WHY RAPTORS?

The relationship between raptor and man is extremely unique and deserving of further inquiry. Birds of prey are apex predators, and as such, have an intimidating presence due to their powerful talons, sharp beak, and large wing spans. Though these traits make them impressive to look at, they are not qualities shared with other animals currently used in animal-assisted interventions such as dogs and horses. In light of these differences, many people who work with raptors such as falconers and non-profit volunteers attest to a variety of mental health benefits they attribute to the birds. But why? These are the questions I aimed to address in my research study titled Raptors and Humans: Exploring Alternative Therapies in Non-Clinical Environments using Birds of Prey.

Handling raptors in natural settings provides an opportunity to temporarily “return” the animals to their home, an environment through which raptors can more clearly demonstrate their adeptness as apex predators. Recognition of this inherent “wildness” is often lost when handling birds of prey in man-made spaces, and may even be diminished outdoors if too many people (and subsequent distractions) are present. Intimate outdoor settings, such as our on-site flight arena, make clear the unique capacity for raptors to engage with their environment in ways beyond human ability. In this way, birds taken out on walks provide a lens through which attentive humans may enhance their awareness of the natural world. Further, as these “wild” behaviors exhibited by raptors are born of their relationship to the environment, handling a bird in these settings makes the experience both novel and unique, wherein trainers learn from those they are “training.”