A Master Falconer Shows How His Bird Protects Valuable U.S. Crops (HBO)

Flying falcons may be the best way to protect America’s crops, but not many farmers even know of the practice.
Each harvest season, farmers fight against flocks of nuisance birds that typically feed on their most expensive fruits. It costs farms millions of dollars in lost revenue each year and can lead to price spikes on foods like blueberries, cherries, and apples.
One effective way to scare off the nuisance birds is adding a bigger, badder bird to the mix. Enter the falcon, the world’s fastest animal and one that humans have been training for thousands of years. VICE News follows master falconer Justin on the job.
This segment originally aired October 2, 2017, on VICE News Tonight on HBO.
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One effective way to scare off the nuisance birds is adding a bigger, badder bird to the mix. Enter the falcon, the world’s fastest animal and one that humans have been training for thousands of years. VICE News follows master falconer Justin on the job. Watch Next: American Kids Of The Corn Farm - bit.ly/2yfc35F

[@1-gz7xy]

Let's bring down capitalism already

[@allfloorsolutionsllc821]

is this in Oregon?

[@dickaalj999]

VICE News naming your falcon Goose 😆

[@stephenmaxwell8283]

wow cheers ................I had to pay this forward .............thanks

[@stephenmaxwell8283]

and he has a Job from his destiny ......................Sweet

[@bwuh]

Falcon upon learning its name is Goose: "You gotta be sh*ttin' me. Really?"

[@matts5247]

apierce5 it's a reference to I'm pretty sure the movie Full Metal Jacket

[@brittanyhayes937]

its top gun dude.

[@macuss87]

Thank you Brittany. Dude better have a bird named Mav!

[@krl9713]

@S i am and stop calling me shirley

[@masoneichhorn8054]

My cat is named Goose

[@khalidalali186]

As an Arab falconer from Abu Dhabi, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you dude...good job and well done.

[@M-Maxentius]

who cares about you ethnicity? just as easy to say you are a falconer lol

[@king_clixz2187]

It’s because they are famous for there birds of prey and they were the first ones to do it

[@user-hf6xo1zq3j]

Arabs like to show off, and they think that they are the best at everything/anything Sauce: I am an Arab@@M-Maxentius

[@aleksandart6637]

@@king_clixz2187 no you are wrong man

[@gerhardbaut8312]

Kudos from an ex Austringer from USA. G

[@annalisa14]

Magnificent animals. Praiseworthy career. Nothing is more heart pounding than watching a hawk approach its prey.

[@hereticlife2546]

I’d think being chased by a Grizzly bear would be more heart pounding

[@all-timealien4483]

I love how eagles, falcons and hawks have those eyes that make them looks pissed off all the time. Intimidating as hell.

[@user-vr4ih6jg3n]

Man, this guy just about created for himself the best job ever.

[@RandomCatVids]

He isn’t killing many of the birds at all. The point is that they get scared away

[@user-vr4ih6jg3n]

@nickys34 buddy if eagles could exterminates other birds they would have done that decades ago.

[@animedreammachine7123]

I wish vice would do more stories like this

[@lolmock25]

Waves and Blaze better then a big tank of piss

[@n0yn0y]

But no. We gottha get the Marge-Thimpthon hair guy do dalk aboud raythithm.

[@coolraspyhobbit4723]

@Leo Garcia i know this is really late, since this was posted a year ago, but you are incredibly incorrect. Falconry in california is as legal as everywhere else, you just need the proper licenses and equipment and things, going through an apprenticeship and all that.

[@haydendasilva487]

@Leo Garcia you give California a bad name.

[@sheaeastman5576]

the video about the cocaine addicted trans prostitute that kept skid row in LA satisfied was kinda like this. There were birds, there was grass, and everyone had a deep velvety voice.

[@matthewmckenna248]

1:51 What a beautiful animal

[@rainfire9765]

2:05 also very beautiful.

[@gerominomohican1565]

yes it is. check out 4:05 the under belly is beauty

[@brendanaidoo87]

ya

[@giusepperesponte8077]

I have no idea why more farmer don’t do this, it’s all positives, you keep pests off your farm and you get to watch and have a close relationship with some of the most amazing and majestic predators on earth. If I was farming this would be an absolute no brainer.

[@agentmueller]

I know this is an old comment but I just stumbled across this video due to the algorithm and figured I would reply. Having to train the falcons and spend the amount of time in doing so vs hiring a guy who specializes in that niche field makes perfect sense in a cost to effect way. If you just put a couple falcons on your farm without any training they would probably just fly off after awhile. Owning these birds and taking them home with him means they never stray from him, very smart idea actually and for him to be making 120k a year on his own is wildly impressive, especially getting the bragging rights to telling people you are a falconer.

[@howtofish5051]

What a great approach to animal control. I'm no a falconer but I can see lot of hard work goes into keeping those falcons fit and healthy. Well done Justin for running a business like this. I hope it continues to grow.

[@burtonl7239]

Oh my God. This is the closest thing in real life to a Pokemon Trainer.

[@ojutay8375]

Burton L I just realised you're right

[@unwantedwombat4409]

Please do not ruin falconry. Falconry is cool. Pokémon is not

[@ojutay8375]

Please do not ruin my dreams of being pokemon trainer. Good day

[@unwantedwombat4409]

Geoffrey go watch some more Pokémon porn kiddo

[@ojutay8375]

Unwanted Wombat you can’t tell me what’s right naaaaah. Just let me live my life aahhhhh

[@fastdraw30]

Absolutely amazing. An ancient technology still viable for pest control today. This is an honest unique occupation indeed.

[@woooshbait5398]

Its not technologie its zoologie

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

@@woooshbait5398 well the little hats the birds wear to calm them are a sort of technology

[@woooshbait5398]

@@Stephen-uz8dm yeah i guess

[@woooshbait5398]

@@Stephen-uz8dm but the hat isnt doing much for pest control

[@elementel2699]

"Who's up next?" Elizabeth: Meeeee. Mee. Meeeeeee. Me

[@jaredellifritt6094]

Seems like a really nice guy. Works his ass off to support himself. God bless you 🙏

[@futile9588]

Nature will always do things better

[@Mrjmaxted0291]

Often, not always.

[@kaiz1845]

eh, not really tbh. If we wanted to, we could kill those "nuisance birds" to the point of extinction. It's been done before, way back when Communist China was first starting out, and the only reason we don't do it again is because we don't wanna deal with the repercussions of ruining the food chain.

[@ch3rok33jo3]

It's a shame nature doesn't do this and instead falconers must help the birds! If only they naturally did this and found the farms naturally and learned to police them naturally without human training!

[@Nimuetootoo]

This guy needs a youtube channel, stat! SO much respect for what he does, and why he does it. SAVE THE FALCONS!

[@Aleziss]

120000$ in revenue for 6 months... damn, am I in the wrong field...

[@acolyteoffire4077]

working 80 hour weeks. 6 months of pure toil, but you get another 6 months of leisure. seems pretty ok.

[@dongambino5308]

He's fucking figured it out.

[@dongambino5308]

That's what elon musk said though, he said work 100 hours a week and you'll be going farther than everyone by more than 2x. And it's true

[@acolyteoffire4077]

@@dongambino5308 well the only issue is that taxes will cut that number by a lot, then there are "running" costs like gas and housing, if a bird gets sick somehow they are expensive to fix. a majority of this guy's income gets burned just by all that.

[@Elpipiton]

@@acolyteoffire4077 plus his clients don't pay him for other benifits like medical, dental, paid time off, ect ect. And he walks alot

[@catgiles3268]

I have a friend who owns a Falcon and is a falconer. They are beautiful, amazing birds! What a great job to have.

[@naota3k]

2:05: My goodness Sam is a gorgeous bird.

[@guaranichapin]

Justin I admire your talent and I recognize the farms you are working at in this video. Salem Oregon and its farming community is something that I love and am not even a farmer. Thanks

[@alishkov1991]

The Falcon is my idol for life, the way it hunts, the way it looks, the way it thinks...I am just crazy about it.

[@snarkyswanky5444]

Awesome, love to see stories of people starting projects and businesses! Great story telling as well.

[@marcusyoung24117]

This is awesome, I'm a falcon enthusiast. Really appreciate what you are doing.

[@melloe]

Such beautiful birds.

[@WayneRowlands]

Beautiful birds doing a great job. I believe the birds love this.

[@mna9211]

What a beautiful documentary it is.

[@X_pert_bandit]

Those Falcons are good birbs, such cuties.

[@willieboy8798]

I ve seen this in action chicken farmers, guail ranchers it works like gold on wolves and coyotes. I saw a huge falconry eagle pick up a coyote at dusk and dropped it right on the pack from two hundred feet. Never, never, never saw a coyote there again not one time! for years my uncle said coyotes were a problem not afraid of the gun or man, that eagle scared the toots out of them. once every quarterr the eagle came back and cruised the fields just flying back and forth and a S load of screams you could here back at the capitol city. a magnificent animal Gods gift. that bird had a wingspan of seven feet the talon were three inches. he feed it four hares a day.

[@1mew101]

Such a beautiful Falcon

[@falconer5830]

I'd like to do abatement one day, i'm a first year falconer right now and i'm really enjoying it.

[@unwantedwombat4409]

That’s cool. I’m starting my Apprenticeship next year. What kind of bird do u have? Red tail I’m assuming?

[@JustinArce10]

How are you learning that and where, guys? I got involved with birds suddenly. Two days ago, little birds came fairly close while i was whistling, yesterday wanted to learn hand feeding and today this 😂😂

[@falconer5830]

Unwanted Wombat yeah i got a redtail, she’s a fine squirrel and rabbit bird, that is when i can find em

[@falconer5830]

Justin Arce well after wanting to do it since i was 8 i called my state fish and game department and got a packet with potential sponsors, which you’re required to have, a sponsor is just someone who has experience in it and is willing to teach you for your first two years

[@falconer5830]

you gotta take some tests and build a mew, a hawk house, and have it inspected by fish and game then you apply for your capture permit

[@Gguy061]

No one tells you what a big commitment falconry is. You can't just walk away from a bird for three days, even if you hire a keeper to feed and maintain them. This guy's life is probably nothing but birds, even in the off-season. Falconry kicks ass, but I'm not willing to sacrifice LITERAĹLY EVERYTHING to be a part of it. The only friends or lovers you'll have will be other Falconers

[@wonderboy2402]

Wow every once and awhile vice does some interesting stories.

[@TONAH]

He Protec. He Atac.

[@MistiriousStranger1]

But most importantly he comes Bakc.

[@adamcarr1920]

He fly de wey

[@impulse034]

he scar bard

[@seamur3937]

Dude.... look into Hooked on Phonics or buy a dictionary....start slow with Green eggs and ham or Horton hears a who....

[@gunnerkolb2066]

But every now and then he gets a snac

[@Valkyry5]

That the best video of relationships between the owner and their Falcons. I love how you seem to kinda approach the birds like parrots and "talk" with them. ...and to me, they seem to be more Interactive and comfortable with you and Not just "tool". Not like the other Falconers who just throw them in the air, swing a line and toot a whistle. I like your style, man. Good job*

[@aluwanimoyo4093]

Yeah I noticed how he doesn't seem to have that blindfold helmet thing I see so often put on a trained falcon's head.

[@n3v3rforgott3n9]

@@aluwanimoyo4093 that blindfold ISNT a bad thing and helps the birds keep calm so they dont hurt themselves animals arent human so we cant put human feelings onto them and think if we wont like something they wont either

[@anuragpradhan7500]

​@@aluwanimoyo4093Blindfolds are acceptable for vet visits, I would say.

[@spritemultipack]

This is the type of stuff I fucking love from Vice. What a cool guy

[@Kmteegarden]

Jack Duck the coolest he's my brother!

[@ch3rok33jo3]

Yeah way better than them breaking a computer and bragging about it hahahaha

[@supervegeta101]

I love the kind of ideas that make you go "Oh shit, that logic is fucking... WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?!"

[@alancrandall3863]

Watching two of earth’s great predator species working together is awesome!

[@okdigital151]

dream job

[@scoobydoo7220]

I saw 2 falcons above my house . they were the same size as these and had brown feathers, and white on the tail and did the screeches. it was really cool! They kept circling the clock tower like vultures lol

[@ChuckKeough]

He should be making more than 120,000 a year.

[@sassypepper100]

Chuck Keough irs

[@brandonclark5924]

he also only works 5 months out of the year

[@jimmychanga4130]

Brandon Clark but he works 80HR weeks for those 5 months. Kind of evens itself out

[@lesrock6065]

And that's just his revenue, he still has to play his employees... luckily they accept bird seeds as payment ;-)

[@jamietaylor1398]

@@lesrock6065 actually if theyre abatement birds they dont catch any birds to eat he doesnt let them so they keep chasing them away, so the food he buys for them is not cheep

[@claredowning5295]

So awesome! Thanks!

[@cyranodebergerac636]

FANTASTIC. Great way to let nature check nature. Great video

[@salv434]

That's fucking awesome. That guy's loving his job and so are those Falcons.

[@josephj1973]

What an awesome job/passion!

[@loveamour5649]

Yes.

[@callalilly1988]

I've always loved peregrine falcons.

[@deepblue153]

Such awesome creatures!

[@dhulgariir]

That is great Need more vedio about the falcons and how you train them

[@harlowblackadder356]

I took my little pet conure on a walk in the back yard (we lived in Florida). An eagle soared by, and she dove into a bush. Never saw her so scared or out of breath.

[@hunting2018]

I adore hawks

[@SixthyGTi]

Incredible!

[@VittamarFasuthAkbin]

he PROTEC. But also he ATTAC.

[@ryneagheilim9782]

My ancestors were Falconers. I just realized theyre cool AF

[@dakotadawn5789]

Falconers are awsome

[@GhostTape]

He protek, he attak but most importantly he......

[@itwuzme]

jgfwd ...come...back?

[@GhostTape]

omfg......YOU'RE A GENIUS!

[@juanjacobo36]

He peck

[@gunnerkolb2066]

He gets some good snacs

[@jerp5809]

Go horses in the bacc

[@yummyjasmine7015]

this proves animals and humans can work together

[@jonathangray2266]

Love the video great job

[@kcgfy81]

He has an amazing job. Get paid to fly birds. Respect.

[@Renaevannatta]

I love 1:00 non skippable ads.

[@hman7236]

Beautiful

[@robertgarza9753]

I’m at aww on how real that bird 🦅 of prey actually looks 😊

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

What cool vocation ....great story

[@andyhill9562]

What a great job,good luck with the business mate

[@AhsanKhan-xj7mu]

Don't know why, but that was beautiful 'Can get a little lonely sometimes' :D Sure can but hang in there man you're doing a great job

[@8.O.8.]

when he said it can get kinda lonely out here and talked to the birds... it' broke my heart T . T

[@crescodaily1044]

They will still blow the lead in the Super Bowl 😭

[@toohoney8674]

Chiefs kingdom

[@MaryJo22]

This was one of the greatest joke I’ve ever read or heard. Respect, man ✊🏽

[@hildarodriguez9626]

😂😂😂

[@ThePlumber4511]

lol, good one !

[@akenihiyama1236]

Lol

[@stephenmaxwell8283]

what a nice guy thanks

[@moosemama9071]

I'm not sure if I'm more in love with the birds or him😍

[@JDfabricacations]

More like this please

[@alanhillier1033]

Fair play mate,great job and I wish you all the best 👍🏼

[@elzey1980]

that is so fascinating

[@donls1sscme]

awesome job

[@Henrysdog]

Nice birds great work Budd

[@vr4bastard353]

that has to be one of the top ten most coolest and manliest jobs ever, a falconer.

[@jacobgoldenofficial4321]

You gotta be passionate to be like this.

[@jesussarabia1121]

Wow very good information

[@thevulgarchef]

*Bird dies from second hand smoke

[@doc27able]

The Vulgar Chef 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hugolopez6644]

Sad truth

[@adamzetta6025]

that's exactly what i was thinking lol

[@Dogsrule777]

The Vulgar Chef HaAhahah!!! Yes! ☺️

[@BULPIN847]

LoL

[@jethrobantillo5878]

This is surely a lifetime job 👏👏👏

[@entropy666w]

Love these birds, wish I had one ;)

[@Gizmo_edits]

Looks peaceful ❤

[@Wakeywhodat]

Cool video but what is the puck on the birds back? I wonder if it's a minature speaker after noticing his headset at the end.

[@88osprey]

As a falconer…. Well done Vice!

[@quorumlab]

Such a cool idea

[@adamnorris9646]

Looks like an awesome job!

[@am1992sxe]

Can we do a follow up of the after care post farming season? I’m curious to know what happens in winter.

[@dayzemae9015]

This is so interesting!❤️

[@miracledesign7389]

Great video

[@superfly19751]

Cool job!

[@gmagpagiggles]

Awesome!

[@edgararagon9195]

beautiful

[@deleon3139]

Dream job

[@MoonChild-po9du]

So cool The Falcon Facter

[@malikismailawan380]

So Nice and Great

[@liam4809]

this is awesome

[@gdpgdp5902]

Amazing

[@mgpmisterk2322]

this would make the coolest pet ever

[@76olimpo]

lovely..

[@ArifZanuar]

Good falconer

[@BREEP.]

They're so beautiful :')

[@HiramOliverslife]

Beautiful!❤💯