Spreading their wings: Academy’s fleet of falcons helps cadets develop leadership skills

Published Oct. 25, 2013
By Amber Baillie
Academy Public Affairs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- In 1955, the first class to enter the Academy (Class of '59) selected the falcon as the official mascot of the Cadet Wing for its powerful flight, courageous nature, ability to fly more than 200 miles per hour, and for possessing eyesight eight times superior to that of a human.

Now, more than 50 years later, the fearless bird remains an honored and intriguing mascot here. The Academy's fleet of 12 falcons performs at football games, appears at parades and ceremonies, and is trained by cadet falconers -- enabling them to develop leadership skills and enhance their character by taking care of and connecting with the birds and traveling and meeting leaders throughout the country.

"I like the ambassador feel to it," said Cadet 3rd Class Angela Villareal, a cadet falconer. "There were many other things I could have done as a freshman -- and I was cleaning up pens and having to learn how to take care of the birds. That's the best part though -- knowing that you have something to take care of. The falcons are fun and have their own personalities. Through the program, I've been able to travel and meet neat people such as Miss Mississippi and (Prince Harry of Wales) Prince Harry."

Only four cadets are chosen from each new class to be a part of the Falconry club, each year bringing 30 to 40 applicants. The 11 cadet falconers check on the birds daily, training them, feeding them and cleaning their equipment.

"They're fed once a day, one-tenth of their body weight," Villareal said. When we're training our birds to fly at football games, we don't want them to see another bird and try to hunt it instinctively."

Cadet falconers use hybrid falcons in flying demonstrations due to their size and temperament, Villareal said.

"Gyrfalcons are from the Arctic Circle and Saker Falcons are from the Middle East region," Villareal said. "Saker Falcons are typically more aggressive and Gyrfalcons tend to be hard-headed. It's a good mix for flyers because they have that discipline and intensity flyers need for the game."

The Academy owns white phased Gyrfalcons, the rarest breed, including 19-year-old Aurora, the official mascot purchased by the Academy in 1996.

"She's our star attraction, shown at various Academy events because of her breed," Villareal said. "Only 10 percent of falcons are Gyrfalcons and only one percent is white."

Some of the falcons in the mews - a birdhouse for one or more birds - located north of the cadet area, are older than their cadet handlers.

"Most of the birds are donated to us from the local community or universities," Villareal said. "Destiny, our oldest, is 21-years-old and is the only bird we have with hunting experience."

Cadets occasionally place a leather hood over the bird's head to help them remain calm and attach telemetry (a GPS) onto their feet to track them when they fly.

"If they fly away we can easily retrieve them that way," Villareal said. "They're very food-motivated. We tie food to a lure and they soar after it. They quickly realize the lure is their ticket to food."

Due to falcons' wild, independent spirit, Villareal said cadets have to know their distance between each bird.

"We teach cadets the proper procedures for getting the birds on a leash and how to attach a swivel," Villareal said. "We've all been bit, so we're very aware of what they like and don't like."

Cadet 1st Class Cody Nelson, a cadet falconer and leader in the club, said he thinks the falcon symbol remained true here over time.

"Particularly with the consistency of them flying at football games," he said. "The falcons are for cadets and the public."

In the wild, falcons live between eight to 10 years. Falcons at the Academy have lived up to 25 years, Nelson said.

"We take really good care of them," he said. "Their food is handed to them every day - they don't have to hunt for it. They also get regular vet check-ups to keep them healthy.

Classes and training here can get monotonous so I appreciate the certain amount of unpredictability when dealing with the birds. It's something I look forward to every day and I appreciate the family atmosphere in the club."