24
THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, January 21, 2010
fAlconry from 1
return to their owners and
be used again and again.
“Their instinct too hunt
is so strong that it over-
powers everything else.
They’re always searching
for prey movement. But
they never pass up an easy
opportunity. So we rely on
that to recall them by pre-
senting them with an easy
meal that brings them
back to us,” says Cowan.
Cowan first became
interested in falconry
through her husband,
James Cowan, whom she
met while he was attend-
ing the Citadel, a mili-
tary college in Charleston,
South Carolina. She was
only 17 at the time and,
Nancy Cowan holds Banshee, a Peregrine Falcon.
much to the consterna-
roger Amsden Photo
tion of her parent, kept a The couple were married Worcester, Mass.) and
Red-Tailed Hawk, owned 42 years ago and moved have shared their passion
by her future husband, in back to Jim’s native New for the outdoors together
the family garage. England (he grew up in through their marriage.
Fire, a Harris Hawk, is one of the birds used at the New
Hampshire School of Falconry.
roger Amsden Photo
At one time they raced normally lives in Eastern
sled dogs on the New Eng- Europe and Asia; and a
land Sled Dog club circuit young gyrfalcon, the largest
with their first dogs com- falcon species, which gen-
ing from Herb Meyle’s Bull erally live in Arctic regions.
Run Kennels in northern In addition to Banshee,
Virginia. Meyle was a pop- the female Peregrine Fal-
ular musher on the circuit con, Nancy Cowan uses
in the 1960s, along with four Harris Hawks at her
fellow Virginian Charles school. The Harris Hawks,
Posey, who later moved to natives of the Southwest,
Northfield. are used to living in a
Cowan, who has written warm, desert environment
six books, including five and during the winter
BLS TOURS
GROUPS
on sled dog racing history, months are kept in large
says that she and her hus- cages in the basement of
GONE band eventually gave up the Cowans’ 1789 four-
BANANA’S
You Decide/We Provide
Anytime Night or Day • 24/7
sled dog racing because chimney home because
of the time commitment it they don’t take well to cold
required while they were and snow.
Round Trip Luxury Motorcoach
raising their children. There are two female
But they did continue Harris Hawks, Fire and
Transportation to Foxwoods/MGM Casino
to pursue their interest Smoke, and two males,
in falconry and, in 1988, Sidekick and Scout.
$47 per person
Jim Cowan worked with Cowan says the Harris
local legislators to get a Hawks, which are unique
Departs from Meredith and Laconia
bill passed which made in that they are group
Enjoy movies, snacks and free door prizes on the Coach!
falconry a legal practice in hunters, rather than solo
New Hampshire. hunters as other falcons
Price includes Gratuity to Driver.
“It took two years but and hawks, are more so-
$10 Food Voucher or Full Buffet • $15 Keno Play
it was well worth it. We cial and easier to handle
Stay and Play a Full Eight Hours at Foxwoods/MGM
became the 46th state than other species which
where falconry was legal,” makes them ideal for the
Questions about trips
she says. workshops she offers.
Mondays,
Call Tom at 279-7883
Jim Cowan has three The school offers three
Feb. 8, March 8 & April 5 birds of his own: a gos- classes, including an hour-
or Claire at 293-8814
hawk; a Saker falcon, a long children’s workshop.
large, unusual falcon that See fAlconry on 25
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