Monadnock Falconry & Ice Cream Social
Get an up-close look at raptors with Monadnock Falconry, hosted by the M.N. Spear Memorial Library. Through this live falcon presentation, learn how the Harris’ Hawk stands apart from other birds of prey by hunting cooperatively in social groups in arid environments like deserts and scrublands, a behavior rare among raptors. Explore the fieldwork behind falconry and raptor rehabilitation, where science, care, and ethical responsibility intersect. Watching these birds up close encourages curiosity about how humans and birds of prey have worked together for thousands of years, offering a lens into ornithology, animal behavior, and habitat conservation.
Self-Directed Learning
Unlike most raptors that hunt alone, Harris’ Hawks break the mold by working together in tightly coordinated hunting groups. This short, action-packed video demonstrates how these birds of prey use strategy, speed, and social cooperation to hunt more successfully as a team. With a close-up look at their flight, formation, and feeding habits, viewers can observe how each bird plays a role as they flush, chase, and strike, much like wolves or dolphins working together to corner their prey.
Watching this video before or after the live falconry event deepens understanding of raptor behavior, cooperative hunting, and animal intelligence. It also introduces key ideas from ethology and field ecology, showing how close observation can reveal surprising adaptations in the natural world. Whether you’re a young bird enthusiast or a curious learner, it’s a powerful way to connect science with awe.
