
Incoming,

at 88 mph!

I duck,

he nails his prize,

and promptly mantles so I won’t steal it.

Saker Falcons have been falconry birds for 1000’s of years.

They are an endangered species, native across Central Europe to China.

This is Katie Pnewski, a brilliant and comitted bird trainer,

and bird lover, who works at Avian Behavior International,

a conservation and bird advocacy organization near The Holler in rural Southern California.

I spent an incredible day here today, and will be introducing you to more of their amazing birds and conservation efforts in my next posts. For more on this worthwhile organization see:
https://avian-behavior.org/about-us/conservation/
Cheers to you from the phenomenal Saker Falcon and his devoted human~
What an experience! Thanks for sharing. 😎
They have so many species of super happy, friendly and outgoing birds. I was so impressed. They free their macaws all over the back country with no trackers and they always choose to come back დ
Amazing!
Yes!
Ditto
დდ
Wow Cindy, the photos are fantastic! I hope this specie recovers, such a beautiful bird. ☺️🥰
Thank you John. Seeing the speed and precision of it’s flying up close was mind boggling დ
Your photography is beautiful, Cindy! ❤️
Humbled John დ
Amazing!
დდ
Amazing!
Yes!! I was seriously impressed with these comitted women and their work დ
What a gorgeous bird! Thank you for the stunning photos, Cindy, and mad props to Katie for training them! 💖
Katie, Hilary and Sydney, an all female operation of truly awesome individuals დ
Hmmm, I think my comment got eaten, but I’ll wait to see if it reappears later before I post again.
WP Gremlins never sleep…..
LOL! So true!
დდ
That would be a Wow day for me!
It definitely was for me. They have this bird sanctuary that is simply wonderful დ
Wow, what a magnificent bird and amazing experience.
It was an awesome. They free fly free macaws all over the back country who come back on their own volition დ
Wow! This Falcon caught my attention. Amazing images 👌
I could not believe his speed. He literally moved like lightening დ
😊
Awesome photos and experience!
It was an incredible day! They free fly a variety of macaws all over the back country. No monitors, nothing. The birds always come back because they love their home დ
Freedom and a home base. Doesn’t get much better than that. 💖
My thoughts exactly.
Fascinating and beautiful photos! ♥.
I am so happy you enjoyed them Niki & thanks for letting me know დ
This must have been fascinating to watch – what a beautiful looking bird it is too!
It was an incredible day! They have the most amazing variety of birds and the most wonderful sanctuary for them დ
Amazing, beautiful bird!
Isn’t he a stunner. In close up flight he astounds! დ
That falcon is stunning … and Katie is amazing! What a wonderful find close to home 💐🙏🏼😍
Yes! I am going to bring my twin 4 year old grandsons over next. I think they will be enraptured. Cheers to you Val დ
What beauty!!
Thank you very much Donna & cheers my friend დ
Beautiful bird! And the girl isn’t ugly either. She must have a fascinating job. Never a dull moment and so satisfying when she has successes in training.
She was quietly impressive. Obviously loves what she does and is expert at it. I was so impressed with all the women running this operation დ
What a wonderful day you must have had! I would love to watch this interaction.
It was very special and the women who work in this organization were so admirable დ
Despite that I’ve never had the chance to follow up on what I learn from your posts about great spots to visit in Southern California, I continue to enjoy your photography— and love what you post about. That Saker Falcon is one handsome dude.
Your very nice thoughts are so appreciated. Thank you my friend. He is quite the looker isn’t he is, and just the most incredible flier! დ
What a handsome bird that is! The handler is quite impressive too. It looks quite warm there. We just had snow yesterday and below freezing temps. Looking forward to seeing more beautiful birds. You do an amazing job of photographing them.
Katie is impressive. You can tell she loves what she does. It is just getting close to freezing here now at night, but it warms up during the day to mid-60’s. Stay warm Marlene & thank you my friend დ
Beautiful falcon.
Yes! დ
Awesome Cindy. Keep sharing your magnificent photos. Have a great day/night and remain safe.
Awww….. So appreciated Tangie. Thank you my friend & you stay safe and well too დ
Amazing!
Grazie mille Jim დ
Beautiful! I’m looking forward to seeing more!
Thank you Janis. They have incredible and very personable birds დ
So awesome!
Smiling. Thanks so much & cheers დ
They are really amazing birds!
Yes, they are! დ
Ahh I’ve really enjoyed this episode of the Lord of the Wings. Lol! Can’t help falcon in love with these amazing pics.
🌈💜(⑅⚈᷀᷁⌔⚈᷀᷁⑅)💜🌈
You make my 💕 smile. Thank you & cheers დ
( ´ ∀ `)ノ~ 💜🌈
დ( ´ ∀ `)ノ~ 💜🌈დ
Beautiful and fascinating. Thanks.
Grazie mille Eileen დ
What a beautiful bird. And your photos are so well done. Thanks for sharing your visit. I look forward to your next post. Cheers.
So thoughtful and so appreciated Lynette. I am so happy to show you more of these amazing creatures and their humans დ
What a wonderful experience Cindy! Beautiful photos and bird handling 😊
Thanks so much! It was a joy to behold დ
Falcons are amazing! Great shots of this fellow.
Merci beaucoup mon Ami Darlene დ
Such a beautiful bird Cindy, sad to know they are endangered like that. But your lovely pictures will spread the word until this and the next generation comes through and removes those things that endanger them. Especially those careless humans 😀❤️🙏🏽
I love the way you think Mark. I too have hope that subsequent generations are learning from our mistakes. Thank you & take good care my friend დ
Marvellous! More please … as you’ve already promised.
Smiling! Thank you so much & I am so happy you would like to see more. I am so pleased to comply Margaret დ
Hooray!
დდ
I always enjoy coming to your site. Magnificent mountain shots and this one with the falcon. truly a thing of beauty!!!
Your lovely comment makes me so happy I bog! Thank you very much & cheers to you დ
Absolutely amazing
Thank you Emma & cheers to you დ
Klasse Fotos!!!
Vielen Dank mein Freund Wolfgang und es ist wunderbar, von dir zu hören! დ
What a beautiful falcon! Wow 88 mph flight is sooo fast!
It was incredible to witness the speed close up and personal დ
Wonderful pics, Cindy. Watching a falconer in person is amazing.
Thank you Frank, and yes it is! დ
These are incredible photos, particuarly the one where the falcon is coming straight at the camera. You must have ducked just in time!
Aww, thank you Liz. I did duck, but not in time, the bird was far too fast for my reflexes, and far too skilled to ever hit me! I didn’t need to duck. It was just reflexive, which is pretty amazing when you think about it დ
You’re welcome, Cindy.
დდ
That last photo is especially wonderful, but they are all great, as usual.
Thank you very much & kiss the kitties for me დ
Will do!
დდ
What fascinating creatures! And what fine pictures!
Stay safe, dear Cindy.
Ihre Nachdenklichkeit wird so geschätzt, mein Freund. Bleibt gesund und munter und danke! დ
A great experience it must have been just amazing plus what a beautiful bird ,,,great images as always, Cindy 🙂 x
Thanks much Carol. It was an all around exceptional day დ
Fantastic! What a wonderful share. Thank you!
Thank you more Julie for you very kind appreciation დ
Amazing bird and place, Cindy. Glad you ducked in time!😂
The thing that was most incredible was his flying skill. I ducked reflexively, but I didn’t need too, his flight was so precise, he would never have hit me დ
Your photos always touch my heart, Cindy. I love animals so much.
You just sincerely touched my heart Kymber. I am so happy you love animals too დ
Cindy, what amazing photos of a one-of-a-kind experience! Just to see majestic birds like that is awesome, but to get close up to one of them is something I would always take the opportunity to do.
We are kindred spirits and you are so right. Getting close to creatures like this is a thrilling experience დ
Wow, Cindy! What fantabulous captures of this gorgeous bird. Definitely a day to remember!
Yes, thank you Dale! It was an incredible experience დ
I don’t doubt that for a second!
დდ
Wow, what an experience that must have been. A beautiful bird, so glad that there are folks that are trying to preserve endangered species, trying to right humanity’s wrongs. 🦅
Yes! The women at Avian Behavior International seriously impressed me. They are so focused and committed to things beyond themselves დ
88 MPH is amazing. Zoom indeed!
It was simply incredible to experience that speed close up. We have peregrine falcon’s at The Holler that dive at over 180 mph. But Saker’s can self propel fly at up to 93 mph, and dive at 200 mph! Mind boggling დ
Wonderful captures of the bird and the person!
I am wondering having falcons around could chase away those woodpeckers or not 🙂
I actually saw a acorn woodpecker while I was there. But, usually, when a falcon is in the sky, other birds scatter quickly away დ
Fantastic pictures, I can imagine it has been a great experience, watching this.
Thanks much my friend, and yes, it was a very special experience დ
Great photos, Cindy! Love the last two especially.
Thank you Amy. I love the falcon’s gorgeous mantled feathers too დ
You have the best posts!!
Awww…. You make me happy I posted. Thank you Jessica & cheers დ
Cheers back!
დდ
Spectacular photos, Cindy!!!
Honored you think so & thank you! დ
Great photo essay on the falcon!
Thanks so much Peter & happy you enjoyed დ
What a beautiful falcon and wonderful way to spend a day. I look forward to seeing more of their birds. Thanks Cindy!
So happy you want to see more of these amazing birdies and their humans Brad! I will happily comply & cheers my friend დ
Great photos of a magnificent bird! More, please.
So happy you want to see more of these amazing birds and their humans Noelle. I am so pleased to oblige! დ
A delightful, informative, photo story
I am so grateful you read and enjoyed Derrick. Thank you & cheers დ
What a beautiful bird.
And it’s skill was a thrill to behold დ
You never cease to be amazing, Cindy.
Awwww…. Honored. Thank you very much David დ
Wow! That was FANTASTIC. Thank you so much.
You are fantastic too Gigi. Thank you დ
Pingback: Saker Falcon~ — (don’t miss a single frame of this amazing post from Cindy) | Rethinking Life
Dear Cindy
During the middle ages the must-do training for nobility was training a falcon for hunting.
Famous was the love-poem by von Kürenberg “Ich zoch mir einen valken mere dann ein jar” in which the falcon is the symbol for the lover. This symbolism that a woman trains her lover in the art of love and then he leaves her you find often in the poetry of the ministrels after the mid 12th c.
Have a happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
How fascinating, beautifully romantic and sad. Thank you for sharing with me დ
Cindy, you took gorgeous pics of this magnificent bird!
Too sad we need these wonderful people to take care of our disappearing animals.
What have we done?
It is heartbreaking. Thank you for your caring heart and kind words Resa დ
დ დ
Cindy, thank you for these beautiful pictures!
Thank you more for your always kind appreciation Charles & cheers! დ
Great post and photos and information! Thank you.
You are most welcome. Thank you for stopping by & cheers! დ
Wow, he’s gorgeous! And his trainer seems to respect his ability while getting him to do what he does best. Hmm, I wonder if she’s as capable with a little Monkey-hooligan???
She would be as good. She has a remarkable rapport with animals and is a certified animal trainer. They basically have a private zoo where the animals are set free to roam and return. Amazing დ
I was never really sure about the backstory regarding these falcons and how/why they are captive; used for entertainment, training, and not free. I might have to take a visit there and see what Hillary has to say about our concerns. Thank you for reminding me about that place!
I hope you do visit. I was amazed to watch her macaws free fly over the backcountry which they do daily with no tracking. Sometimes they stay away all day, but they always return. Amazing to witness დ
I need to drive east more often, there’s much beauty out there!
Yes, please, and if you do, give a holler to me დდ
There aren’t too many places where you can learn falconry. The closest is the Air Force Academy with the falcons, peregrines. A couple of times, a falcon or two didn’t come back after doing their demonstration. The most famous was a falcon that didn’t come back after a fly at halftime of an Air Force – Northwestern football game. The falcon found a rich supply of rock pigeons to keep him. Air Force left their most experienced falconer to bring him home. After a month on the loose, they got him retrieved. He still had plenty of pigeons to feast on.
That is incredible! Hilary, the director of Avian Behavior Int’l, lets her macaws free fly all over the backcountry with no trackers. Sometimes they stay away for hours but they always come back which is remarkable and was quite a sight to see. She has happy critters დ
Cindy, you’ve outdone yourself. What terrific photos. “I ducked.” Ha! I’m looking forward to more. Hugs on the wing.
Smiling. Thanks so much Teagan. I am so happy to show you more of this amazing place and the women who work there დ
Wonderful photos. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you more for appreciating the birdie Marie დ
OMG, Cindy! Just incredible!!!
Magnificent bird – awesome woman in charge.
Good for her – good for you for sharing with us. I needed to see this natural phenomenon this weekend to be reminded of all we need to protect and conserve.
Yes. Exactly. I went for the birds, and then I saw the women who run the place. Left such a powerful impression on me. There is so much to protect in this world of ours. Thank you Sheila for knowing and caring დდ
Fascinating! Love where you have to duck!
Thank you very much Bruce. I loved every mili-second of it! დ
Wow! Simply amazing!
Yes! Thank you Gunta დ
Amazing. I would love to see this 🧡👏
I would love you to, and hope you do! Thank you Karen დ
What an exciting place to visit! The falcon is amazing as are your photos. Thank you for sharing this with us, Cindy.
So pleased you both enjoyed & thank you so much for coming along with me! დ
Amazing images…you are so patient and talented.
Awww…. Humbled & honored by your thoughtfulness. Thank you დ
Wow! Beautiful!
Grazie mille Chris დ
fantastic!
▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪
▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫
Smiling! Thanks very much Graham & take good care დ
😌🙏✨
Pingback: Saker Falcon~ – charles french words reading and writing
I so appreciate you Charles! Thank you & cheers to you დ
Wow, I never get tired of learning about birds of prey, Cindy! Stunning shots of this beauty at work! Good thing you ducked! 😉
My goodness, he was an impressive flyer. Raptors are fascinating creatures. Thank you so much Terri for your very thoughtful comments & cheers my friend დ
Hi Cindy, I’m searching for a unique adjective…What stunning photography – and the beauty of the bird moved me. Thank you! xx
I am so happy “the beauty of the bird moved” you Joy. Your thoughtful comment brings me joy. Thank you დ
Beautiful!! We saw similar demos at Grouse Mt. Vancouver B. C. Peregrine, possibly, Bald Eagle, owl, hawk. Fascinating.
Thank you John. Those shows are amazing, but this was different as it was just my husband and I and we got to interact personally with all the birds and spend lots of time. It was quite unusual as it is a family run farm, so it was more personal, not a show but a visit დ
Wow! What a beautiful subject and gorgeous photography, this sweet falcon made me smile, Cindy…
Your incredibly kind comment made my ❣ smile Kimberlee. Thank you დ
Your photos are always a joy to see!
დდ
I hope my comment found its way to you! Your photos never fail to brighten my day and bring joy…
Your lovely comment brought joy to me my friend. Thank you so much & cheers to you დ
Thank you so much!
დდ
Wonderful!! As always!!
So appreciated. Thank you Katie & cheers to you დ
🙂
This is fabulous! A modern day falcon training. We read about the falcons in medieval history but I didn’t know it was still a thing. Thanks for the elightenment!
So happy you enjoyed & thank you for letting me know! დ
Have a great Tuesday! 🙂
დდ
Excellent captures. Falcons are so majestic.
Thank you. They are most impressive birds დ
With USAFA graduates in the family, and another in his 2’nd year at this time, we love the Falcons. So enjoy their skills and those of their handlers at half time during football games. But then, my being a Marine Corps alum, Go Navy, Beat Army!!
Yes! I know about the Air Force falconers and their awesome birds. Wonderful. I’ve heard a lot of stories about them over the years. I worked with the Navy and Marines for twenty years. Lovely to meet you & GO Falcons!! დ
Fantastic! I would be afraid he would peck my eye out!
He is such a precision flier. He could if he wanted to, but thankfully he doesn’t want to! დ
I absolutely adore the falcon!
Smiling! So happy you do. I do too & thank you დ
You’re welcome! 🙂
დდ
Wow! Fantastic photos! 🙂
So appreciated! Thank you very much & cheers to you დ
Wow Cindy, that must have been amazing to see! Gorgeous photos as usual.
Alison
Thank you Alison. I interacted with some incredible birds and I have more to show you! Happy you enjoyed & cheers დ
Wonderful post.
Thank you very much & cheers to you დ
How do they use these birds after their training?
This family run farm is a permanent sanctuary focused on public education and conservation დ
Actually, why I asked you. While have been in Mexico, I met a numerous guards with falcons on their arms around the resort. I’ve asked them what is the reason to walk with these birds. The answer was – pest control.
Fantastic pictures, Cindy and what a birdie huh? Double Pawkissies just for you🐾😽💞
Awesome photos and story. You find the most interesting and unusual topics. Kudos, Cindy! oxox
So kind and so appreciated Mary Ann. Cheers to you my friend & thank you დ
My pleasure, Cindy. Be well and enjoy some sunny weather. We have sun today but probably flurries tomorrow or next week. I love my four seasons! Be well. oxox
Enjoy the snow. I miss it დ
I shall try. Don’t you get snow in the mountains? Be well and enjoy the weekend. oxox
Yes, we do get it in the nearby mountains, and heavy frost here.
Snowplows are at the ready in our neck of the woods. Let’s see if the prediction matches what is on the ground come tomorrow morning! Have a grand week ahead! oxox
Visa versa 2UX2 Mary Ann.
Thanks, Cindy. Snow fell last evening and continues on and off. Not sticking just yet. Be well and enjoy the week. oxox
დდ
Raw is how I describe our weather today! oxox
Stay warm.
First one of the season is a shock to the system! Happy photography! oxox
დ
Wow! Amazing shots, Cindy!
Merci beaucoup mon Ami Eugenia დ
I’m just blown away by the different browns and patterns on this beautiful bird!
Isn’t he yet another example of God’s gorgeous creatures! დ
Such an unusual topic for a photoblog, Cindy! I was fascinated by falconry for a time in my early 20s, but never followed through. Magnificent birds.
Falcons are such incredible creatures. Falconry is so complex and painstaking. I have found that things you were interested in when younger, return as interests as we get older and have more time to pursue what truly interests us. You might want to check into the book ‘H is for Hawk,’ by Helen MacDonald. If you have any lingering falcon fascination this book will speak to you დ
I’m not sure I haven’t already commented on this, and if I have I won’t apologise, but I’ve just seen these photographs again and they really are absolutely superb. Simply wonderful photographs!
Ahhh…. I am honored and humbled Daniel. Thank you sincerely. Your thoughtfulness touches my heart დ
Amazing photos Cindy! I think these falcon trainers are so impressive.
Thank you very much and I agree with you. It is an impressive discipline დ
Beautiful and amazing bird and so fast! Must have been an awesome visit!
Yes. He flew directly at me. I had no doubt about his skill and trustworthyness. We have falcons at The Holler. I know them when I see them because they are gone before I register it. They are the fastest creatures on earth დ
What a beautiful and expressive bird! Lovely shots.
So appreciated. Thank you for stopping by! https://avian-behavior.org/
Thank you!
დდ
Fantastic photos, Cindy. I’m sure you had an unforgettable day.
Yes a day with raptors is a day well spent as you well know. They are Masters of Precision დ