When Jo Turley was growing up in rural Quebec she found a young falcon. It ignited a keen interest in the sport of falconry, the art form of hunting with or training birds of prey.In 1999 she joined the Alberta Falconry Club. She apprenticed to learn the art and husbandry required to trap, care for, train and hunt with a wild hawk.Now 59 and living on an acreage seven kilometres southeast of Sundre, Turley's partner in falconry since last November is a one-year-old male Harris's Hawk named Morgan. The species is a medium-large raptor normally bred from the southwestern United States, south to Chile and central Argentina. These raptors, which usually have a dark brown plumage with chestnut shoulders, wing linings and thighs, range in length from 18 to 30 inches and generally have a wingspan of about three and a half feet.Morgan is now the size of a large crow and weighs about a pound and a half, or 690 grams.He is a breed of raptor that is regarded as the only social species of its kind. They work as a pack in the field and have an alpha female as a leader.“I am part of his team,” said Turley.Although falconers usually find the Harris's Hawk easier to train than dogs, Morgan presented a challenge for Turley when he arrived last fall.“He was really ticked off being shipped. He came out of his crate angry at the world,” said Turley. “He was difficult to train.”It took Turley eight weeks to have Morgan fit for the field, almost four times as long as it normally does for a well-adjusted Harris's Hawk.But they are now full-fledged partners. Although home for both Morgan and Jo is the acreage, there is not sufficient potential quarry at that locale for the raptor to hunt.The pair must find areas that are well stocked with gophers, smaller birds such as starlings, crows and magpies. Morgan will even hunt for jackrabbits but their large size requires a raptor partner.Out in the field Morgan now relies on the training and partnering skills acquired through Turley's meticulous handling. This is when the art of falconry shines its best light. But it is delicate business. They work as a team. Turley must respect the fact that Morgan is not social in the sense he views her as a companion. She is viewed by the raptor only as an essential part of his need to hunt.“They are not affectionate to anything but their own species. Affection isn't in their vocabulary,” said Turley. “Tolerance is the best we can hope for. They feel inconvenienced by us.”Nevertheless, when it is time to hunt, Morgan will sit on Turley's left hand which is fitted with a special glove that is called a gauntlet. The raptor will then take flight for a quarter mile or even a half mile to find his quarry. When Turley whistles he comes back.Sometimes Morgan will catch eight gophers in less than two hours. Turley ensures he eats his quarry. Although there is a strong bond between the hawk and falconer, Morgan could terminate the partnership if he feels his partner is not maintaining her end of the relationship.When the hunting is done the pair returns to the acreage where Morgan's special house is waiting, a gazebo. He is not kept in a cage as it could be detrimental to his feathers, and because his natural climate is in warm weather locales, the gazebo has a room to protect him from the cold.In the meantime, Turley and Morgan are becoming well known by rural locals, especially ones who welcome the opportunity to have their fields cleared of gophers and other pests. As well, there are many interested parties, particularly children and teens, who are fascinated by the sport of falconry and the extraordinary relationship between Turley and Morgan.“I love this. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't do what I am doing now,” said Turley. “I don't even want to contemplate it.”
