Wahlberg's Eagle Encounter in Stellenbosch, Cape Town

Expert Interview with Eagle Encounters

If you have an interest in Birds of Prey, we suggest you have a read through this fantastic expert interview with Tracy at Eagle Encounters. Find out about the creation of the business, favourite moments and learn a little bit about the owners and the reasons why they have such a passion for these spectacular birds.

1. How did Eagle Encounters all begin?

Hank owned a drum reconditioning factory and I (Tracy) come from the corporate world.  The birth of our first son caused us to re-evaluate our lives with respect to what’s really important to us.  The conclusion we reached was that we wanted our life’s work to be worthwhile and meaningful in a larger sense than just financial security.  We decided that, if we were going to spend our time working, it may as well be towards the benefit of our community, our environment, our planet and ultimately our children’s heritage.  In our small way, we believe that we are achieving this.

2. Have you always had a passion for birds of prey?

I have always loved animals.  At one point I even considered going into the veterinary field, however my father reminded me that my incredibly soft spot for animals would be more of a hindrance than a help, so I decided to scrap the idea. Hank, on the other hand, grew up with a father who was one of the first falconers in South Africa.  It would seem that Falconry is in his blood, as he has been practising since the tender age of 7 and his passion for birds of prey has never waned. Hank is now a Master Falconer, which means that he is able to train and fly pretty much any bird of prey on the planet!

When Hank and I made the decision to leave our respective fields to start Eagle Encounters, we approached Spier as a possible location because, even way back then, they were the pioneers in organic farming. To our great fortune, Spier decided to give our project a home and we have been growing from strength to strength there ever since.

3. What is your favourite bird of prey within Eagle Encounters?

After giving this question considerable thought, we have to say no, we don’t have one particular favourite.  You see, all our birds have their own personalities and quirks, which we just love!  To give you some examples:

• Wally is the cuddliest and most lovable Wahlberg’s Eagle in the world. She is also the most temperamental in that she doesn’t appreciate change.
• Woody is a grumpy little African Wood Owl who literally grumbles when you scratch him under his beak.
• Mick is a female Black Eagle who is utterly in love with Hank. She even tries to seduce him with her mating rituals.  On the other hand, she absolutely hates me, because she sees me as her competition for his affection!
• Makka Pakka is an adorable Barn Owl who dances when you play music for her.
• Scout is a Yellowbilled Kite who loves to snatch food from our Handlers’ fingers during the flying shows.
• Goliath is a powerful, beautiful, majestic female Martial Eagle who knows that she is all that and doesn’t let you forget it.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture.  They are all unique individuals who bring their own brand of joy to the centre.

4. Have you got a favourite moment throughout your whole experience of owning your own business?

You would think that something like winning the Caltex / Cape Times Award would be this moment for us, but actually it’s not.  For us it’s about a desperately ill / injured animal turning the corner to recovery under our care; about nursing a raptor back to health, putting it through falconry fitness and hunting training, then setting it free;  having organisations like Cape Nature, the SPCA, etc. consult with us because they recognise our input;  when visitors to Eagle Encounters overcome phobias and we see the absolute joy in their first real encounter with an animal that they previously feared. These are the moments that continually humble us and keep us going.

Thank you Tracy for finding the time to complete this expert interview.

If you are interested in the experiences with Eagle Encounters that we offer, click the links below to find them.

One Hour Falconry Hawk Walk in Cape Town

Verreauxs Eagle Encounter in Stellenbosch Cape Town

Wahlberg Eagle Encounter in Stellenbosch Cape Town