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2009-03-03 issue:

Falcon provides meat for camp staff meals

by Mennonite Camping Association

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Jana Atwell, one of Spruce Lake Retreat Center's naturalists and Outdoor School instructors, was featured on WNEP TV's "Pennsylvania Outdoor Life" program Feb. 15. 

Atwell is not only licensed to handle the resident owl and hawk at Spruce Lake, Canadensis, Pa., but has a unique personal hobby that goes way back to medieval times; she is also a trained and licensed falconer.


Atwell’s hawk, Flash, has just caught a rabbit on the run and brought the catch to her. Photo provided.

Falconry can be defined as the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor. This ancient art is a very demanding endeavor, requiring a dedication of time and energy from the falconer. More details can be found at North American Falconry Association.

The 7.43-minute segment followed Atwell and her bird, "Flash," out into the field for a hunt.

"A good day," she says, "is when your hawk comes back. A great day is when your bird catches something."

Atwell and Flash did not yield any prey with the video camera following them. However, the clip ends with some photos Jana submitted the following day of Flash snaring a rabbit and bringing it back to her.



A close-up display of Flash with the newly caught prey. Photo provided.

Atwell and Flash shared their catch this past Monday night at a staff potluck featuring wild game--venison, bear, pheasant and rabbit.

Atwell live-traps her hawks, abiding by federal regulations for trapping and keeping the birds.

Flash is by no means her first hawk. As with the others, she has trained Flash to come to her so the bird will not fly away when they are out hunting together.

To view the program, go to www.wnep.com.