Kate Marden and Max
Kate Marden is a master falconer with 14 years of experience. She is a successful business owner in Marin County specializing in animal 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 Fairs, Historical Events, Scottish Games and schools for more than a decade. Kate has flown her birds in movies and several times on the show Mythbusters. She has volunteered her time and expertise the past six years to teach the Apprentice Workshop at the California Hawking Club’s annual field meet, and has enjoyed hosting the Lure Flying Competition. Her vision for creating a falconry center in the United States that is accessible to everyone is what started West Coast Falconry.
Jana Barkley and Seabhag
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.
Jeremy Kroeger and Draga
Jeremy Kroeger, a master falconer, started as a zookeeper, and went to Moorpark College, EATM, where he became a falconer. While working as a vet-tech he began working bird abatement and flying exotic falcons. Jeremy’s experience in animal behavior and training has made him invaluable in teaching apprentices how to work with new hawks. Through his passion for the red-tailed hawk, new apprentices soon learn that this most versatile of hunters is anything but “just a beginner’s” bird. He makes his own equipment, hoods and traps.
Marten Benatar, Angie and Taj (Gyr x Marcropus)
Marten Benatar (right), a master falconer, has a unique connection with birds of prey. His calm demeanor and intuitiveness works magic with his raptors. He has been working side by side with Kate Marden and Jana Barkley with West Coast Falconry for five years as a falconer, trainer, educator and friend. His great respect for raptors and their prey is one topic in particular that he strives to teach young apprentices to embrace and understand. He specializes in teaching the science of weight management and operant conditioning. He is the winner of the 2005 “Apprentice Of The Year Award” from the California Hawking Club for excelling in the art and sport of Falconry. Marten is no newcomer to entertainment and speaking as he has more than 25 years of music performance, and MC experience.
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.
John Tyler and Squeak
John Tyler is a science teacher and volunteer at West Coast Falconry. As an assistant, John helps with bird husbandry, events, photography and website design.