Field Notes: Peregrine Falcons! (Patreon)

It's not easy filming the the world's fastest bird – peregrine falcons have been clocked diving at over 200 mph – but it helps when you have an accommodating, charming subject, "Cubbie", who patiently assisted us with our upcoming episode. 

We headed up to West Coast Falconry (WCF) to film a peregrine falcon in flight. Located in Marysville, California, about a 2-hour drive north of San Francisco, WCF rescues raptors and also offers classes in falconry. 

With the help of falconer Francie Brower, we filmed Cubbie participating in a stooping exercise with a lure. Falcons are trained to dive, or stoop, at the lure for several reasons: it keeps them in shape; they mimic what they would do naturally when hunting birds in the sky; and it fosters a relationship between the falconer and the bird.

A big thanks to WCF and its staff for accommodating us, and be sure to watch our upcoming episode that will premiere on August 20th (or get an early sneak peek on August 16th if you support us on Patreon!)