In case you’re wondering — this sounds cool, but why are we talking about falconry on a farming podcast? That’s part of what we’re going to talk about today, but the short answer is that one of the services Alina and other modern falconers offers is agricultural abatement — that is, using falcons and raptors to protect crops from bird damage. This is something that Oregon’s wine industry is beginning to embrace but there are potential applications for many crops. We’re going to talk about that and more today.

Alina is an Oregon Master Class Falconer and has been flying falconry abatement for 8 years. Her 501(c)(3) PERCH provides public education using raptors to teach about their unique ecology and physiology as well as to financial and logistic support for wildlife rehabilitators. Birds of prey are one of the best ways to guard against birds that can wipe some crops out in a very short amount of time. This interview is a fascinating combination of ecology and psychology, since it’s important to understand both the pest birds and which birds of prey can be most effective against them.

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Website: https://skyguardianfalconry.com/

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