Falcon hunter enjoys Midwest hospitality
Staff reporter
A new friendship may have been forged by a chance meeting between two strangers in a field — one being the owner of the property and the other being a trespasser.
Marlin Buchholz of Marion, "caught" the trespasser on his property this past week when the man was looking for his falcon.
That's right. A falcon.
Alan Pollard of Dillsburg, Pa., an accomplished falconer, was on Buchholz's property to capture his raptor after a flight.
Buchholz and the Pennsylvania man hit it off and the stranger was invited to bring his falcon Nov. 23, to the daily morning coffee group who gathers in Buchholz's business, Marion Pharmacy.
The group of 10 to 15 was enthralled with Pollard's information and the opportunity to see the falcon up-close.
Pollard, his son Bryden, and friend Eucett Petty of Wilmington, Del., traveled to Kansas a few weeks ago to take advantage of falcon hunting season which opened Sept. 1. They were trying their luck at hunting prairie chickens in the county and near Matfield Green in Butler County.
Previously, Pollard had visited a falcon ranch near Emporia, and knew he had to return to this area with his birds.
He currently is looking for a remote home site to purchase and would return every other week to allow his raptors to fly and hunt.
About the falcon
This particular species Pollard displayed is native to the tundra in the Antarctic. The birds are used for the no-impact sport of hunting.
The falcons are taught at an early age to hunt by acclimating them with young pheasants, quails, and prairie chickens.
"This allows the young birds to develop together," said Pollard.
A radio transmitter is placed on the falcon which detects the raptor 100 miles away air-to-air.
"I lost one Paragon falcon," Pollard said. "It was flying 1,000 feet in the air. The receiver was on and cracking. Then the bird was 40 feet away and thousands of feet up. I chased it for a week."
He never did find the bird.
This species of bird can fly 180 to 200 mph, said Pollard, covering lots of ground in a short period of time.
The species are similar to dogs, said Pollard, and know their owners.
"I have total confidence when the birds are released they will return," said Pollard.
The birds do not catch their prey with their feet as one might think. Actually, the falcon will use its beak in flight and break its prey's neck.
"I'll let the dog run and flush out pheasants," said Pollard. "The falcon hits the pheasant on the head, killing it."
The falcon then will eat what it wants of the dead prey or Pollard will recover what he wants and gives the falcon a "treat."
Pollard said the gyrfalcon is the jet plane of all hawks. Handling the raptors is an art and takes years of practice.
For nearly 40 of Pollard's 48 years of life, he has been handling raptors.
This is no passing fancy or weekend hobby. He considers this to be a love affair.
Preparing for a flight is like a "ballet," Pollard said. "Everything has to be perfect — the sun, sky, breeze. When it works, it's a beautiful experience."
Pollard had a beautiful experience that morning before coming to Marion for the show-and-tell with Buchholz's coffee clache.
Actually, Pollard was late in coming to town because he momentarily lost his bird.
"You never chase a falcon," Pollard said. "He'll come back."
And sure enough, the bird returned to the same area where Pollard had been standing when the bird was released.
Not in it for the sport
Pollard said he has had his share of hunting pheasants and ducks, and that is the reason he is looking at prairie chicken hunting which is more difficult.
A different species of raptor could be used for a more successful hunt, but it's the experience of the flight that intrigues Pollard.
"There's a connection between the bird and falconer," Pollard said. "If we get birds, it's good," but it's not the only purpose of the outing.
"Falconing is a personal experience," he said, and takes pride and care in his flock.
He brought four birds with him to Kansas. Back home, he said he had a barn full of birds, raising most from eggs.
"Each falcon has it's own area," said Pollard. "They're very tame."
The birds are susceptible to diseases and have to be handled with care.
"The main thing is to keep them relaxed," said Pollard. "They are a highly-stressed bird."
The species can live to be 30 years old.
Pollard said he had an eight-year-old falcon and was offered $80,000 for it.
"Of course, I didn't take it," Pollard said, reacting as if an offer was made on a member of his family.
When the Delaware native isn't falconing, he owns a successful construction company.
With the success of his company, he has returned to his second love — his music.
An accomplished musician, Pollard released a CD in 2004, "See It For What It Is." He describes his music as something between The Beatles and Billy Joel. He plans to release a second CD under the Dave Matthews Band label.
His current CD is available at Borders book stores and online.
Pollard, his son, and his friend packed up Friday in the sports utility vehicle with the four birds and two dogs, and drove 16 hours back to Pennsylvania.
They will return again to this area — to experience falconing in Kansas and meet new friends.
