Have you met Karen “Kitty” Tolson Carroll?
The sharp cries of the hunting cast overhead silence the watching crowd as the falconer, swinging a lure at the end of a line, explains what is happening. With a sudden change to the angle of the wings, one of the Harris’ hawks begins the rapid descent known as a stoop, catches the target in mid-air, and lands, mantling the prize quickly. The falconer waits a moment, allowing the hawk to break in, before calling it to the gauntlet and rewarding it with a tidbit. Moving to the edge of the field, she fists the hawk to the perch and attaches the jesses to the anklet before turning to call the other members of the cast in. The vast array of knowledge and skill needed to not only care for, but also teach about, these and other wonderful birds takes a special person. Let me introduce you to Karen “Kitty” Tolson Carroll. […]