Kate and Jana have volunteered their time and expertise the past several years to teach the Apprentice Workshop at the California Hawking Club’s annual field meet, and Kate has enjoyed hosting the Lure Flying Competition there as well. Her vision for creating a falconry center in the United States that is accessible to everyone is what started West Coast Falconry.
Kate Marden
Kate Marden has been a falconer since 1998. Her life has been so filled with animals that the local firefighters, visiting her home to check firebreaks, called her Dr. Dolittle. She is a successful business owner in Marin County specializing in canine care. Her work with birds of prey predates her years as a licensed falconer. Kate has worked in bird of prey interpretive programs at Renaissance Faires, Historical Events, Scottish Games and schools for more than a decade. Kate has flown her birds in videos and on shows such as Mythbusters, Wreakreation Nation, Unchained Reaction, Mancations and Methods of Take.
Jana Barkley
Jana Barkley, a master falconer, is an experienced educator and lecturer. Her energy and enthusiasm for the sport of falconry has impressed her audiences. Jana specializes in helping the entertainment industry report accurately on falconry and birds of prey. She is also a writer whose work revolves around her passion for the sport of falconry. Currently she serves on the board of directors for the California Hawking Club.
Vicki “Scout” Valentine
Vicki “Scout” Valentine, an apprentice falconer, recently retired after working for 17 years as the Education Coordinator at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary. Specializing in native species her passion has been educating audiences from young children to adults on the natural history of birds of prey.
Shawna L. Protze
Shawna L. Protze, an inherent animal lover, general falconer and experienced wildlife educator is fortunate to work, volunteer and live with her passion; birds of prey. For over a decade she has been an educating school children and the general public about California wildlife at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Sacramento. Working closely with non-releasable birds of prey, as the Animal Care Supervisor, she gets to train and work with the birds for public presentations. Shawna also assists in raptor rescue and rehabilitation with the California Foundation for Birds of Prey, a local raptor rescue facility. Transporting injured birds and rehabilitating birds to either a life as an educational ambassador or released to the wild. As a licensed falconer she continues her educational experience representing the cultural history and modern applications of falconry at historical or hunting events and as staff for West Coast Falconry. She uses her ever-expanding knowledge of the husbandry of raptors and sport of falconry in her rehab and education work.
Marya Lehman
Marya Lehman, an Apprentice Falconer, has been working with birds of prey through rehab and educational organizations since 2008. She enjoys her time spent training birds, working with them.