Ellicottville falconer sharing his birds of prey

You will find Master Class Falconer Jonathan Clarkson on top of the hill at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville. This is where he runs his American Hawkeye School of Falconry.  He says "you're on top of the world. It's beautiful up here." He says he's been "messing around" with birds since he was a little kid, but got really serious about falconry and spent a number of years working up to a "Master Class Falconer." Jonathan says that before the invention of guns, birds of prey were the preferred hunting companion because they are "trained to hun rabbits and squirrels." He teaches others about falconry through demonstrations, workshops and is even hired for weddings because his trained owl can deliver the wedding rings. You can find more information on line at his website.