The second day of the 50th Waterfowl Festival in Easton was challenged by gusty winds and colder temperatures, but that did not seem to bother the raptor demonstration being held at Easton High School.
Again, this year, Brian Bradley, a falconer from New York, brought a menagerie of owls, hawks, falcons and eagles to the festival. This Spy attended the Saturday afternoon show, which did not disappoint. A crowd of around a hundred watched and listened as Bradley introduced a series of birds as he walked around the ring, providing each of us a close-up look.
The owls struck this spy as wise. The demonstration featured several of them, ranging from tiny to quite large.
Bradley coaxed one of them out of a box and into flight, thrilling the crowd as the bird flew seventy feet to retrieve a reward. The wingspan was huge. It was easy to imagine the owl snaring a rabbit and flying off to a tasty meal.
The falcons were perhaps the highlight of the show. Bradley provided an airshow, releasing one bird that flew a hundred or so yards away and circled, looking for something to eat.
It was easy to imagine the bird just flying away, but it responded to sounds made by Bradley as well as the crowd calling out its name and returned, again to collect a reward consisting of a piece of chicken.
This Spy hopes the festival includes the raptor demonstration again this year. I left the hour-long event knowing more about raptors and appreciating how special they are.
James Wilson says
The flying raptors return because it is all about food. Falconers fly them hungry. The birds learn to return because food awaits them. I was out hunting with a beginner falconer once and his bird was not hungry and it took it over 2 hours to coax it out of a tree. Luckily it did not just fly away.
John Dean says
Thanks for your comment–Good information.
Eric L. Werner says
I am so happy that Brian was asked to return to the festival. He is a true showman and a great representative of myself and the other 4000 plus falconers that are licensed in the U.S. Flying a raptor is a privilege that is not easily earned and one that is not taken lightly by us. We are proud to call Brian a great example of our class and a wonderful educator to old and young, alike.
Thanks Brian!
Eric Werner
Eastern Shore Experience.
JohnDean says
I agree. He Brian was outstanding this year. He is a great communicator and a wonderful ambassador for the birds.