Parahawking

Parahawking is a unique activity combining paragliding with elements of falconry. Birds of prey are trained to fly with paragliders, guiding them to thermals for in-flight rewards and performing aerobatic maneouvres.

Parahawking was developed by British falconer Scott Mason in 2001. Mason began a round-the-world trip in Pokhara, Nepal, where many birds of prey – such as the griffon vulture, steppe eagle and black kite – can be found. While taking a tandem paragliding flight with British paraglider Adam Hill, he had the opportunity to see raptors in flight, and realized that combining the sport of paragliding with his skills as a falconer could offer others the same experience. He has been based in Pokhara ever since, training and flying birds during the dry season between September and March.

The team started by training two black kites, but have since added an Egyptian vulture and a Mountain hawk-eagle to the team. Only rescued birds are used – none of the birds has been taken from the wild.

Mason and Hill documented their endeavors, along with colleague Graham Saunders-Griffiths, in a film entitled "Parahawking". In addition to being named Best Debut Film at the 2003 Festival International du Film de Vol libre in St-Hilaire, France (held as part of the Coupe Icare), and winning top prize in the 'Air' category at the 5th [http://www.horyamesto.sk Hory a Mesto] international festival of mountain films in Slovakia [ [http://www.spectator.sk/articles/view/15997/9/ 'German film climbs to the festival's top'] , 3 May 2004] , "Parahawking" was a finalist in the category of 'Best Film on Mountain Sports' at the 2003 Banff Mountain Film Festival, and competed for the title of 'Best Documentary' at the 2004 Cervino International Film Festival.

Mason's work has been featured in many publications around the world, from falconry-related journals [Article in The Austringer, journal of [http://www.thewelshhawkingclub.com The Welsh Hawking Club] , 2003] ['The Himalayan Parahawkers' by Scott Mason, [http://www.pwpublishing.ltd.uk/falconers/ The Falconers and Raptor Conservation Magazine] , 2003] and newsletters ['Flying a kite...', [http://iaate.org International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators] newsletter, February 2008] , to paragliding publications [ [http://www.xcmag.com/articles/2005/11/134/ 'From 9 to 5 to Feeling Alive!'] , [http://www.xcmag.com Cross Country] , 28 November 2005] ['Parahawking' by Richard Jennings, [http://www.cumbriasoaringclub.co.uk Cumbria Soaring Club] newsletter, October 2007] ['L’homme oiseau, du rêve à la réalité' by Aurélie Cottier, [http://www.aerial-mag.com Aerial] , October-November 2007] [ [http://www.xcmag.com/news/2008/02/272/ 'Under the Wings of Kevin'] by Jerome Maupoint, [http://www.xcmag.com Cross Country] , 28 February 2008] [ [http://www.gleitschirm-magazin.com/article.php3?id_article=407 'Unter Kevins Schwingen'] by Louise Crandal, [http://www.gleitschirm-magazin.com Gleitschirm] , June 2008] , mainstream magazines [ [http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/boa/boa_mind_tonic.html 'Parahawking'] by Aryn Baker, [http://www.time.com/ Time Asia] , 15 November 2004] ['Things to Do Before You Die: Parahawking', [http://www.fhm.com FHM] magazine, October 2005] ['News & Views: Parahawking', [http://www.actionasia.com/actionasia/PastIssues/index.jsp?tocId=3220 Action Asia] , September 2007] ['Parahawking in Nepal' and 'High as a kite' by Joshua Iles, [http://www.outer-edge.com.au Outer Edge] , April 2008] and newspapers [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article30678.ece 'Gliders are hawking in the air'] by Kathryn Lister, [http://www.thesun.co.uk The Sun] , 1 February 2007] ['Eagle eyed Scott is true wing man', [http://www.bdrecorder.co.uk Barking and Dagenham Recorder] , 1 March 2007] [ [http://www.metro.co.uk/travel/article.html?in_article_id=83611&in_page_id=5 'Birds eye view of Nepal'] by Graeme Green, [http://www.metro.co.uk Metro.co.uk] , 11 January 2008] [ [http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/moslive/article-562001/Where-eagles-dare-Parahawk-nature.html 'Where eagles dare: Parahawk with nature'] by Jonathan Green, UK Mail on Sunday, 26 April 2008] .

ee also

*Paragliding
*Falconry
*Birds of prey
*Pokhara

References

External links

* [http://www.parahawking.com www.parahawking.com] – Scott Mason's official Parahawking website
* [http://www.rapsodia.fr/reportages/v/en/Par_theme/Nature_et_environnement/parahawking_nepal/ Parahawking in Nepal] – photographs on [http://www.rapsodia.fr Rapsodia]