulnerable, flat surfaces-- why do this if it seems to lead to their eggs falling off the ledge or being in harms way otherwise? Is it safer in the wild and it's the human infrastructure that makes it dangerous? Why have they evolved to do this? What benefit (or lack of evolutionary consequence) does this give them?

Kali Holder

First time question asker! (Kali rhymes with Sally. She/her.) Please ask about the falconer hats for collecting semen! Who makes them? What makes a sexy hat?

Taylor Jacot

Why do falcons mate for life? And do any falcons stray from their partner?

Hope

is their vision up close terrible or do they just have incredible eyesight all around?

Milan Ilnyckyj

My girlfriend Katrina noticed that Ospreys have zygodactyl feet. Could you tell us more about that?

Brooke Nowicki

I know you’ll go over the naming of the falcons and the hawks etc etc. but I want to know how they’ve read TH White’s account of his own goshawk

Bre Snodgrass

I just came across a guy on instagram who has a kestrel and will hunt w/her by taking her in the car and driving around the suburbs to find starlings. When they find some, he’ll roll the window down and, for lack of a better term, aim her at them. She often will IMMEDIATELY nail a starling and enjoy a great meal. The human in this arrangement has implied that since European starlings are considered “invasive”, that they have essentially an open hunting season on them (here in the US). My question is whether gov’ts or wildlife mgmt orgs will actually HIRE people with falcons to manage bird species considered to be invasive. (and also what do you think about that proposition)

Sarah Meaden

Why friend shaped if not friend?

Rae

I've held a sparrowhawk (coolest thing I've ever done, she was gorgeous) and it was absolutely facinating watching how you could move her body but her head would remain in the exact same place. How do necks work??

Earl of Greymalkin

1) How much do they weigh? Do they have trouble flying as well when carrying around an egg? How fast are eggs formed and laid? 2) Any tips for responsible birding? Where should people be looking for them and what should we not do so as to not disturb the birbs? What kind of nests do they build and where? How do you tell species apart? 3) What does falcon design say about function? How does wing shape help them fly in particular ways? 4) How do their eyeballs not dry out when diving at high speeds? 5) What's their success rate for catching prey? What are their favorite things to eat? 6) Whats the history of falconry for use in hunting for survival versus sport? Who figured out how to befriend the birbs first without getting their face ripped off? 7) If you could make any specific falcon a sports team mascot, which sport would it be and why that bird? 8) What kind of grip strength do they have with their feet and beak? 9) I've seen raptors picking at a carcass on the ground for a while before- do they just eat the best bits instead of eating a whole mammal? If they stay on the ground picking at it for a while, are they in danger of getting eaten themselves by a cougar or other predator? 10) Is the avian flu a problem in raptors these days?

Cate Muenker

How do you train a falcon to hunt for you and to return? How does it work, like training a dog with treats? I watch a lot of historical movies, so it’s been around for hundreds of years. Aside: ever see the movie Ladyhawk-Michelle Feiffer, Rutger Hauer, and Matthew Broderick? Omg, such a great move!

Nancy Boyle

Is there a way to train a falcon to do other things besides catch prey? Perhaps carry a spy camera or retrieve important things or find lost people?

Gwen Kelly

Why such a piercing screech? Doesn't this just give away the location of a falcon to it's prey?

Trevor Doty

How old do they love to be?

Trevor Doty

How do you tell prairie falcons from peregrine falcons?

Trevor Doty

What makes a falcon a falcon and not an eagle?

Trevor Doty

How big is the territory for one falcon? Do they migrate? How far can they fly in one go?

Teesha Coot

What is the difference between a Falcon and Eagle and Hawk? I know they are different but why? How? Cheers from Australia

Gemma

are there gay falcons?

Gemma

How did they train falcons to hunt small animals?

Patricia Brewster

Falconers were the ones who brought the peregrines back from the brink. Their populations are stable.

Charlotte Fjelkegård

How big a danger to raptors/falcons is our widespread use of rodenticide products? Equal to DDT? Any hope of a widespread ban?

Patricia Brewster

Some fly horseback, there is car hawking for pest species but mostly on foot.

LabialTreehug

First time question-asker! JIZZ HATS! Tell us about the jizz hats: who thought of this‽ Are they more or less common, or is this an old-timey pervert/falconer thing ?

Stephanie

Heck yeah, I love birds of Prey. What's their eyesight like compared to humans? How much to they use their sense of smell, if at all? Do they always sleep in the same place at night?! P.s. First time here. Thank you I love you and the pod. Xo

Euan Munro

I'm just back from Patagonia (yes, it was amazing), and one of the many excellent birds is the Caracara. I learned that there actually aren't any crows in South America and that they fill that niche. Its would be great to hear about the pros/cons that falcons have compared to corvids!

Geeves

And why hats? Surely some sort of jizz glove or gauntlet would work just as well...

Feye

How do peregrines fly so fast? I've heard they're the fastest birds on earth. I'd like to know the specific adaptations that made it possible for them to be so fast.

Riikka Puttonen

I came here to ask about falconry, but honestly what I really want to know is are falcons the prettiest raptors or what? (pronounced REEK-kah POOT-toh-nen)

Stephanie Trout Berman

Curious the significance/meaning that falcons represent to the indigenous people/culture?

Ashley Bray

I don’t have a question, I just love falcons and am excited for this ep 🥰

Savannah

How do they do keep their heads stable in relation to their bodies while they move? And can birds of prey really not move their eyes, what effect does that have on their vision?

Jason Minnich

How does the training/apprenticeship work to become a falconer?

Gwen Hughes

How do kestrels hover? And how do falcons see their prey from so far away?

Jacintha Jaa

Are falcons territorial? In SoCal, I would often see (seemingly) the same hawk in the same area often. Do they have a territory they stick to?

Paul Godinez

What a day! I'm out shooting osprey & hawk with my Canon(see what I did there?), listening to ologies, and wondering if Dad has done a raptor bit🤔 Twitter snaps at me with a "hey!" Quick primer question; what is the difference between a hawk and a falcon, given there's varieties of each???

Colin

How do falcons who dive at speeds over 100 mph not break their necks when they hit their prey midair?

Kate E

Do they mate for life? How do they teach their little baby birds to be terrifying killers? How is climate change impacting them? [On another note, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is also in Boise and is an interesting visit for...historical criminology? (I may have made that up.) Fork restaurant is also a good dinner spot - used to travel to Boise for work and had several solo dinners at Fork's bar.]

Ashley Sayre de Rivas

How do I make friends with the Red Tailed Hawk on my block/will they be friends with me like crows? Also (more realistically) when did people start hunting with raptors, like are we talking paleolithic or were the weird assholes who sewed their eyes shut with silk instead of using hoods the first ones?

Losifer

FTQA- what accounts for the success of Peregrine falcons in cities (like Boise)? Also, we lived in Boise until 1 year ago, so I’m a little miffed that you’re there now! Time to come to New Mexico…

Red Kite

ALIE ALIE ALIE! Omigawd this is a topic I’m so psyched about! I’m a falconer by trade! Literally! An abatement falconer. Ok, so my question is how is it possible for them to “zoom in” when they can see so far? I’m always amazed watching a falcon stoop from hundreds of feet up to see teeny tiny me with a tiny lure. How is that possible? I’m talking physiologically? What mechanisms or structural differences are there in their brains and eyes vs other birds and animals!

Red Kite

Find a sponsor near you! Check out Facebook groups or local falconry clubs. And be ready for a long long road

Red Kite

They’re real. And they’re common. It’s to help with breeding as falcons aren’t always great at pairing up in captivity. Especially for rarer traits or hybrids for falconry etc

Sarah K Thompson

I took my Smologites to an educational event at the zoo, and the educator said falcons are the fastest animal on earth. Is that true or are they just using gravity and fancy falling?

Red Kite

Hoods: depends on the quality and seller. Can be $100 or $10,000 depending on how fancy and ornamental they are.

Vee

Ftqa Kestrels! Why are they so gross yet so cute? Do other falcons paint the inside of their nests with poo and are there other falcons that are sexually dimorphic as much as they are?

LabialTreehug

Right, I get that, but who the hell thought of this? And why hats? I'm normally not into kink-shaming, but someone, somewhere, at some point in history, had to have come up with a way to explain away the raptor humping their forehead, someone believed it, and now here we are. As the other poster said, why not gauntlets? Are the hats still a thing, or has someone thought of a method of sperm collection that gets less side-eye? Lord knows I'm not above collecting sperm on my head, but I feel like this is different.

Red Kite

Hawk. Unless the falcon was quick enough to escape. Source: falconer who’s mentor has lost falcons to wild hawks and eagles that just attack and carry them away.

Red Kite

Patricia are you also a falconer? If so, high foot (heh)!

Red Kite

Yep. My first falcon was run off by a RTH on his first free flight. Thankfully we found him and he was ok. Unfortunately not the most common scenario (the finding of and finding them to be ok).

Joe Wilkie

1v1 to the death, best falcon vs. best eagle, who wins? can humans do good raptor noises? what’s the biggest raptor ever?

Red Kite

They don’t want to eat hooman. So can be friend.

Red Kite

You’re not! Hello! Ugh so hard not to read through all of these questions and answer them like Hermione would answer all of the questions in class. Lol

Kyle Riggs

How does a peregrine falcon fly so fast?

Patricia Brewster

Hi there! Maybe 2 out of the masses? This is the best podcast ever! I couldn’t help but answer a few questions, had to restrain myself. It’s my life as it is yours with one common denominator and how we practice this ancient sport aka life.

Marxe Orbach

What about the precolonial histories of falcon husbandry? How do those traditions continue today?

Austin Broadwater

What’s the largest prey ever recorded being taken down by a falcon?

Austin Broadwater

How often our falcons caught from the wild for falconry purposes?

Austin Broadwater

Why are caracaras part of the falcon family? Were they always?

Beck

Do they like being trained? Is it fun for them? Would they rather be wild/would they be better off? Is anyone out there lobbying against it? Pros/cons of falconry?

Patricia Evans

Similar to Beck's question: are falcons living the good life or being exploited by people who train and control them?

Specs Owl

I've heard some falconers say that falcons don't bond with their humans, and others say that they do. Which is true? Or is it just a matter of individual birds? Or is it just different ways of perceiving/interpreting their behaviour?

Toni Miraldi

Can they be trained to rip those annoying drones right out of the sky? If so, can we get a fleet of falcons to patrol the National Parks, where drones are prohibited but there's always an asshole flying one anyway? (First time question asker ;)

Specs Owl

How common is it for people to take falcon eggs legally or illegally, and is that having an effect on the numbers? Also are they affected by climate change?

Signe S.

Why they so fast though?

Signe S.

What’s with all the peregrine falcons in New York City?

Patricia Brewster

It is illegal to take falcon eggs or any raptor eggs. Eyass (chicks) may be taken but it is highly regulated.

RoadLesTravelled

Is wing shape still studied for aerodynamic efficiency?

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

Why did they evolve to be tiny killing machines of the sky instead of big boys like eagles? Do we know what caused the split?

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

Is falconry still a thing today outside of Medieval Times? Is the sport (art? hobby?) integrated with any conservation or wildlife management stuff?

Matt Ceccato

The Georgia Renaissance Festival has a raptor show and the finale is a peregrine falcon. Fast sucker, too!

Matt Ceccato

Do falcons serve as carrion eaters?

Phoebe Teskey

What is the equivalent focal length of a falcon eye to a full frame camera? What is their field of view? Do they have a foveated area like humans? Has anyone measured the MTF or resolution of a falcon eye? Are they just good at detecting movement or is there lateral resolution much higher than humans too? What is their entrance pupil diameter and how can they achieve such good imaging with a relatively small pupil? Is it diffraction limited? - A curious optical engineer

Julia Hutton

I used to work with Falcons at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Pennsylvania. I love when Peregrines "bow" to you to say hello and establish trust. What is your favorite falcon-ism?

Courtney Horowitz

Are falcons the only type of raptor that flies “the way they do” *insert flappy arm gesture* from my 8 year old*?

Jani Rounds

I’ve heard that falcon brains don’t have a corpus collosum so like each eye and wing are controlled by separate hemispheres of the brain. Is that true? Are falcons ever of two minds about things? Does one wing decide to dive and the other wing is not aware that’s the plan?

Jani Rounds

Also Boise is super cool! My sister who introduced me to Ologies lives there!

Jacob Brandon

First time question asker - What is the most surprising thing you've learnt about any particular raptor? Also why are buzzards a little "lazy" going more for worms etc than small prey?

RoadLesTravelled

Why the relatively small beak? Seems like other raptors have great ripping beaks by comparison.

Michael Wilbur

What are the social structures or hierarchies of falcons?

Vera Axelrod

Do falcons have a social life? What’s it like?

Sarah Sarah

Birds are intelligent creatures. What do falcons do for fun? Also, I see crows chasing hawks. Do they chase falcons as well?

Aven

What do they do when they nest in places they shouldn’t? Like manufacturing places or big warehouses?

Aven

Are their feathers speedily adapted to reduce drag?

Naomi Crawford

First time question asker - I couldn't think of a good question but my housemate wants to know how do they see so well from so far away and also how long can they fly for before they need to eat?

Nathan Marion

Who were the first people to use birds of prey for hunting purposes? What was the largest bird used by humans to hunt?

Jamie Wirth

I've seen videos of falcons flying and hovering in the air with their head seemingly gyroscopically stabilized while their body is moving. What physiological mechanisms and adaptations allow them to do this and do all raptors have a similar ability?

Verena Runstadler

What makes the peregrine falcon the fastest bird??

Joni

Do falcons and ravens truly not get along? I heard to protect flocks of chickens from Falcons, it’s good to make friends with Ravens as the Ravens will keep Falcons away. Flimflam or fact?

The Aerial Mapper

What is the structure of falcons eyes that enables them to see so far away? How is that structure different than humans? Also are falcons affected by the avian flu or is that just chickens?

Felix Lasselle

Is there a name for a falcon that could live for a thousand years?

Ella Whaanga

First time question asker- I NEED you to tell me they’ve watched peanut butter falcon

Courtney Kudera

hi hello, lover of all birds here. So falcons are so stinking cool and I love them so much. I had heard that falconers will receive their falcons and keep them for several decades until the bird ultimately passes. What happens if the falconer cannot take care of the falcon anymore? Can it be rehomed easily, or is the bond between the falconer and the falcon specific and difficult to cultivate again with a different falconer?

Francesca Hernandez-Singer

I've known a wildlife biologist who trapped a wild falcon for falconry...it seems somehow cruel to me. How ethical is this practice considered? Can a trained falcon ever be re-wilded?

granitestateofmind

this movie was unexpectedly excellent...and also an emotional punch in the gut

Between Dumplings

My husband got me a session with a falcon & falconer one year for a birthday gift. So excellent! I’ll see if I can find and post a pic. They are magnificent.

Between Dumplings

My fam is in MD osprey are all around. I think they were nearly extinct before? They are amazing to watch. How dangerous is the agricultural runoff? They feed on fish that live in those streams off the Chesapeake, lotta farms down there. Eek.

Cierra

So if a big lovely bird is flying overhead... how might I be able to tell if it's a hawk or a falcon?

Marcus Hollyer

Can a falcon make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs?

hannah marie

Best time of year/day for falcon spotting?

The Joyful Spitfire

A burning question from 10 year old me who had to read the 1959 literary classic My Side of the Mountain. Is it really possible for a young child from the burbs to run away, live in a carved tree, and catch and train a falcon for hunting? Seems dangerous without the right training to me. Didn’t stop my 10 year old self from daydreaming about it though :)

The Joyful Spitfire

Also - what are your thoughts on falcon breeds that would make cool names for kids?

The Joyful Spitfire

Also also - where are Falcons on the intelligence scale? Are they similar to corvids with tools, social structures, etc?

Don Nelson

Me too. Now I'm 65, and still thinking about it 😅

Don Nelson

That, and "Bright Ring of Water"

Aireal

Just joined the Patreon team! Woot woot! I teach adults with mental disabilities about how awesome animals are and this podcast has been my leading lesson bible😍 They asked if birds (small pigeons up to the falcon types) fly better or use less energy in the wind?

Kristen Russell

Can a falcon really snatch up a dog? That's what people told me in LA, but it always seemed a little preposterous to me. Yes, I realize this would be a better question if sizes and weights were included, but I don't do math.

Katie Murray

Just how good is a falcon’s vision? Compared with a human? Any difference in color perception?

Tim McCollow

How so you catch a falcon for training?

Mackenzie Kelly

First time question asker (okay, 2nd but my chicken question didn't make the cut) - when a peregrine falcon pulls up after a dive, how does it withstand the G force? Seriously impressive considering how close I've come to passing out after standing up too quickly...

Sharon Rietveld

Are peregrine falcons really the fastest animal in the world? Also my Midwestern husband says "fal-CON" and not "fal-can" and I really need an expert to say he's wrong please.

Tyra pereira

First time question asker, Do Falcons have any natural predators?

Mushroom Screams

No question but there's a pair of Peregrine Falcons on my campus (University of Southern CA) and I love watching them! One of them caught a pigeon once and plucked it on top of one of our buildings. It was raining feathers everywhere!

Mackenzie Kelly

How are Peregrine Falcons able to even generate that much power to go that fast? Special wing design? Specialized muscles? Insane metabolism? My husband's follow-up comment - "Good question, it's not like they're pere-gliding"

granitestateofmind

I actually looked this up, but I feel it's worth asking: why call it "Falconry", when the vast majority of birds flown in the US (and around the world) are not actually falcons, but other raptors? The state of MA licenses falconers for hunting and I know of a couple falconers in NH; none of the birds I've heard of are Peregrine falcons....and the Merlins and Kestrels seem too small to hunt with. I guess I'd like to know the breakdown of numbers and types of birds used for falconry in the US. A hunter in MA I know of is flying an owl...which sounded pretty cool.

Phoebe

First time question asker here! How is their eyesight so good? Do they mate for life like other birds?

Isabella

Is it true when we hear the classic bald eagle screech for pro-America purposes, that it’s actually a falcon or hawk??

Laurel Sindewald

Did you ever read My Side of the Mountain? If so, is Frightful's story realistic?

Carleigh Burger

Hello Mrs. Lady Ma’am, this is my first time asking a question. How do falcons mate? Do they have a similar system to a chicken where they have a vent for reproduction? Thank you :))))) I’m so excited!

Anna Stevens

What kinds of jobs do falcons have? When did us humanoid folk start training falcons to do things?

Matt Hirschl

Enthusiastic first time question asker! Alie previously did a voice box ology. Can you help us understand why the falcon makes the sound like it does? Can you generally discuss a bird of prey voicebox(?) versus a non bird of prey (pigeon, perhaps)? Is there a difference?

Coleen

I think you are right! The bald eagles calls are surprisingly melodic and “sweet” sounding! Surprised me too!

Keeya Beausoleil

What’re the chances I could catch a wild falcon and teach it to send letters for me or hunt mice that get into my garage?

Ellen Brown

I would love to hear some facts about the history of falconry around the world! How old is the practice?

Anna Eeeee

do falconers migrate?

Anna Eeeee

does the avian bird flu affect them?

Faith Novella

How does rodenticide affect raptors? Is it always lethal when they eat poisoned rodents?

Anna Eeeee

How are falcons important ecologically? Why should we be concerned about keeping their numbers up?

Devin McPeek

First time question asker here! Are birds used for falconry actually bred and domesticated or are they captured and trained wild falcons? And on a similar note, are there different breeds of falcons in captivity the way we have different breeds of other domesticated pets and livestock? Also my girlfriend wants to know, why no pet?

Faith Novella

Are vultures considered raptors even though they don’t use their feet to hunt?

Caelan Rathke

I second this! Especially surrounding the name "Falconer." There are rumors that my ancestors way back kept falcons, but I have found no proof. Is there some cool history or facts about the origin of the name Falconer?

Dawn

Please tell us about the incredible EYES of falcons! Two foveae! What distance can they see? How “fast” can they see-reaction time.

Kathi

It’s my first question! Is falconry harmful for the animal? Would they be able to live on their own again?

Katie Stalder

How much can a falcon carry food-wise? Would they catch a small cat or dog? Do they ever kill for sport or territory?

Laura McLean

I did a falconry experience last year and they said it’s around 10,000 years old! Isn’t that insane?! I cannot WAIT for this episode!!!