Workshop and Tour Leaders

Carol Speegle

Master Falconer

Workshops:

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As a child, Carol borrowed her grandmother's binoculars to look at the birds in the fields and woodlands surrounding her home in Pennsylvania.� As soon as she was old enough, she borrowed her dad's gun to hunt deer.� Although the deer were good at staying out of sight, there were always birds to observe.� After years of birding with bino's and hunting with guns, Carol�got a different kind of weapon, a falcon.� In 1990, the two hobbies merged into one, falconry.� It was a perfect fit.� " I had read about falconry years before, but did not realize it was still practiced."

Falconry is a highly specialized form of bird watching.� Trained hawks and falcons pursue wild quarry, both mammals and birds.� Joining the raptor's hunt on a daily basis gives a view�seldom seen outside of falconry. There is a great variation in hunting styles between species.� While many hawks crash into thick brush after quarry, most falcons�break off pursuit when quarry take refuge in tall grass.�While Carol has flown 10 different species of hawks and falcons, she prefers to fly falcons on birds�as the aerial abilities of both are clearly seen.�

Carol has co-taught introductory classes on falconry for ODFW's� "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" and at the Winter Wings Festival for the last 3 years.� �Although most people who attend�will never train a hawk or falcon, they can get a good understanding of the various aspects of falconry and can learn to appreciate these magnificent animals.