Chris agrees, adding, “It’s quite a rare experience here in North America.” Gary notes that the falconry center serves Woodstock Inn & Resort guests and is also open to the public. The sessions will include details about raptor adaptations, conservation, and the history of falconry as well as flying sessions with Harris’s hawks, a falcon, an eagle owl, and, in the future, an exotic eagle. Michele Losee and Jessica Snyder are on staff at the resort’s falconry center in Woodstock. Michele is a PhD candidate at Antioch University New England and has a BS in Biology and an MS in Environmental Policy and Management. For the past 15 years, she’s been involved in raptor rehabilitation and public education with the National Zoo in Washington, DC, and the International Centre for Birds of Prey in Newent, Gloucestershire, UK, among others. Michele is a master falconer and has been a falconer for over a decade. Jessica holds a BS in Environmental Studies and has been an environmental educator since 2009, working with children and adults at various facilities from Iowa to Pennsylvania. She has been a licensed falconer for seven years and currently holds a General Class Falconry Permit. Becoming a licensed falconer in the US requires passing a written test and serving a minimum of two years as an apprentice under a licensed falconer. It should be noted that the falconry experiences at the center do not offer a path to licensing as a falconer. The New England Falconry staff will conduct introductory and extended flying and handling session , sharing the history of falconry, raptor adaptations, and conservation. Prices start at $95 for participants and $30 for observers. In addition, hawk walks and raptor receptions can be arranged. There is even an option for a raptor to make an appearance as a skilled ring bearer for weddings. HISTORY AND CONSERVATION
Falconry has been practiced for as 4 0 F I N D WO O D S TO C K M AGA Z I N E AT W W W. WO O D S TO C K M AGA Z I N E . C O M