Parahawking
Mason was a typical trekker when he arrived in Pokhara eight years ago. The day before he was to leave, a colorful wing caught his eye, and he booked a tandem flight. As he circled in the sky with a pilot guide, Mason was thrilled by the sight of so many raptors. Hawks and enormous steppe eagles veered inches from the glider. A falconer since the age of 11, Mason wondered: Is it possible to train birds to help pilots scout thermals? The next day, Mason heard about two black kite chicks rescued from a destroyed nest. He changed his travel plans and spent the rest of the season in Pokhara. While he learned to fly a paraglider, he began working out the techniques to teach the raptors to fly alongside. It led to a successful commercial venture offering tandem parahawking flights to tourists. ... Following the vulture's lead, we begin to pivot around the core of a thermal. Mason blows a whistle, calling Kevin in for a reward. As instructed, I thrust my gloved arm out like a perch and grip a chunk of raw meat. The vulture swoops in from behind, flares his wings and sinks his talons into my leather glove. He devours his snack and hitches a ride on my arm. Suddenly, he dives back into the sky.
The next day, Mason heard about two black kite chicks rescued from a destroyed nest. He changed his travel plans and spent the rest of the season in Pokhara. While he learned to fly a paraglider, he began working out the techniques to teach the raptors to fly alongside. It led to a successful commercial venture offering tandem parahawking flights to tourists.
...
Following the vulture's lead, we begin to pivot around the core of a thermal. Mason blows a whistle, calling Kevin in for a reward. As instructed, I thrust my gloved arm out like a perch and grip a chunk of raw meat. The vulture swoops in from behind, flares his wings and sinks his talons into my leather glove. He devours his snack and hitches a ride on my arm. Suddenly, he dives back into the sky.
