Arnoldsville’s Hill gains trust, trains hawks to hunt
Belle, a red-tailed hawk, calmly watched while tethered to her perch as Ben Hill, a falconer from Arnoldsville, told his story. Though Belle seemed docile, Hill made sure to emphasize that the hawk is not a pet, and falconry is an art.
Hill has been practicing falconry for seven years, including two years as an apprentice. He’s on the board of directors of the Georgia Falconry Association, he mentors other aspiring falconers in the area and gives presentations to both children and adults on preserving the sport and raptors.
“It's just a fun way to hunt, to build a relationship with a wild animal as a raptor,” Hill said. “Because when we're out in the woods, it’s between her and what we chase, it’s a life-or-death drama between her and another animal.”
Hill became interested in falconry when he shadowed friends who were falconing. He soon became fascinated with the idea and decided to become an apprentice falconer. Hill trained for two years, took a test and complied with legal requirements before he earned his general falconer’s license.
After five years of being a general falconer, Hill will soon upgrade to master.
Hill said he typically only hunts with the juvenile hawks he traps for about one season then releases them, but since Belle has been such a good hunter and works well with his hunting dog, Commander, Hill will keep Belle for the next season.
“This bird, she and I clicked very well,” he said. “We get along good — she doesn't bite me, she doesn't foot me. Her personality is just phenomenal for a wild animal.”
Hill trains hawks through a process of gaining their trust.
He first captures a wild bird with a trap, then takes it inside his home.
Hill closes all the blinds to make sure she doesn’t have any visual of her normal environment, then he feeds her and gives her water. He stays longer and longer during her feedings.
The bird soon realizes that Hill gives her what she needs to live, and that he won’t hurt her.
Though she’s a personable hawk, Belle is still a bird of prey.
Last season, Belle caught 60 squirrels, eight rabbits, a chipmunk and a possum. Hill hunts with Belle on land he owns, and she eats everything she catches.
An important thing to remember, Hill said, is that Belle is not a pet.
She’s a wild animal, and Hill and Belle don’t have a “bond.” She simply trusts Hill to feed her and protect her.
“She tolerates my presence, and that’s it,” Hill said.
This is why after a season or two, the birds are released back into the wild.
Hill said most raptors don’t survive past their first birthday due to not being able to hunt or collisions with cars and power lines. Therefore, falconry teaches them how to hunt, which improves their chance of survival.
“It’s just fun to watch her fly. And to think that every time I release her, I’m like ‘Boy, I hope she comes back,’” Hill said. “But it's that trust that you build, that she trusts me to fly right to me.”