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NCAA Football History - College Football Team History -
Air Force Falcons - History
Air Force Mascot
The Falcon - Flying High
People all across the country have been delighted by the
aerobatics of the falcon, the flying mascot of the U.S.
Air Force Academy and the only performing mascot in the
National Collegiate Athletic Association. The falcon can
attain velocities exceeding 200 miles per hour in stoops
or dives, turn sharply and streak only inches above the
ground, making it the fastest and one of the most maneuverable
of all birds. Trained and handled by cadet falconers, the
birds soar and dive, sometimes zooming low over the heads
of spectators. While their public flying performances are
primarily limited to outdoor venues, most often at football
games and cadet wing parades, the falcons appear at many
other athletic contests in which cadet teams play.
Members of the Class of l959, the first to enter the Academy,
chose the falcon as the mascot of the cadet wing Sept. 25,
l955, feeling that it best characterized the combat role
of the U.S. Air Force. They did not specify any particular
species, thus, any falcon can serve as mascot. Some of the
characteristics which led to its selection were speed, powerful
and graceful flight, courage, keen eyesight, alertness,
regal carriage, and noble tradition. The falcon exemplified
the qualities sought in Air Force Academy cadets; courage,
intelligence, love of the wild sky, ferocity in attack,
but gentle in repose - and discipline.
Some people said falcons could not be trained to perform
before huge crowds, that the birds would panic and flee.
Since 1956, however, cadets have flown the birds at sporting
events before thousands of cheering spectators. Six weeks
or more and an average of 300 man-hours per bird are required
to properly train a young falcon. When a bird is in top
condition, it is able to fly for more than an hour and make
repeated stoops at the baited lure swung by the cadet falconer.
Although they can be trained to perform, falcons are never
totally domesticated and remain wild creatures with strong,
independent spirits.
Although they are members of the hawk family, falcons differ
in that they have long pointed wings and dark eyes. There
are five types of falcons native to North America, ranging
in height from two feet to as small as five inches. They
are the Arctic gyrfalcon, the largest; peregrine falcon,
sometimes called the duck hawk; prairie falcon; American
merlin, or pigeon hawk; and the American kestrel, also known
as a windhover or a sparrow hawk. On Oct. 5, 1955, a splendid
peregrine was the first falcon presented to the cadet wing.
It was named "Mach 1," referring to the speed
of sound. While "Mach 1" is still the official
mascot name, each bird receives an individual name from
the falconers. Twelve to 15 falcons are kept in the mews
(enclosures for trained hawks) north of the cadet area.
The majority are prairie falcons native to Colorado. The
Academy has been fortunate to have had white phase gyrfalcons
represent the cadet wing. Previous gyrfalcon mascots were
Atholl, Baffin and Glacier. Glacier served as the Academy's
mascot from July 1980 through August 1995. Glacier, a male,
came to the Academy from the Seward Peninsula of Alaska
July 3, 1980. Glacier died from cancer on 9 August 1995
and is mounted for permanent display in the Cadet Field
House. On June 8, 1996, the Association of Graduates purchased
a female white phase gyrfalcon from Mr. Dan Konkle in Sheradin,
Wyoming, and donated her to the Academy. The cadet wing
named this new mascot Aurora - from Roman Mythology, the
goddess of the dawn. She is now the official mascot for
the United States Air Force Academy and will become the
center of attention for the Academy's Falcon Mascot Program.
At a mere 40 days old, this majestic creature weighed four
pounds. Glacier, the previous gyrfalcon Mascot, only weighed
2 pounds.
Although any falcon can serve as an Academy Mascot, the
white phase Arctic gyrfalcon has always been the official
mascot of the Air Force Academy. Gyrs constitute only about
5 percent of the total number of falcons found in the United
States. Of that 5 percent, only about 3-4 percent are true
white phase gyrfalcons.
Falconry is one of the extracurricular activities offered
to cadets. The Academy's public health officer, a public
health veterinarian, is the officer-in-charge. There are
usually 12 falconers, with four chosen from each new class
at the end of the year to replace graduating seniors. The
new falconers begin training in January under the leadership
of experienced upperclassmen and the officer-in-charge.
Without proper instruction, novices can physically harm
the birds or adversely affect their training. Falconers'
duties include daily checks of each bird's health and condition,
training sessions during which the birds are fed a measured
ration of meat, frequent cleaning of the mews and routine
maintenance of equipment.
The prairie falcon is the bird primarily used by cadet
falconers in flying demonstrations, however peregrine falcons
are also flown. The birds are flown throughout the year,
weather permitting, to keep them in top condition.
During performances, the birds fly to a lure, a rectangular-shaped
leather pouch to which meat is attached. The falconer whirls
the lure in a circle on a 30-foot cord; the bird quickly
learns to strike it in mid-air, carry it to the ground and
dine on the food. As the bird stoops toward the lure in
free flight, the lure is jerked aside, causing the falcon
to fly up, circle and make another pass. This procedure
is repeated several times before the bird is allowed to
strike the lure in mid-air. A small battery-powered transmitter
is attached to one leg and a bell to the other leg so that,
should the bird not come to the lure as it had been trained,
the cadet falconers will be able to follow and safely recover
the falcon.
TRAINING THE FALCONS
Under special permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Academy
is permitted to propagate captive prairie falcons. Since
1974, most birds used for public exhibition have been hatched
in the Academy breeding project. Due to the success of the
project, birds excess to Academy needs have been transferred
to agencies for use in educational programs dealing with
raptors (birds of prey) or have been trained to hunt and
then released into the wild. Annual reports on all activities
of the Academy falcon program are submitted to state and
federal wildlife conservation agencies.
Young birds hatched in May or June grow rapidly and by
the end of July are fully feathered and ready for training.
The first step is to acquaint them with the jess, a short
leather strap fastened to each of the bird's legs. The next
stage is called manning, a procedure to let the falcons
become accustomed to the presence, sounds and smell of people.
Each falcon has a six-foot leash coupled to the jesses,
and is carried on a falconer's gloved fist. In this manner,
the bird gradually loses the fear of moving among crowds
of people. A leather hood is used when necessary; when placed
over the bird's head, the falcon will remain calm.
Next, a long stout string called a creance is used to secure
the bird. One end of the creance is fastened to the base
of a portable outdoor perch and the other end is fastened
to the jesses, thus giving the bird a restricted flight
range. The falcon is taught to hop, then flutter, and finally
fly the length of the creance to the falconer for food.
When the falcon flies unhesitatingly to the lure every time,
the creance is removed and the bird is permitted to fly
free.
Air
Force Falcons Betting
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