NorthernAplomadoFalcon_Gunpowder_Jenny_Peter_SheridanWY_1July2022_Reel4118.mp3

Peter Jenny [00:00:00] It wasn't that long ago where if you saw a hawk, you shot it. You know, birds of prey were shot.

Peter Jenny [00:00:06] It's really interesting, the evolution of birds of prey and human interactions with birds of prey.

Peter Jenny [00:00:13] As a predator, we're pretty puny, you know. We're not very fast. We have good eyesight, we're very clever, but we don't have a very good sense of smell.

Peter Jenny [00:00:24] But all of a sudden, you partner with a dog, you can find game. You get a horse, you can move around really fast. And if you get a bird of prey, and you become a very competent predator.

Peter Jenny [00:00:36] Well, fast forward to the advent of gunpowder. And just overnight, birds of prey went from man's best friend status, like a dog or a horse, to a competitor and vermin. And so they were persecuted.

Peter Jenny [00:00:51] So it's, it's funny. We have, we have gunpowder to thank for that, you know.

Peter Jenny [00:00:57] So I think shooting probably was, you know, you have a population of aplomado falcons that's already declining because of habitat loss.

Peter Jenny [00:01:06] And then the few that remained were probably shot out.

Peter Jenny [00:01:10] They're also, as a species, they're also very confiding. They're really easy to approach. They follow you around because they think you're going to flush game for them.

Peter Jenny [00:01:20] So there would be no species, I can think of, a bird of prey, to be easier to shoot than an aplomado falcon.