Weird But True (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 13 - Kirby the Falconer - full transcript
CHARLIE: Hey guys,
Charlie here, you
know my sister Kirby.
KIRBY: Hey!
CHARLIE: Today we're hanging
out in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
A lot of kids when they
grow up they wanna be...
KIRBY: Doctors.
CHARLIE: Astronauts.
KIRBY: Or...veterinarians.
CHARLIE: But Kirby, when she
grows up she wants to be...
KIRBY: A master Falconer.
CHARLIE: And today
we're gonna make it happen.
It's time for Weird but True!
(theme music plays).
Hey guys!
You're just in time.
Alright, so Kirby's birthday
is coming up and every year
for her birthday she tries...
KIRBY: I like to do
something amazing!
That I've never tried before!
One year I swam with a shark.
The next I climbed
a giant sequoia.
And a while ago I even
went fishing in Wisconsin!
It was pretty epic.
CHARLIE: So what's the
plan this year Kirb?
KIRBY: Well Charles you
know I've been a huge
bird fan my whole life.
Little birds, big birds,
red birds, yellow birds...
I love them all.
CHARLIE: This
girl's bird crazy.
KIRBY: So when you
think amazing and birds,
it's gotta be Falconry.
So this year I wanna
be a master Falconer.
CHARLIE: Alright guys I guess
that means today we're
unraveling the world of...
KIRBY: Falconry!
CHARLIE: Cool, cool so just
so we got this straight:
falconry is basically
humans training falcons to
go on hunts with them.
For like a bunch of
different reason right?
KIRBY: Well, kind of.
Falcons aren't the only
birds used in Falconry.
They use all sorts
of birds of prey.
Some falconers use hawks,
others use falcons,
and super experienced
ones use golden eagles.
CHARLIE: And you
might be thinking,
what's the difference?
They all just look
like big ol' birds right?
KIRBY: While we
could tell you.
But we know a couple of guys
who could explain it a bit
better than we can.
CHARLIE: It's time for a
Weird But True Sports Break!
Hello sports fans, this is
Chip Chirpers broadcasting
alongside Bob Hawks.
KIRBY: Pleasure to be here Chip.
CHARLIE: Pleasure
to have you Bob.
We're talking falconry today.
Breaking down the
athletes in the Falconry game.
First up,
naturally, the falcon.
Falcons are incredibly quick.
Their compact bodies and
superior speed stats make
them great aerial
hunting specialists.
Typically, they're
used to hunt other birds.
Now, onto hawks.
Hawks are a bit slower than
falcons, but they can fly
through forested areas in
expert fashion.
Their preferred meal of
choice, rabbits and mice.
Finally, the golden eagle...
It's the largest bird
in our lineup today.
Their ginormous size is
their greatest hunting asset.
Because they are so
incredibly massive,
they're able to take down
large prey like turkeys,
and even foxes.
This has been a Weird
But True Sports Break.
I'm Chip Chirpers broadcasting
alongside Bob Hawks.
Tossing it back to
the action in HQ.
Alright so falcons
hunt things in the air.
Hawks hunt small
mammals on the ground.
And eagles snatch up
larger animals right?
KIRBY: You got it.
And every one of them is
an absolute master hunter.
CHARLIE: How good are they?
KIRBY: Let's put it this way.
If we wanted to make Charlie
into a Super Bird of Prey Boy
basically a superhero with
the same powers as a
falconry bird there's
a certain number of...
changes that
we'd have to make.
First we would have to
give him the power of flight.
CHARLIE: Sick!
KIRBY: And make him quick.
Like super, super quick.
The fastest human ever clocked
in at about 28 miles an hour.
Cheetah's can run
about 60 miles an hour.
But in a dive, a peregrine
falcon can go as fast as 249
miles an hour.
And Peregrine falcons
are just the beginning.
Golden Eagles 200 miles an
hour, Gyrfalcons 130 miles
an hour.
If you could run as fast as a
peregrine falcon, you could
keep up with a racecar.
They're that quick.
And we're just getting
started on these super powers.
After flight and super speed,
we're giving Charlie
supervision.
Birds of prey have
incredible eyesight.
They can spot prey
from over a mile away.
They have a 340-degree field
of vision, and have a third
transparent eyelid that's like
having a retractable pair of
goggles built into their
heads.
If you had vision as good as
a bird of prey, you could...
Find things much more easily.
Hey I lost my backpack.
Can you help me find it?
CHARLIE: Yeah, sure.
Uh it's about a mile that way.
KIRBY: Awesome!
And you can see
stuff behind you.
CHARLIE: 1, 3, 1,
5, 2, Cucumber.
Aw man these
things are amazing.
KIRBY: And as the
final touch, to complete
Charlie's transformation
into a Bird of Prey Boy.
We'll give him some
super gloves to help
him eat anything.
CHARLIE: These are awesome!
KIRBY: Birds of prey have
evolved powerful talons and
feet especially designed to
help them hold onto food.
Birds that eat snakes have
thicker scalier feet, to
protect against snake bites.
Birds that eat other birds
have long toes to help them
grip through the
bird's feathers.
And birds that eat fish
have rough sandpapery
pads on their feet,
to help them hold onto
their slippery meals.
So you'd basically be ready
to eat anything all the time.
CHARLIE: Excellent!
KIRBY: And the
transformation is complete!
With super hands and
speed and super sight.
His feathered form,
takes feathered flight.
That's why raptors are
such amazing hunters.
Super speed, vision,
and gripping power.
CHARLIE: These animals
are pretty legit Kirb.
KIRBY: Exactly Charles!
Now can you see why I
wanna become a falconer?
CHARLIE: Yeah,
cause it looks awesome!
KIRBY: I'm so excited to try
this but to be honest, I have
no idea where to get started
CHARLIE: Alright, so
here's my idea Kirb.
We hit the books, find out
Falconry's place in history,
get an idea how to get into
the whole thing. Right?
KIRBY: Sounds
good, let's roll.
CHARLIE: I think I have an
idea for where we should start
looking for some info,
the Heian dynasty in China.
KIRBY: Pretty random.
CHARLIE: No one is sure when
or where it actually started
because falconry is so old.
It's older than Kirby.
It's older than the internet.
It's older than electricity.
Or books. Or paper.
But 4,000 years ago
during the Heian dynasty
Falconry was a big deal.
Records show that way back
then, falcons were given as
presents to royalty.
And from there, it exploded,
across the entire world.
Pictures on wall hangings
from Arabia and Persia
dating back to 1700 BC
show people with tiny little
falcons on their arms.
And references suggest
that falconry had arrived
in Europe by 300 BC.
Becoming super
popular by 733 AD.
This trend wasn't
dying anytime soon.
According to explorer
Marco Polo, in the 1200s
the Mongol Ruler,
Kublai Khan, employed
10,000 falconers in his army.
And by the 1600s Falconry was
really exploding in Europe.
Even Shakespeare
was an avid falconer.
Finally, in the early 1900s,
after about 4,000 years,
Falconry had arrived
in the good ol' US of A.
And even in modern
times there have been
uses for these birds.
During World War II, falcons
were used to intercept
enemy carrier pigeons.
Nowadays they've been
employed to take down drones.
So you can see, Kirb,
Falconry has been a
part of many different
cultures for a long time.
So If you wanna become
a master falconer in
the United States
it can't happen overnight.
Before going on any hunts,
KIRBY: huh?
CHARLIE: before working
with any falcons,
KIRBY: What?
CHARLIE: before even
putting on that super
awesome glove.
KIRBY: What?
CHARLIE: You need to apply for
a permit with the Department
of Natural Resources,
and prepare for
a written test.
You have to study for hours
and hours, memorizing every
single aspect of falconry.
Haggard Raptor.
KIRBY: A Raptor
greater than one year old.
CHARLIE: Imping.
KIRBY: The process of
replacing a broken feather
with a molted feather.
CHARLIE: Mews.
KIRBY: An indoor
room or shelter where
a falcon is held.
CHARLIE: You're ready....
Hopefully you've got
everything down,
because you need to get
an 80% or better to pass.
KIRBY: Yes! I did it! Woo!
CHARLIE: After a thorough
inspection of your falcon
facility you receive an
apprentice license.
And you can work
with a single raptor.
CHARLIE: After 2 years
you receive a general
falconer license,
and you can work
with three raptors!
CHARLIE: Five whole years
later you finally receive your
master falconer status.
You can now work with
5 wild falcons and an
unlimited number of
captive bred falcons.
KIRBY: So guys, I
know what we gotta do.
It's pretty obvious I
can't do this alone.
CHARLIE: Yeah, definitely not.
KIRBY: And I mean I
don't have permits.
CHARLIE: Nope.
KIRBY: Or a facility.
CHARLIE: Nah man.
KIRBY: Or 7 years on my hands.
CHARLIE: Yeah, we've got
like maybe 15 minutes.
KIRBY: Yeah, so we need a
master falconer, and I'm
pretty sure I found the
perfect guy for the
job: Jack Hubley.
He teaches people about
falconry all the time.
CHARLIE: And I don't think
I could draw up a more
legit looking falconry
dude, than Jack.
KIRBY: Hey he's perfect!
Let's go!
CHARLIE: We're headed
to Hershey Pennsylvania,
often called the
sweetest place on Earth.
It's home to a large amusement
park, and this guy...
Hey guys, that's Jack!
KIRBY: He's been a master
falconer for longer than we've
been alive.
CHARLIE: Let's go say hi.
JACK: My favorite
Weird but True fact
about birds of prey...
A golden eagle's foot
is as big as my hand!
CHARLIE: Hey Jack, how's
it going? I'm Charlie.
JACK: Hi Charlie!
CHARLIE: It's
nice to meet you.
KIRBY: I'm Kirby.
JACK: Hi Kirby.
Nice to meet you.
CHARLIE: Guys, Jack, OOOOOH!
Our friend just left.
Who is that?
JACK: That's thunder.
KIRBY: Thunder!
CHARLIE: Thunder!
JACK: Yeah, he's
a Harris hawk.
CHARLIE: We're so excited to
meet you 'cause we know it
takes a lot of time to get
into your spot right
here as a master falconer
and we wanna learn,
just how did you do it?
JACK: I've been an
outdoorsman, a hunter,
a fisherman,
a naturalist all my life.
And falconry is where you can
actually forge a relationship
with a wild bird of prey.
These animals are wild animals
that hunt for a living.
They care about
one thing: meat.
KIRBY: Yeah....
JACK: And they'll do a lot of
things for you, if they don't
fear you.
CHARLIE: Okay, so all those
years ago, when this whole
thing started...
What was the first bird
that you started with?
JACK: A female
red tailed hawk.
CHARLIE: Did she have a name?
JACK: Her name was Briar.
CHARLIE: Weird but True guys,
red tail hawks can spot a mouse
from 100 feet up in the air.
That's like ten
basketball hoops high!
CHARLIE: So do you have a
favorite bird that you've
worked with?
JACK: The Golden Eagle.
The thing I like about eagles
is they bond to you more
closely than any hawk
I've ever experienced.
It's a much
closer relationship.
CHARLIE: Can we see any
of these animals you're
talking about Jack?
JACK: Let's go meet some.
KIRBY: Awesome.
CHARLIE: Ahhh Perfect!
KIRBY: Let's go!
CHARLIE: Oh man!
Alright guys, Jack
needs a few minutes to
get the birds ready.
But, when we come back we're
going to meet some of the most
skilled hunters in the entire
animal kingdom.
We'll see you in a sec!
KIRBY: Weird but True, many
birds' feathers weigh more
than their bones!
CHARLIE: Hey guys!
Today we're hanging out in
Pennsylvania with our new
friend Jack.
He's a master falconer and
today he's showing Kirby and
me everything we need to know
to become master
falconers too.
Let's go see
what they're up to!
Alright guys, what
do we have here?
JACK: This is a Harris Hawk.
CHARLIE: So this is a hawk?
JACK: This is a hawk.
CHARLIE: This is a hawk?
JACK: Right.
KIRBY: Not a falcon.
CHARLIE: But we
use it for falconry?
JACK: Not a falcon, right.
Falconry's a confusing term.
Falconry is hunting
with wild birds of prey.
And they can be falcons,
which are a type of hawk.
KIRBY: Mhmm.
JACK: As well as many other
species of hawks, and eagles,
and rarely owls.
KIRBY: Oooo.
CHARLIE: Okay.
What sets the harris hawk
apart from the other birds
that you might use for falconry?
JACK: They're superb hunting
hawks and they're the most
user-friendly of all the hawks
in North America for sure.
They're very trainable and
they put up with strangers.
KIRBY: What's next?
JACK: This is Trinity.
She's a female
Peregrine Falcon.
She is specifically a bird
hunter, noted for all out
blazing speed.
CHARLIE: Weird but True,
Peregrine Falcons can dive
over 200 miles per hour
and strike their prey
midair. Midair!
JACK: They're
traditionally cliff nesters.
Now they live in cities
on cliffs, skyscrapers.
KIRBY: Wow!
CHARLIE: Skyscrapers?
JACK: Yeah.
CHARLIE: You can find these
birds in the cities then?
JACK: In most major
cities here. Yup.
KIRBY: So we got the harris
hawks down and we got the
peregrine falcon.
What's next?
CHARLIE: Whoa!
KIRBY: Check it out!
CHARLIE: Golden eagle guys!
JACK: This is Bliss
the female golden eagle.
CHARLIE: She's so big!
JACK: Yeah.
KIRBY: What's her wingspan?
JACK: Her wingspan's about
the same as my height, 6 feet.
KIRBY: Wow.
JACK: Look at those feet.
They're the same size as
my hand.
It's 8 and a half inches from
the tip of this middle talon
to the tip of the hind talon.
CHARLIE: Can we feel a talon?
JACK: Sure go ahead.
CHARLIE: Yes? Alright.
KIRBY: That back talon
is especially serious.
CHARLIE: Whoa! Those are as
sharp as can be! Holy cow!
Ok, we gotta ask Jack, she's
got a tiny little hat on.
What's that?
JACK: Oh that's called a hood,
it's basically for stress
management.
CHARLIE: I'm dying to see
what his eyes look like.
Can we pop that hood off?
JACK: There you go. Whoa!
CHARLIE: Whoa!
JACK: That's how it goes.
CHARLIE: He was
ready to go right away.
JACK: Yeah. The hood, of
course, gives her hat hair.
CHARLIE: Yeah.
JACK: This is where the
golden eagle gets its name.
KIRBY: Ohhh.
JACK: She has what most
women would love to have,
free highlights.
CHARLIE: Ahh.
Every super awesome master
falconer and falcon must have
the right equipment if they
wanna get the job done.
First up for the falconer:
A falconry glove, to
protect the arm.
A fashionable pouch to
hold falconry treats.
A fake bird on a
piece of string,
called a lure to attract
their hunting companion.
And a tiny little
whistle to call them back in.
(whistle).
For the falcon: A little
bell to help locate the
bird during hunting.
A fashionable anklet
with a jess, for secure
raptor holding.
And a shiny leather hood,
to cover its eyes and
make it feel calm.
JACK: So how would you like
to see these birds in action?
CHARLIE: I think
that sounds great Jack!
It's what we've been
waiting for all day man!
JACK: We've got a simulated
hunt and I use this to educate
the public to show them what a
real hunt might look
like in the field.
CHARLIE: Sounds good to me.
JACK: And then Kirby
becomes falconer for a day!
KIRBY: Aw yes.
Alright guys we got a series
of strings that zigs and zags
throughout this entire field.
We're gonna attach a piece of
prey to this lure right here
and cover it up until we flip
a switch, which shoots on a
motor and throws that prey
throughout the track.
The falcon's gonna be up in
this tree tracking that prey
as it goes along the course.
And at the perfect moment it's
gonna dive bomb and get its
reward.
Let's see it in action.
JACK: This is the go button.
CHARLIE: Alright
let's let it rip!
JACK: HO!
KIRBY: Ahhhhh!
CHARLIE: Ohhhhh! Yeah!
KIRBY: That was insane!
CHARLIE: Jack that was insane!
JACK: Now look at
that body posture.
Does that say "here
come share this with me"?
KIRBY: Oh no way.
CHARLIE: No that's like
get away from my meal.
This is mine.
KIRBY: All for me.
CHARLIE: Don't touch!
JACK: It actually has a
name, it's called mantling.
CHARLIE: Cool
science word, mantling.
That's when the hawk poofs out
its wings to cover its prey so
that no one else steals it.
JACK: Hawks do not share well.
They have no intention of
giving up their prey so
what the falconer must do
is offer them
something in trade.
KIRBY: Mhmm.
JACK: Another morsel
that is perhaps that is
perhaps all ready to eat.
And that's how you keep the
trust between the falconer
and his bird of prey.
CHARLIE: Now it's Kirby's turn
to get up close and personal
with one of these hawks.
Just like a real falconer.
KIRBY: Alright guys time for
the big moment when I become
falconer for a day.
I'm so excited!
Alright Jack I've got
the glove on, what's next?
JACK: You're going to raise
your arm quickly, about
level with your shoulder
and in a lusty falconer's
voice say, "Hey Blazer".
KIRBY: Got it.
Let's do it!
JACK: Alright.
KIRBY: I'm pumped!
Ok! You ready?
Hey Blazer!
This is amazing!
Check it out man!
Blazer!
What a show!
Ugh, I'm a falconer!
That was amazing!
I am a falconer!
CHARLIE: Yeah, yeah.
KIRBY: Victory I did it!
CHARLIE: Victory!
KIRBY: I did it!
CHARLIE: She did it guys! Yeah!
JACK: Great job Kirby!
KIRBY: Thank you!
JACK: But if you wanna know
what falconry is really like
you need to go on a hunt.
KIRBY: A real hunt?
JACK: Wanna go?
KIRBY: Yeah we do..
JACK: Let's get to it.
KIRBY: Alright.
CHARLIE: Alright guys we gotta
get ready, but when we get back
it's time to go on a real hunt!
You're not gonna
wanna miss this!
We'll see you soon!
KIRBY: Weird but True,
an eagle's nest weighs
more than a refrigerator!
CHARLIE: Hey guys!
Welcome back!
KIRBY: Jack sent us over here
to meet up with his friend
Rob because a real life
falconry hunt is gonna happen.
CHARLIE: Falconry is a
highly regulated activity.
It takes years for someone to
become a falconer and to be
able to go on these hunts.
KIRBY: Quick timeout
before we get started.
So during these hunts these
birds of prey are eating other
animals,
which may seem kind of sad,
but it's important to remember
that that's how they nourish
themselves in the wild.
So it's super natural.
We just wanted to give
you guys the heads up.
When hunting for small mammals
a falconer releases his birds
at the start of the hunt.
Then he walks around the
forest attempting to flush out
prey for the bird to catch.
The bird follows along hopping
from tree to tree until...
Oh my gosh there's some prey!
The hunt is on!
The bird pursues,
talons ready to snatch.
Hunting birds
follows the same idea.
The falconer releases the
birds and tries to flush out
some other birds into the air.
Once the prey is
airborne it's go time.
And this is the style of
hunting we're about to see.
CHARLIE: Here's the falcon
star we're working with today!
KIRBY: And her
name is Shredder.
She's an aplomado falcon and
her partner Rob Giroux who's
been a falconer for six years.
Rob's favorite Weird but
True fact, owls can't
move their eyes!
CHARLIE: Here's the game plan,
Rob's ready to go with
Shredder perched
right on his arm.
The prey that he's looking for
are pigeons perched at the top
of these silos all around here
in farm country.
When we're ready to hunt
that's right where Shredder's
heading.
Alright it's game time guys!
You ready Rob?
ROB: I'm ready.
CHARLIE: We got
Shredder here, let her rip!
KIRBY: Let's see it!
Oh there she goes!
Once she gets up to those
silos she's gonna start
working the pigeons in a circle.
She's gonna watch them
until she finds a weakling.
CHARLIE: Once she's spotted
that weakest link, she's
locking on and bee lining
right towards him.
Hopefully she's gonna
snatch him right up and
get a nice little meal.
Ohhh.
KIRBY: She's gonna get him.
Ahh.
CHARLIE: Ohh!
This is crazy!
She's so close!
Ohh!!!!
KIRBY: She's so close!
She's gonna get him.
CHARLIE: Ohh.
After several close
calls it's clear that
Shredder is getting tired
and isn't going to
catch anything today.
So Rob calls her
in with a lure.
KIRBY: Rob that was so cool!
Watching her swoop in and
out hunting those pigeons!
Amazing!
CHARLIE: Alright I
gotta bring it up though,
I'm kind of disappointed
cause we didn't catch
anything today.
What's going on here?
ROB: Well that's why they call
it hunting and not catching.
This time of year they are
going through molt so they
lose their feathers from the
last year and they
get new feathers in.
CHARLIE: So because she
doesn't have all of her
feathers it's just a little
harder for her
to fly right now?
ROB: Correct.
KIRBY: Got it and we never
really know how falconry
hunting's gonna go I guess
ROB: That's correct you guys
have to come back and join us
again.
CHARLIE: Alright thanks Rob,
we're definitely coming back!
ROB: I'm sure when you come
back she'll be in tip top
shape and we'll definitely
catch something.
KIRBY: Awesome.
CHARLIE: Perfect.
Alright guys we're hopping
over to HQ, but stick around
we have so much to go over!
We'll see you in a bit.
KIRBY: Weird but True , most
scientists believe that birds
are related to dinosaurs!
CHARLIE: Hey guys, welcome
back, you're just in time for
the ceremony!
Presenting Junior
Falconer Kirby!!!
Hooray!
KIRBY: Hey guys!
I totally did it!
CHARLIE: Hooray!
KIRBY: Alright, so I haven't
become a master falconer yet.
But I did have one land on my
arm, and I went on an amazing
hunt.
So I'm pretty confident in
saying that I was at least a
falconer for a day.
This is perfect!
Another birthday, another
amazing activity for the
memory book!
Thanks for helping
me out today Charles.
CHARLIE: No problem Kirb!
I'm just glad I was able
to wear a few costumes
and learn some stuff.
KIRBY: What else did
we find out today?
CHARLIE: There were so
many Weird but True things!
Peregrine falcons can dive
over 200 miles per hour.
KIRBY: Some raptors can spot
their prey from a mile away.
CHARLIE: During World War II
falcons were used to intercept
enemy carrier pigeons.
And now a days they've been
employed to take down drones.
KIRBY: So birds of prey really
have a 340 degree field of
vision?
CHARLIE: Yeah man so they can
practically see things that
are like behind their heads.
KIRBY: That's nuts.
CHARLIE: Definitely,
check this out.
Paper otter, Spanish trade
ship, portrait of Amancio
Ortega!
KIRBY: That's crazy!
CHARLIE: Told ya!
You give em a try. Ready?
KIRBY: Tiny cheese,
small shark, walkie talkie!
CHARLIE: You did it!
KIRBY: That's insane!
Hey you know
what else I heard?
Bees can see in
ultraviolet light.
Do you think we can make a
pair of ultraviolet light
goggles?
CHARLIE: You get started on
the research, I'll started on
the design process?
KIRBY: On it!
CHARLIE: Alright guys, looks
like we got a new project on
our hands,
but come by again when we
discover more things that are
weird...
KIRBY: But true!
CHARLIE: We'll see you later!
You found anything?
Captioned by Cotter
Captioning Services.
Charlie here, you
know my sister Kirby.
KIRBY: Hey!
CHARLIE: Today we're hanging
out in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
A lot of kids when they
grow up they wanna be...
KIRBY: Doctors.
CHARLIE: Astronauts.
KIRBY: Or...veterinarians.
CHARLIE: But Kirby, when she
grows up she wants to be...
KIRBY: A master Falconer.
CHARLIE: And today
we're gonna make it happen.
It's time for Weird but True!
(theme music plays).
Hey guys!
You're just in time.
Alright, so Kirby's birthday
is coming up and every year
for her birthday she tries...
KIRBY: I like to do
something amazing!
That I've never tried before!
One year I swam with a shark.
The next I climbed
a giant sequoia.
And a while ago I even
went fishing in Wisconsin!
It was pretty epic.
CHARLIE: So what's the
plan this year Kirb?
KIRBY: Well Charles you
know I've been a huge
bird fan my whole life.
Little birds, big birds,
red birds, yellow birds...
I love them all.
CHARLIE: This
girl's bird crazy.
KIRBY: So when you
think amazing and birds,
it's gotta be Falconry.
So this year I wanna
be a master Falconer.
CHARLIE: Alright guys I guess
that means today we're
unraveling the world of...
KIRBY: Falconry!
CHARLIE: Cool, cool so just
so we got this straight:
falconry is basically
humans training falcons to
go on hunts with them.
For like a bunch of
different reason right?
KIRBY: Well, kind of.
Falcons aren't the only
birds used in Falconry.
They use all sorts
of birds of prey.
Some falconers use hawks,
others use falcons,
and super experienced
ones use golden eagles.
CHARLIE: And you
might be thinking,
what's the difference?
They all just look
like big ol' birds right?
KIRBY: While we
could tell you.
But we know a couple of guys
who could explain it a bit
better than we can.
CHARLIE: It's time for a
Weird But True Sports Break!
Hello sports fans, this is
Chip Chirpers broadcasting
alongside Bob Hawks.
KIRBY: Pleasure to be here Chip.
CHARLIE: Pleasure
to have you Bob.
We're talking falconry today.
Breaking down the
athletes in the Falconry game.
First up,
naturally, the falcon.
Falcons are incredibly quick.
Their compact bodies and
superior speed stats make
them great aerial
hunting specialists.
Typically, they're
used to hunt other birds.
Now, onto hawks.
Hawks are a bit slower than
falcons, but they can fly
through forested areas in
expert fashion.
Their preferred meal of
choice, rabbits and mice.
Finally, the golden eagle...
It's the largest bird
in our lineup today.
Their ginormous size is
their greatest hunting asset.
Because they are so
incredibly massive,
they're able to take down
large prey like turkeys,
and even foxes.
This has been a Weird
But True Sports Break.
I'm Chip Chirpers broadcasting
alongside Bob Hawks.
Tossing it back to
the action in HQ.
Alright so falcons
hunt things in the air.
Hawks hunt small
mammals on the ground.
And eagles snatch up
larger animals right?
KIRBY: You got it.
And every one of them is
an absolute master hunter.
CHARLIE: How good are they?
KIRBY: Let's put it this way.
If we wanted to make Charlie
into a Super Bird of Prey Boy
basically a superhero with
the same powers as a
falconry bird there's
a certain number of...
changes that
we'd have to make.
First we would have to
give him the power of flight.
CHARLIE: Sick!
KIRBY: And make him quick.
Like super, super quick.
The fastest human ever clocked
in at about 28 miles an hour.
Cheetah's can run
about 60 miles an hour.
But in a dive, a peregrine
falcon can go as fast as 249
miles an hour.
And Peregrine falcons
are just the beginning.
Golden Eagles 200 miles an
hour, Gyrfalcons 130 miles
an hour.
If you could run as fast as a
peregrine falcon, you could
keep up with a racecar.
They're that quick.
And we're just getting
started on these super powers.
After flight and super speed,
we're giving Charlie
supervision.
Birds of prey have
incredible eyesight.
They can spot prey
from over a mile away.
They have a 340-degree field
of vision, and have a third
transparent eyelid that's like
having a retractable pair of
goggles built into their
heads.
If you had vision as good as
a bird of prey, you could...
Find things much more easily.
Hey I lost my backpack.
Can you help me find it?
CHARLIE: Yeah, sure.
Uh it's about a mile that way.
KIRBY: Awesome!
And you can see
stuff behind you.
CHARLIE: 1, 3, 1,
5, 2, Cucumber.
Aw man these
things are amazing.
KIRBY: And as the
final touch, to complete
Charlie's transformation
into a Bird of Prey Boy.
We'll give him some
super gloves to help
him eat anything.
CHARLIE: These are awesome!
KIRBY: Birds of prey have
evolved powerful talons and
feet especially designed to
help them hold onto food.
Birds that eat snakes have
thicker scalier feet, to
protect against snake bites.
Birds that eat other birds
have long toes to help them
grip through the
bird's feathers.
And birds that eat fish
have rough sandpapery
pads on their feet,
to help them hold onto
their slippery meals.
So you'd basically be ready
to eat anything all the time.
CHARLIE: Excellent!
KIRBY: And the
transformation is complete!
With super hands and
speed and super sight.
His feathered form,
takes feathered flight.
That's why raptors are
such amazing hunters.
Super speed, vision,
and gripping power.
CHARLIE: These animals
are pretty legit Kirb.
KIRBY: Exactly Charles!
Now can you see why I
wanna become a falconer?
CHARLIE: Yeah,
cause it looks awesome!
KIRBY: I'm so excited to try
this but to be honest, I have
no idea where to get started
CHARLIE: Alright, so
here's my idea Kirb.
We hit the books, find out
Falconry's place in history,
get an idea how to get into
the whole thing. Right?
KIRBY: Sounds
good, let's roll.
CHARLIE: I think I have an
idea for where we should start
looking for some info,
the Heian dynasty in China.
KIRBY: Pretty random.
CHARLIE: No one is sure when
or where it actually started
because falconry is so old.
It's older than Kirby.
It's older than the internet.
It's older than electricity.
Or books. Or paper.
But 4,000 years ago
during the Heian dynasty
Falconry was a big deal.
Records show that way back
then, falcons were given as
presents to royalty.
And from there, it exploded,
across the entire world.
Pictures on wall hangings
from Arabia and Persia
dating back to 1700 BC
show people with tiny little
falcons on their arms.
And references suggest
that falconry had arrived
in Europe by 300 BC.
Becoming super
popular by 733 AD.
This trend wasn't
dying anytime soon.
According to explorer
Marco Polo, in the 1200s
the Mongol Ruler,
Kublai Khan, employed
10,000 falconers in his army.
And by the 1600s Falconry was
really exploding in Europe.
Even Shakespeare
was an avid falconer.
Finally, in the early 1900s,
after about 4,000 years,
Falconry had arrived
in the good ol' US of A.
And even in modern
times there have been
uses for these birds.
During World War II, falcons
were used to intercept
enemy carrier pigeons.
Nowadays they've been
employed to take down drones.
So you can see, Kirb,
Falconry has been a
part of many different
cultures for a long time.
So If you wanna become
a master falconer in
the United States
it can't happen overnight.
Before going on any hunts,
KIRBY: huh?
CHARLIE: before working
with any falcons,
KIRBY: What?
CHARLIE: before even
putting on that super
awesome glove.
KIRBY: What?
CHARLIE: You need to apply for
a permit with the Department
of Natural Resources,
and prepare for
a written test.
You have to study for hours
and hours, memorizing every
single aspect of falconry.
Haggard Raptor.
KIRBY: A Raptor
greater than one year old.
CHARLIE: Imping.
KIRBY: The process of
replacing a broken feather
with a molted feather.
CHARLIE: Mews.
KIRBY: An indoor
room or shelter where
a falcon is held.
CHARLIE: You're ready....
Hopefully you've got
everything down,
because you need to get
an 80% or better to pass.
KIRBY: Yes! I did it! Woo!
CHARLIE: After a thorough
inspection of your falcon
facility you receive an
apprentice license.
And you can work
with a single raptor.
CHARLIE: After 2 years
you receive a general
falconer license,
and you can work
with three raptors!
CHARLIE: Five whole years
later you finally receive your
master falconer status.
You can now work with
5 wild falcons and an
unlimited number of
captive bred falcons.
KIRBY: So guys, I
know what we gotta do.
It's pretty obvious I
can't do this alone.
CHARLIE: Yeah, definitely not.
KIRBY: And I mean I
don't have permits.
CHARLIE: Nope.
KIRBY: Or a facility.
CHARLIE: Nah man.
KIRBY: Or 7 years on my hands.
CHARLIE: Yeah, we've got
like maybe 15 minutes.
KIRBY: Yeah, so we need a
master falconer, and I'm
pretty sure I found the
perfect guy for the
job: Jack Hubley.
He teaches people about
falconry all the time.
CHARLIE: And I don't think
I could draw up a more
legit looking falconry
dude, than Jack.
KIRBY: Hey he's perfect!
Let's go!
CHARLIE: We're headed
to Hershey Pennsylvania,
often called the
sweetest place on Earth.
It's home to a large amusement
park, and this guy...
Hey guys, that's Jack!
KIRBY: He's been a master
falconer for longer than we've
been alive.
CHARLIE: Let's go say hi.
JACK: My favorite
Weird but True fact
about birds of prey...
A golden eagle's foot
is as big as my hand!
CHARLIE: Hey Jack, how's
it going? I'm Charlie.
JACK: Hi Charlie!
CHARLIE: It's
nice to meet you.
KIRBY: I'm Kirby.
JACK: Hi Kirby.
Nice to meet you.
CHARLIE: Guys, Jack, OOOOOH!
Our friend just left.
Who is that?
JACK: That's thunder.
KIRBY: Thunder!
CHARLIE: Thunder!
JACK: Yeah, he's
a Harris hawk.
CHARLIE: We're so excited to
meet you 'cause we know it
takes a lot of time to get
into your spot right
here as a master falconer
and we wanna learn,
just how did you do it?
JACK: I've been an
outdoorsman, a hunter,
a fisherman,
a naturalist all my life.
And falconry is where you can
actually forge a relationship
with a wild bird of prey.
These animals are wild animals
that hunt for a living.
They care about
one thing: meat.
KIRBY: Yeah....
JACK: And they'll do a lot of
things for you, if they don't
fear you.
CHARLIE: Okay, so all those
years ago, when this whole
thing started...
What was the first bird
that you started with?
JACK: A female
red tailed hawk.
CHARLIE: Did she have a name?
JACK: Her name was Briar.
CHARLIE: Weird but True guys,
red tail hawks can spot a mouse
from 100 feet up in the air.
That's like ten
basketball hoops high!
CHARLIE: So do you have a
favorite bird that you've
worked with?
JACK: The Golden Eagle.
The thing I like about eagles
is they bond to you more
closely than any hawk
I've ever experienced.
It's a much
closer relationship.
CHARLIE: Can we see any
of these animals you're
talking about Jack?
JACK: Let's go meet some.
KIRBY: Awesome.
CHARLIE: Ahhh Perfect!
KIRBY: Let's go!
CHARLIE: Oh man!
Alright guys, Jack
needs a few minutes to
get the birds ready.
But, when we come back we're
going to meet some of the most
skilled hunters in the entire
animal kingdom.
We'll see you in a sec!
KIRBY: Weird but True, many
birds' feathers weigh more
than their bones!
CHARLIE: Hey guys!
Today we're hanging out in
Pennsylvania with our new
friend Jack.
He's a master falconer and
today he's showing Kirby and
me everything we need to know
to become master
falconers too.
Let's go see
what they're up to!
Alright guys, what
do we have here?
JACK: This is a Harris Hawk.
CHARLIE: So this is a hawk?
JACK: This is a hawk.
CHARLIE: This is a hawk?
JACK: Right.
KIRBY: Not a falcon.
CHARLIE: But we
use it for falconry?
JACK: Not a falcon, right.
Falconry's a confusing term.
Falconry is hunting
with wild birds of prey.
And they can be falcons,
which are a type of hawk.
KIRBY: Mhmm.
JACK: As well as many other
species of hawks, and eagles,
and rarely owls.
KIRBY: Oooo.
CHARLIE: Okay.
What sets the harris hawk
apart from the other birds
that you might use for falconry?
JACK: They're superb hunting
hawks and they're the most
user-friendly of all the hawks
in North America for sure.
They're very trainable and
they put up with strangers.
KIRBY: What's next?
JACK: This is Trinity.
She's a female
Peregrine Falcon.
She is specifically a bird
hunter, noted for all out
blazing speed.
CHARLIE: Weird but True,
Peregrine Falcons can dive
over 200 miles per hour
and strike their prey
midair. Midair!
JACK: They're
traditionally cliff nesters.
Now they live in cities
on cliffs, skyscrapers.
KIRBY: Wow!
CHARLIE: Skyscrapers?
JACK: Yeah.
CHARLIE: You can find these
birds in the cities then?
JACK: In most major
cities here. Yup.
KIRBY: So we got the harris
hawks down and we got the
peregrine falcon.
What's next?
CHARLIE: Whoa!
KIRBY: Check it out!
CHARLIE: Golden eagle guys!
JACK: This is Bliss
the female golden eagle.
CHARLIE: She's so big!
JACK: Yeah.
KIRBY: What's her wingspan?
JACK: Her wingspan's about
the same as my height, 6 feet.
KIRBY: Wow.
JACK: Look at those feet.
They're the same size as
my hand.
It's 8 and a half inches from
the tip of this middle talon
to the tip of the hind talon.
CHARLIE: Can we feel a talon?
JACK: Sure go ahead.
CHARLIE: Yes? Alright.
KIRBY: That back talon
is especially serious.
CHARLIE: Whoa! Those are as
sharp as can be! Holy cow!
Ok, we gotta ask Jack, she's
got a tiny little hat on.
What's that?
JACK: Oh that's called a hood,
it's basically for stress
management.
CHARLIE: I'm dying to see
what his eyes look like.
Can we pop that hood off?
JACK: There you go. Whoa!
CHARLIE: Whoa!
JACK: That's how it goes.
CHARLIE: He was
ready to go right away.
JACK: Yeah. The hood, of
course, gives her hat hair.
CHARLIE: Yeah.
JACK: This is where the
golden eagle gets its name.
KIRBY: Ohhh.
JACK: She has what most
women would love to have,
free highlights.
CHARLIE: Ahh.
Every super awesome master
falconer and falcon must have
the right equipment if they
wanna get the job done.
First up for the falconer:
A falconry glove, to
protect the arm.
A fashionable pouch to
hold falconry treats.
A fake bird on a
piece of string,
called a lure to attract
their hunting companion.
And a tiny little
whistle to call them back in.
(whistle).
For the falcon: A little
bell to help locate the
bird during hunting.
A fashionable anklet
with a jess, for secure
raptor holding.
And a shiny leather hood,
to cover its eyes and
make it feel calm.
JACK: So how would you like
to see these birds in action?
CHARLIE: I think
that sounds great Jack!
It's what we've been
waiting for all day man!
JACK: We've got a simulated
hunt and I use this to educate
the public to show them what a
real hunt might look
like in the field.
CHARLIE: Sounds good to me.
JACK: And then Kirby
becomes falconer for a day!
KIRBY: Aw yes.
Alright guys we got a series
of strings that zigs and zags
throughout this entire field.
We're gonna attach a piece of
prey to this lure right here
and cover it up until we flip
a switch, which shoots on a
motor and throws that prey
throughout the track.
The falcon's gonna be up in
this tree tracking that prey
as it goes along the course.
And at the perfect moment it's
gonna dive bomb and get its
reward.
Let's see it in action.
JACK: This is the go button.
CHARLIE: Alright
let's let it rip!
JACK: HO!
KIRBY: Ahhhhh!
CHARLIE: Ohhhhh! Yeah!
KIRBY: That was insane!
CHARLIE: Jack that was insane!
JACK: Now look at
that body posture.
Does that say "here
come share this with me"?
KIRBY: Oh no way.
CHARLIE: No that's like
get away from my meal.
This is mine.
KIRBY: All for me.
CHARLIE: Don't touch!
JACK: It actually has a
name, it's called mantling.
CHARLIE: Cool
science word, mantling.
That's when the hawk poofs out
its wings to cover its prey so
that no one else steals it.
JACK: Hawks do not share well.
They have no intention of
giving up their prey so
what the falconer must do
is offer them
something in trade.
KIRBY: Mhmm.
JACK: Another morsel
that is perhaps that is
perhaps all ready to eat.
And that's how you keep the
trust between the falconer
and his bird of prey.
CHARLIE: Now it's Kirby's turn
to get up close and personal
with one of these hawks.
Just like a real falconer.
KIRBY: Alright guys time for
the big moment when I become
falconer for a day.
I'm so excited!
Alright Jack I've got
the glove on, what's next?
JACK: You're going to raise
your arm quickly, about
level with your shoulder
and in a lusty falconer's
voice say, "Hey Blazer".
KIRBY: Got it.
Let's do it!
JACK: Alright.
KIRBY: I'm pumped!
Ok! You ready?
Hey Blazer!
This is amazing!
Check it out man!
Blazer!
What a show!
Ugh, I'm a falconer!
That was amazing!
I am a falconer!
CHARLIE: Yeah, yeah.
KIRBY: Victory I did it!
CHARLIE: Victory!
KIRBY: I did it!
CHARLIE: She did it guys! Yeah!
JACK: Great job Kirby!
KIRBY: Thank you!
JACK: But if you wanna know
what falconry is really like
you need to go on a hunt.
KIRBY: A real hunt?
JACK: Wanna go?
KIRBY: Yeah we do..
JACK: Let's get to it.
KIRBY: Alright.
CHARLIE: Alright guys we gotta
get ready, but when we get back
it's time to go on a real hunt!
You're not gonna
wanna miss this!
We'll see you soon!
KIRBY: Weird but True,
an eagle's nest weighs
more than a refrigerator!
CHARLIE: Hey guys!
Welcome back!
KIRBY: Jack sent us over here
to meet up with his friend
Rob because a real life
falconry hunt is gonna happen.
CHARLIE: Falconry is a
highly regulated activity.
It takes years for someone to
become a falconer and to be
able to go on these hunts.
KIRBY: Quick timeout
before we get started.
So during these hunts these
birds of prey are eating other
animals,
which may seem kind of sad,
but it's important to remember
that that's how they nourish
themselves in the wild.
So it's super natural.
We just wanted to give
you guys the heads up.
When hunting for small mammals
a falconer releases his birds
at the start of the hunt.
Then he walks around the
forest attempting to flush out
prey for the bird to catch.
The bird follows along hopping
from tree to tree until...
Oh my gosh there's some prey!
The hunt is on!
The bird pursues,
talons ready to snatch.
Hunting birds
follows the same idea.
The falconer releases the
birds and tries to flush out
some other birds into the air.
Once the prey is
airborne it's go time.
And this is the style of
hunting we're about to see.
CHARLIE: Here's the falcon
star we're working with today!
KIRBY: And her
name is Shredder.
She's an aplomado falcon and
her partner Rob Giroux who's
been a falconer for six years.
Rob's favorite Weird but
True fact, owls can't
move their eyes!
CHARLIE: Here's the game plan,
Rob's ready to go with
Shredder perched
right on his arm.
The prey that he's looking for
are pigeons perched at the top
of these silos all around here
in farm country.
When we're ready to hunt
that's right where Shredder's
heading.
Alright it's game time guys!
You ready Rob?
ROB: I'm ready.
CHARLIE: We got
Shredder here, let her rip!
KIRBY: Let's see it!
Oh there she goes!
Once she gets up to those
silos she's gonna start
working the pigeons in a circle.
She's gonna watch them
until she finds a weakling.
CHARLIE: Once she's spotted
that weakest link, she's
locking on and bee lining
right towards him.
Hopefully she's gonna
snatch him right up and
get a nice little meal.
Ohhh.
KIRBY: She's gonna get him.
Ahh.
CHARLIE: Ohh!
This is crazy!
She's so close!
Ohh!!!!
KIRBY: She's so close!
She's gonna get him.
CHARLIE: Ohh.
After several close
calls it's clear that
Shredder is getting tired
and isn't going to
catch anything today.
So Rob calls her
in with a lure.
KIRBY: Rob that was so cool!
Watching her swoop in and
out hunting those pigeons!
Amazing!
CHARLIE: Alright I
gotta bring it up though,
I'm kind of disappointed
cause we didn't catch
anything today.
What's going on here?
ROB: Well that's why they call
it hunting and not catching.
This time of year they are
going through molt so they
lose their feathers from the
last year and they
get new feathers in.
CHARLIE: So because she
doesn't have all of her
feathers it's just a little
harder for her
to fly right now?
ROB: Correct.
KIRBY: Got it and we never
really know how falconry
hunting's gonna go I guess
ROB: That's correct you guys
have to come back and join us
again.
CHARLIE: Alright thanks Rob,
we're definitely coming back!
ROB: I'm sure when you come
back she'll be in tip top
shape and we'll definitely
catch something.
KIRBY: Awesome.
CHARLIE: Perfect.
Alright guys we're hopping
over to HQ, but stick around
we have so much to go over!
We'll see you in a bit.
KIRBY: Weird but True , most
scientists believe that birds
are related to dinosaurs!
CHARLIE: Hey guys, welcome
back, you're just in time for
the ceremony!
Presenting Junior
Falconer Kirby!!!
Hooray!
KIRBY: Hey guys!
I totally did it!
CHARLIE: Hooray!
KIRBY: Alright, so I haven't
become a master falconer yet.
But I did have one land on my
arm, and I went on an amazing
hunt.
So I'm pretty confident in
saying that I was at least a
falconer for a day.
This is perfect!
Another birthday, another
amazing activity for the
memory book!
Thanks for helping
me out today Charles.
CHARLIE: No problem Kirb!
I'm just glad I was able
to wear a few costumes
and learn some stuff.
KIRBY: What else did
we find out today?
CHARLIE: There were so
many Weird but True things!
Peregrine falcons can dive
over 200 miles per hour.
KIRBY: Some raptors can spot
their prey from a mile away.
CHARLIE: During World War II
falcons were used to intercept
enemy carrier pigeons.
And now a days they've been
employed to take down drones.
KIRBY: So birds of prey really
have a 340 degree field of
vision?
CHARLIE: Yeah man so they can
practically see things that
are like behind their heads.
KIRBY: That's nuts.
CHARLIE: Definitely,
check this out.
Paper otter, Spanish trade
ship, portrait of Amancio
Ortega!
KIRBY: That's crazy!
CHARLIE: Told ya!
You give em a try. Ready?
KIRBY: Tiny cheese,
small shark, walkie talkie!
CHARLIE: You did it!
KIRBY: That's insane!
Hey you know
what else I heard?
Bees can see in
ultraviolet light.
Do you think we can make a
pair of ultraviolet light
goggles?
CHARLIE: You get started on
the research, I'll started on
the design process?
KIRBY: On it!
CHARLIE: Alright guys, looks
like we got a new project on
our hands,
but come by again when we
discover more things that are
weird...
KIRBY: But true!
CHARLIE: We'll see you later!
You found anything?
Captioned by Cotter
Captioning Services.