A Gyrfalcon Came To Visit! 

Anderson Elementary
Eielson AFB, Alaska, USA

Photos & narrative by J. Gilbert
May 9, 2002

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Mr. Tilton, a local falconer, shared his expertise, enthusiasm, and a beautiful white-phase Gyrfalcon ("jeer-falcun") with nearly 100 students in first grade at Anderson Elementary school.

This female Gyrfalcon was born in 2001 (captive bred), and raised by Mr. Tilton at his home near Eielson Air Force Base.

Our students were very excited to see this amazing gyrfalcon! Unfortunately, we got a bit loud and our noise scared the falcon.

Mr. Tilton was able to calm the gyrfalcon by putting a "hood" on the bird. It is dark and quieter inside the hood and the gyrfalcon calmed down right away.

Long, sharp talons are just the right tools for grasping and holding her food.
What do you think this Gyrfalcon eats?

Notice the thick glove Mr. Tilton wears to protect his hand from the talons.

The Gyrfalcon was very alert and watched every movement we made with her enormous eyes!

Gyrfalcons are able to hunt from very high in the sky because they have excellent sight. Their special eyes are able to focus on objects very far away. Humans would have to strap a telescope on each eye to see as well as a Gyrfalcon!

Did you notice the falcon's "tooth" on her sharply-hooked top beak (upper mandible)?

 

Gyrfalcons use their notched beak for gripping and killing by severing (cutting) the spinal column just below the head of their prey.

Now that is a beak made for ripping!

Now do you know what Gyrfalcons eat?
If you said meat you are right. This makes Gyrfalcons carnivores, and their favorite food (prey) is ptarmigan, a small game bird common in the north.

Mr. Tilton,

Thank you for the gift of your time and for patiently answering our many questions! We are fortunate to have spent time with this beautiful, white Gyrfalcon! Thank you.

First grade students, Anderson Elementary school, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.


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